Guido B. Feige

Identification of lichen substances by a standardized high-performance liquid chromatographic method

Abstract A method for the identification of secondary aromatic lichen substances using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with reversed-phase columns, gradient elution and benzoic and solorinic acids as standards has been developed. A retention index ( I ), calculated from the elution time of the appropriate peak with reference to the standards, is used in identification. I values are recorded for 331 compounds chromatographed in this standard system.

Osmotic and atmospheric dehydration effects in the lichens Hypogymnia physodes, Lobaria pulmonaria, and Peltigera aphthosa: an in vivo study of the chlorophyll fluorescence induction.

Inactivation of photosynthesis during atmospheric and osmotic (highly concentrated NaCl or sucrose solutions) dehydration was monitored by measurement of chlorophyll fluorescence induction (OIP-phase, Kautsky-curves) in three lichen species. The induction curves were changed in a very similar way by all three treatments. All dehydration effects were rapidly reversible after rehydration. At relatively mild water stress, the rise time to the transient peak Fp was prolonged, and the variable part of fluorescence was diminished. In addition, at severe water stress, a considerable decline of the F0 value was observed. For NaCl treatment this effect started at water potentials <-8.5 MPa in P. aphthosa, <-12 MPa in H. physodes, and <-21 MPa in L. pulmonaria. Above these water potentials, our observations are in agreement with values from desiccation-tolerant algae, higher plants, and lichens, where an inactivation on the photosystem 2 (PS2) donor side has been postulated. At very low water potentials, the decrease in F0 probably monitors changes in the organization of the antenna apparatus of PS2.

Unusual carbohydrate pattern in Trentepohlia species

Abstract Four Trentepohlia species and the related Cephaleuros virescens (Chroolepidaceae, Trentepohliales, Chlorophyceae) photosynthesize and accumulate mannitol, arabinitol, erythritol and glycerol, while Trentepohlia spp. additionally synthesize a second pentitol, ribitol (adonitol). T. umbrina also contains small amounts of a heptitol, volemitol.

A new proposal for the systematic position of Cyanidium caldarium

The violet crystals of metallic luster were grown in vacuum at 320 ~ Space group is P1, cell data are a = 15.07, b=3.75, c = 5.77 A, c~= 86.76, /?=97.22, 7=94.50~ Z = 1, p~xp= 1.68, po~= 1.71. The structure was solved by direct methods. At the present stage of isotropic refinement, the R value is 15% (weighted 7.4%) for all 1348 counter data up to sin0/2=0.63 ~ a . The atomic coordinates along with the deviation of atoms from the best plane through the centrosymmetric molecule are given in Table 1. The molecule is almost planar, all deviations from the least-squares plane being <0.05 A. The intramolecular distances and angles are listed in Tables 2 and 3. Further refinement and optical investigation is planned and a detailed publication will appear elsewhere. We thank G. Kunz, Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of G6ttingen, for growing the crystals and the Deutsche

Ecophysiological aspects of carbohydrate metabolism in the marine blue green algae lichen Lichina pygmaea AG.

Summary The marine lichen Lichina pygmaea is capable of synthesizing the heteroside mannosido-mannitol. The synthesis of this heteroside is related to the concentration of seawater in such a way that reducing the concentration of seawater results in a diminished synthesis of heteroside. When 14 C-bicarbonate and 12 C-glucose are fed simultaneously, the production of 14C-mannitol is reduced to 10 % of the original rate without affecting the production of 14 C-heteroside. After labelling the lichen with 14 C-bicarbonate in distilled water and subsequent transfer to seawater a decrease af radioactivity in polysaccharides and a increase in the heteroside is observed. Inversely, after prelabelling in seawater and subsequent transfer to distilled water, after 3 hours about 30 % of the 14 C-heteroside is lost, whereas the amount of labelled free hexoses and mannitol is increased. The mannosidomannitol can be supposed to have an osmo-regulatoric function in Lichina pygmaea .

