Age-dependent changes in the content of lipids, fatty acids, and pigments in brown alga Costaria costata

Abstract

The contents of lipids and pigments were compared in juvenile and adult algae Costaria costata [Turn.] Saund (Laminariaceae) collected in April. The total content of lipids and that of particular lipid classes increased markedly with age. In adult algae, the contents of total lipids, glyceroglycolipids, and neutral lipids doubled as compared with juvenile algae and was equal to 5.70, 1.78, and 0.81 mg/g fr wt, respectively. The content of free sterols increased with age by three times; it was equal to 0.11 mg/g fr wt in juvenile algae and 0.38 mg/g fr wt in adult algae. Total content of phospholipids changed with age to a lesser extent: 0.72 mg/g fr wt in juvenile vs. 0.92 mg/g fr wt in adult algae. Substantial changes were observed in the content of particular polar lipids. The absolute amounts of monogalactosyldiacylglycerols, sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerols, digalactosyldiacylglycerols, phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylglycerols, and phosphatidylinosites increased markedly with age, whereas the amount of phosphatidyl-O[N-(2-hydroxyethyl)glycines] declined. The amount of phosphatidylethanolamines did not depend on algal age. A small amount of diphosphatidylglycerols was detected only in juvenile algae. The content of photosynthetic pigments (carotenoids and chlorophylls) approximately doubled with age and, in adult algae, was equal to 0.57 and 1.23 mg/g fr wt, respectively. Total lipids of juvenile and adult algae did not differ in fatty acid composition. At all developmental stages, polyunsaturated fatty acids predominated early in spring and comprised about 80% of fatty acids. The acids of ω-3-series predominated among them.