LIPIDS AND LIPID-METABOLISM IN THE MARINE ALGA ENTEROMORPHA-INTESTINALIS

The major acyl lipids of the marine alga, Enteromorpha intestinalis are the glycosylglycerides, monogalactosyldiacylglycerol, digalactosyldiacylglycerol and sulphoquinovosyldiacylglycerol. The only important phospholipid is phosphatidylglycerol and the only other lipid present in any quantity is diacylglyceryltrimethylhomoserine. The acyl chain distributions of these lipids were analysed. Labelling from [1-C-14]acetate indicated that oleate was the major product of de novo fatty acid synthesis. At higher incubation temperatures more radiolabel was incorporated into saturated fatty acids than at lower temperatures.