Sterols and Fatty acids of the Marine Unicellular Alga, FCRG 51

Amsterdam

1983

S. 1447-1452

1 Abb.,3 Tab., 45 Lit. Ang.

Bandaufführung

10605S

162676

The fatty acids and sterols of the marine unicellular alga FCRG 51 have been determined. The fatty acids show a predominance of C18 and C22 polyunsaturated components, typical of the Dinophyceae. Eleven sterols were detected, of which eight have been identified. Both 4-methyl sterols (41%) and 4-desmethyl sterols (59%) are present and these exhibit a wider range of structural diversity than has been reported previously for dinoflagellates. 24-Methylenecholesterol, 23,24-dimethylcholesta-5,22E-dien-3β-ol and dinosterol are the three major sterols which together represent 75% of the total sterols. Dinosterol is found only in dinoflagellates and in some organisms which feed on dinoflagellates, but the two 4-desmethyl sterols are rarely reported in these algae. The lipid composition indicates that the unicellular alga FCRG 51 is related to the Dinophyceae and not to the Chloromonadophyceae or Chrysophyceae as previously proposed.