Effects of enhanced UV-B irradiation on the red coloured freshwater flagellate Euglena sanguinea
Abstract
Euglena sanguinea, a freshwater flagellate isolated from a pond in the Fränkische Schweiz, orients itself in its habitat exclusively by positive phototaxis, which leads the organisms to the surface where they form a neuston. The algae are coloured red, as they contain haematochrome, a mixture of carotenoids, the main component being astaxanthin diester. Absorption spectroscopy shows that astaxanthin diester accumulates in cells irradiated with artificial UV-B irradiation, which suggests that the carotenoid is a photoprotective pigment. 15% enhanced UV-B irradiation impairs photoorientation and motility and photobleaches chlorophyll a while the carotenoids are less affected.
- Publication:
-
FEMS Microbiology Ecology
- Pub Date:
- January 1994
- DOI:
- 10.1111/j.1574-6941.1994.tb00064.x
- Bibcode:
- 1994FEMME..13..177G
- Keywords:
-
- Euglena sanguinea;
- Flagellate;
- Haematochrome;
- Phototaxis;
- Ultraviolet radiation