Masters Theses

Kenneth Monar

Date of Award

3-1984

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Botany

Major Professor

Patricia L. Walne

Committee Members

J. Becker, L. Jones, W. Fletcher

Abstract

Examination of the carotenoid composition of light-grown and etiolated (dark-grown) Euqlena gracilis var. bacillaris by reversed phase-high performance liquid chromatography has shown that these organisms have a similar complement of pigments, although there are quantitative differences. Etiolated cells have a much reduced total pigment concentration; however, with respect to individual carotenoids, some are drastically reduced, others are reduced to a lesser degree, and still others exhibit a slight increase when compared to light-grown cells. The previously reported absence of chlorophyll in etiolated cells is questionable, as this work shows that ca. 4% is being maintained in this cell line. Preliminary results from Astasia pertyi, examined here for the first time, indicate a carotenoid complement quite different from that of Euglena gracilis. The comparative results from Astasia pertyi and Euglena gracilis light-grown and etiolated cells may have implications both for the biosynthetic patterns of carotenoids and phylogenetic considerations in the euglenoid flagellates; the techniques developed here should provide a strong basis on which to develop taxonomies based on carotenoid composition.

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