| Abstract: | Dunaliella primolecta was axenically grown with and without added selenium (10⁻² g/l selenium as sodium selenite). The lipids were extracted and separated by column and thin-layer chromatography. The collected lipids were methylated and the resulting fatty acid methyl esters were separated, identified, and quantitated by gas-liquid chromatography. The variety of fatty acids present in the algae grown with added selenium in the growth medium showed no change from those of the algae grown without added selenium. However, the selenium did cause relative increases in the amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids present in the triglycerides, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, and cardiolipin; relative increases were also seen in the amount of saturated fatty acids found in phosphatidyl glycerol. Selenium caused no change in the percent fatty acid composition of the glycolipids, phosphatidyl choline and phosphatidyl inositol. The observed increase in polyunsaturated fatty acids of some of the lipids studies agrees with the view that selenium acts synergistically with -tocopherol (Vitamin E) as an anti-oxidant protector of fatty acid double bonds. |
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