title: Characterization of surface n-alkanes and fatty acids of the epiphytic lichen Xanthoria parietina, its photobiont a green alga Trebouxia sp., and its mycobiont, from the Jerusalem hills.
abstract: Surface alkanes and fatty acids from the thalli of the lichen Xanthoria parietina, its photobiont Trebouxia sp., and its mycobiont were analysed by GC-MS. The green alga Trebouxia sp. synthesized mainly unsaturated fatty acids such as (Z,Z,Z)-9,12,15-18 : 3 (Z,Z)-9,12-18 : 2 and (Z)-9-18 : 1, and light alkanes C8-C15 (up to 83% of total n-alkanes). However, the mycobiont contained mainly saturated fatty acids such as hexadecanoic (16 : 0) and octadecanoic acid (18 : 0), and also very long-chain n-alkanes C22-C34. Dehydroabietic acid was found in both lichen and mycobiont. The occurrence of different amounts of n-alkanes and fatty acids in the photobionts and mycobionts of X. parietina was shown for the first time. Lichens collected from different locations in the Jerusalem hills contained n-alkanes ranging in concentration from 187 to 211 mg x (g dry wt)-1; n-alkane concentrations in the photobiont and mycobiont were 17-24 and 215-262 mg x (g dry wt)-1, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Products, School of Pharmacy, PO Box 12065, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91120, Israel.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dor
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rotem
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Srebnik
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Dembitsky
mesh_terms: D000473:Alkanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000378:metabolism*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000378:metabolism; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000378:metabolism; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000737:chemistry; D008011:Lichens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008055:Lipids; D010743:Phospholipids; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000473:Alkanes; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D008055:Lipids; D010743:Phospholipids