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Changes in galactolipid composition of the cold freshwater dinoflagellate Borghiella dodgei in response to temperature

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Abstract

The freshwater dinoflagellate Borghiella dodgei is adapted to cold temperatures. We investigated the effects of small temperature changes on its galactolipid composition, choosing 3 and 7°C as deviations from its optimal growth temperature (5°C). The galactolipid profile, important for maintenance of membrane fluidity, was determined by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry and the influence of temperature on galactolipids was investigated by one-way ANOVA. We found 24 different galactolipid species, including novel tri-galactosyldiacylglycerols (TGDGs). The overall amount of mono- (MGDG), di- (DGDG) and tri- (TGDG) galactosyldiacylglycerols remained stable while single galactolipids varied with temperature. Few changes were found from 3 to 5°C, instead 11 galactolipid species changed from 5 to 7°C. Concomitantly with the unsaturation index of MGDGs, the more unsaturated galactolipids decreased at higher temperature, and the less abundant and less unsaturated galactolipids in each lipid class accumulated. Changes in the galactolipid profile of Borghiella underlined its cold-stenothermal nature: it can adapt to relatively ‘higher’ temperatures by reducing the synthesis of the more unsaturated MGDGs, DGDGs and TGDGs, but remains restricted by its lower growth rate. Based on our results, we predict that with climate change the galactolipid profile of cold-stenothermal algae will change with important repercussions on their consumers.

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Acknowledgments

This study was carried out within the research activity funded by FEM-CRI and Department of Physics-UNITN. The authors thank Adriano Sterni (University of Trento) for excellent technical assistance in LC–MS measurements and Lorena Ress (FEM-CRI) for cell counts.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sustainable Agro-ecosystems and Bioresources, IASMA Research and Innovation Centre, Edmund Mach Fondation CRI, Via E. Mach 2, 38010, San Michele all’Adige, TN, Italy

    Giovanna Flaim & Ulrike Obertegger

  2. Department of Physics, Bioorganic Chemistry Lab, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 14, 38123, Povo, Trentino, Italy

    Graziano Guella

  3. CNR, Istituto di Biofisica Trento, Via alla Cascata 56/C, 38050, Povo, TN, Italy

    Graziano Guella

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  1. Giovanna Flaim
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  2. Ulrike Obertegger
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  3. Graziano Guella
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Correspondence to Giovanna Flaim.

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Guest editors: N. Salmaso, L. Naselli-Flores, L. Cerasino, G. Flaim, M. Tolotti & J. Padisák / Phytoplankton responses to human impacts at different scales: 16th workshop of the International Association of Phytoplankton Taxonomy and Ecology (IAP)

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Flaim, G., Obertegger, U. & Guella, G. Changes in galactolipid composition of the cold freshwater dinoflagellate Borghiella dodgei in response to temperature. Hydrobiologia 698, 285–293 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-012-1070-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-012-1070-8

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