Influence of diesel fuel on the composition and content of free amino acids in the green alga Acrosiphonia arcta

Abstract

Arctic ecosystems are the most sensitive and vulnerable to anthropogenic impact, namely, the influence of petroleum products. The aim is to identify the effect of diesel fuel (DF) on the composition of free amino acids (FAA) in Acrosiphonia arcta in Barents Sea. The impact of DF concentrations of 20 - 3000 maximal permitted concentration (MPC) was analyzed. It was found that A. arcta contains 20 amino acids, 16 of which are proteinogenic and 8 are essential. The composition of the FAA pool did not change under the influence of DF, but the content of individual FAA and their total amount differed. The ratio of the dominant amino acids changes: at concentrations of DF up to 1000 MPC content of proline increased, and decreased at higher concentrations of DF. Under the influence of DF in concentration of 3000 MPC, taurine content significant increased. The least negative effect was exerted under the influence of DF concentration of 20 MPC, more significant - at the concentration more than 1000 MPC. Changes in the content of FAA are probably associated with the redirection of the synthesis pathways of amino acid groups, as well as the inhibitory effect of the toxicant on protein synthesis.