title: Density-dependent patterns of thiamine and pigment production in the diatom Nitzschia microcephala.
abstract: In the present study we investigate how intraspecific (density-dependent) competition for nutrients by the diatom Nitzschia microcephala affects the level of oxidative stress in the algal cells as well as their production of pigments and thiamine. N. microcephala was grown in three different densities until the stationary growth phase was reached. Throughout the experiment, growth rate was negatively related to cell density. Superoxide dismutase activity, protein thiol, and diatoxanthin concentrations indicated increasing oxidative stress with increasing cell density, which was most probably caused by nutrient depletion of the medium. Pigment contents per cell (except for diatoxanthin) decreased with increasing cell density. N. microcephala was able to synthesize thiamine and its thiamine content per cell increased in concert with cell density. In comparison, the dinoflagellate Amphidinium carterae was unable to synthesize thiamine. These results suggest that cells of N. microcephala subjected to higher competition and lower growth rates have a lower carotenoid content and a higher thiamine content. If such responses would occur in nature as well, eutrophication (higher cell densities) may alter the quality of microalgae as food items for higher trophic levels not only by species shifts in the phytoplankton, but also by changes in the cellular nutritional value within species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Ecology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Villavägen 14, SE-75236 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ernani
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Lies
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Van Nieuwerburgh
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paes de Barros
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pedersén
authors.forename: Pio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Colepicolo
authors.forename: Pauli
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Snoeijs
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D000077194:Chlorophyll A; D017377:Diatoms / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D004141:Dinoflagellida / Q000378:metabolism; D005068:Eutrophication / Q000502:physiology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013831:Thiamine / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D024341:Xanthophylls; C025164:fucoxanthin; D002734:Chlorophyll; C064041:chlorophyll c; C103105:diatoxanthin; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D013831:Thiamine; D000077194:Chlorophyll A