Polyamines of unicellular thermoacidophilic red alga Cyanidium caldarium

Abstract

Polyamines in two types of the unicellular thermoacidophilic red alga (Rhodophyta), Cyanidium caldarium, were analysed. Strain RK-1 (and strain KS-1) contained putrescine, spermidine and spermine. This polyarnine distribution pattern is similar to that found in other red algae belonging to the class Protoflorideophyceae. On the other hand, strain M-8 contained diaminopropane, norspermidine and norspermine in addition to putrescine, spermidine and spermine. Thermospermine was not detected in either type of C. caldarium. This polyainine distribution pattern is quite different from that of any eukaryotic algae. In both types of C. caldarium the concentrations of polyamines, especially tetraamines (spermine and/or norspermine) increased when the culture temperature was raised from 20 to 50°.