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Extracellular Secondary Metabolite Production by the Marine Dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum in Culture

1981; Canadian Science Publishing; Volume: 38; Issue: 7 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1139/f81-115

1205-7533

Charles G. Trick, Paul J. Harrison, Raymond J. Andersen,

Marine and coastal ecosystems

Marine dinoflagellates produce extracellular secondary metabolites that may play a role in the ecology of the producing species. The concentration of one such external metabolite, 1-(2,6,6-trimethyl-4-hydroxycyclohexenyl)-1, 3-butanedione, produced by the marine dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum, was determined quantitatively during exponential growth and during senescence in phosphate-starved batch cultures. The pattern of production is similar to the production of many bacterial toxins. There was little production of the β-diketone during the exponential growth period and highest production occurred within 1 wk after cessation of cell division. About 50% of the total β-diketone produced was excreted on a single day, 6 d after phosphate became limiting to growth. Cell lysis or photodestruction of carotenoids do not appear to be the source of this compound.Key words: antibiotic, dinoflagellate, organic excretion, Prorocentrum minimum, secondary metabolite, phosphate starvation