Accumulation of Photoassimilatory Products by Phycobiliprotein-Containing Algae with Special Reference to Cyanidium caldarium

Representatives of phycobiliprotein-containing algae such as Anabaena cylindrica, Anacystis ni- dulans, Gloeotrichia echinulata (Cyanophyceae), Chroomonas spec., Hemiselmis rufescens, Rhodomonas spec. (Cryptophyceae), Porphyridium cruentum, Rhodella violacea (Rhodophyceae) along with the unicellular Cyanidium caldarium (unspecified systematic status) have been investigated for their typical photoassimilatory accumulation products. While the red algal species synthesize a rather specific heteroside, 2-O-ᴅ-glycerol-α-ᴅ-galactopyranoside (= floridoside), not encountered in the other species analyzed, blue-green algae accumulate fructose, glucose, and sucrose, while the cryptomonads accumulate only glucose and. to a lesser extent, fructose. Cyanidium synthesizes neither disaccharides, nor a heteroside, but shows rapid 14C-labelling of fructose and glucose. These results are compared with further biochemical and structural findings and are discussed with emphasis on chemotaxonomic implications. Cyanidium caldarium is proposed as an endocyanome consisting of a single endocyanella providing the functions of a chromatophore in a colourless (apoplastidal algal?) host cell.

Screening of Aromatic Secondary Lichen Substances by High Performance Liquid Chromatography

Abstract A simple HPLC method is described which allows screening and accurate quantification of aromatic secondary lichen substances. Using a linear water-methanol gradient on a reversed-phase column packing (LiChrosorb RP-8) 13 aromatic lichen products were resolved within 55 min. With 8 arbitrarily selected lichens the application of the described method is demonstrated.

Untersuchungen zur Physiologie der Cephalodien der Flechte Peltigera aphthosa (L) WILD. I. Die photosynthetische 14C-Markierung der Lipidfraktion

Summary Cephalodia are specially differentiated areas found in various lichens. They contain in addition to the normal phycobiotes of Green algae as for example in Peltigera sect. Peltidea blue green algae integrated into the biotrophic system of the lichen. Labelling of isolated cephalodia from Peltigera aphthosa (L.) WILLD. by 14 C-bicarbonate under photosynthetic conditions resulted in substantial accumulation of radioactivity in the lipid fraction. This is the first time that labelling of glycolipids specific for heterocysts is observed after photosynthetic 14 C0 2 -fixation. With more than 35 % of the label in the lipid fraction glycosylated polyhydroxyalkanes were predominating, but also glycosylated polyhydroxy fatty acids were found to be labelled. Therefore this labelling may be used as a sensitive method to detect the differentiation of normal cells to heterocysts in bluegreen algae. Glycolipids specific for heterocysts may furthermore be useful chemotaxonomical markers in blue-green algae.

Untersuchungen zur Ökologie and Physiologie der marinen Blaualgenflechte Lichina pygmaea AG. III. Einige Aspekte der photosynthetischen C-Fixierung unter osmoregulatorischen Bedingungen

Summary The marine Blue Green Algae lichen Lichina pygmaea Ag. reacts on the high salt concentration of its habitat by increasing the synthesis of mannosidomannitol. The different abiotic factors of the habitat (e.g. desalination by rainfall) show a distinct influence on the metabolic pathways, especially on the C-fixation by photosynthesis and the carbohydrate metabolism of this marine lichen.

Beiträge zur Physiologie einheimischer Algen 2. Untersuchungen zur Kinetik der 14CO2-Assimilation bei der Süßwasserrotalge Lemanea fluviatilis C. Ag.

Summary The time course of 14 C-incorporation during the incubation of the fresh water red alga Lemanea fluviatilis with 14 C-bicarbonate in the light showed that a normal Calvin Pathway of photosynthetic C-fixation is operating. Mannitol and floridoside are accumulated. After 5 min photosynthesis in 14 C-bicarbonate about 50 % of the total 14 C incorporated was found in Serine and Glycine.