Free Fatty Acid Level and Galactolipase Activity in a Red Tide Flagellate Chattonella marina (Raphidophyceae)

Abstract

Free fatty acid (FFA) level and galactolipase activity in a marine microalga causing red tides, Chattonella marina, were examined. The FFA content increased greatly during the growth from 2.8% of total lipids in the mid-logarithmic phase to 15.4% in the late stationary phase. A crude enzyme preparation derived from the alga had activities hydrolyzing the acyl groups of various glycoglycerolipids and phospholipids, especially monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) molecules. The results suggest that FFAs in C. marina are released mainly from MGDG, which is a major lipid class in the alga, by galactolipase.© 2002, Japan Oil Chemists’ Society. All rights reserved.