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. 2017 Mar:63:79-84.
doi: 10.1016/j.hal.2017.01.010. Epub 2017 Feb 10.

Euglenophycin is produced in at least six species of euglenoid algae and six of seven strains of Euglena sanguinea

Paul V Zimba  1 , I-Shuo Huang  2 , Danielle Gutierrez  3 , Woongghi Shin  4 , Matthew S Bennett  5 , Richard E Triemer  6
Affiliations

Euglenophycin is produced in at least six species of euglenoid algae and six of seven strains of Euglena sanguinea

Paul V Zimba et al. Harmful Algae. 2017 Mar.

Abstract

Euglena sanguinea is known to produce the alkaloid toxin euglenophycin and is known to cause fish kills and inhibit mammalian tissue and microalgal culture growth. An analysis of over 30 species of euglenoids for accumulation of euglenophycin identified six additional species producing the toxin; and six of the seven E. sanguinea strains produced the toxin. A phylogenetic assessment of these species confirmed most taxa were in the Euglenaceae, whereas synthesis capability apparently has been lost in the Phacus, Eutreptiella, and Discoplastis branches.

Keywords: Algae; Euglena; Euglenophycin; Harmful algal bloom; Toxin.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Structure of solenopsin (fire ant venom, top) and euglenophycin (bottom).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Toxin accumulation in 7 Euglena sanguinea strains. Euglenophycin concentration normalized to a per cell basis (fg/cell). Values are mean (n≥3, standard deviation indicated.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Concentration of cell bound euglenophycin in species having correct qualifier to quantifier ion ratios. Euglenophycin concentration in fg/cell (n>3), standard deviation indicated.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Phylogenetic tree of tested euglenophyte taxa, clustered by 18s similarity of 1741 bases. Toxin production indicated by open (none) and closed (positive) circles indicating euglenophycin production. An asterisk denotes presence of toxin within a clade, an X indicates loss of this capability.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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