Victoria López Rodas

IDENTIFICATION OF MARINE DINOFLAGELLATES USING FLUORESCENT LECTINS1

Toxic and nontoxic species of marine dinoflagellates were characterized using fluorescent lectins. Lectin binding was detected by epifluorescence as well as spectrofluorometry. The binding assay of fluorescent lectins readily differentiated between morphologically similar species (i.e the toxic dinoflagellate Gymnodinium catenatum and the nontoxic Gymnodinium sp.). Lectins appear to be a useful tool to distinguish among different clones of the same species and, thus, possibly as a tool in dinoflagellate identification. Moreover, the lectins used show that thecate species have more binding sites and diversity in glycan moieties than athecate species.

An apparent growth factor modulation of marine dinoflagellate excystment

Abstract The effects of growth factors on Alexandrium tamarense (Halim) Baleen excystment were analysed under laboratory conditions. The addition of 10 ng·ml−1 of platelet-derivated growth factor (PDGF) or 10% of fetal bovine serum (FBS), which are potent mitogens used to increase eukaryotic cell proliferation in culture, caused a statistically significant increase in excystment. While in the unsupplemented medium scarcely any excystment took place during the first days, most of the excystment in the supplemented medium took place during the first days of treatment with growth factors.