Biologically active compounds in the sea

Johnston, Robert

doi:10.1017/s0025315400027557

Cited by 43 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…As initially stated by Johnston (1955), "the production and persistence of metabolites in a body of sea water imposed a 'biological history' on the water and provided a basis for ecological 'succession'." However, an evolutionary understanding of the release of those external metabolites is still missing.…”

Section: B Vitamins As Biologically Active Compounds In the Oceanmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of B Vitamins in Marine Biogeochemistry

Sañudo‐Wilhelmy

Gómez‐Consarnau²,

Suffridge³

et al. 2014

Annu. Rev. Mar. Sci.

246

314

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The soluble B vitamins (B1, B7, and B12) have long been recognized as playing a central metabolic role in marine phytoplankton and bacteria; however, the importance of these organic external metabolites in marine ecology has been largely disregarded, as most research has focused on inorganic nutrients and trace metals. Using recently available genomic data combined with culture-based surveys of vitamin auxotrophy (i.e., vitamin requirements), we show that this auxotrophy is widespread in the marine environment and occurs in both autotrophs and heterotrophs residing in oligotrophic and eutrophic environments. Our analysis shows that vitamins originate from the activities of some bacteria and algae and that taxonomic changes observed in marine phytoplankton communities could be the result of their specific vitamin requirements and/or vitamin availability. Dissolved vitamin concentration measurements show that large areas of the world ocean are devoid of B vitamins, suggesting that vitamin limitation could be important for the efficiency of carbon and nitrogen fixation in those regions.

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Section: B Vitamins As Biologically Active Compounds In the Oceanmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of B Vitamins in Marine Biogeochemistry

Sañudo‐Wilhelmy

Gómez‐Consarnau²,

Suffridge³

et al. 2014

Annu. Rev. Mar. Sci.

246

314

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Although these studies demonstrate the pronounced inhibitory properties of plant products under laboratory conditions, it has proven difficult to show functional importance in nature (Muller 1965, Muller and del Mora11966). There has been a tendency to ascribe to such substances greater potential significance in drier habitats (Muller 1966), but Lucas (1961) has proposed an "ecotocrine" theory of nonpredatory community relationships to explain certain phenomena in marine phytoplankton communities and supporting evidence has been provided by Johnston (1955) and McLachlan and Craigie (1964).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Autotoxic Feedback in Relatin to Germination and Seedling Growth in Typha Latifolia

McNaughton¹

1968

Ecology

125

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Seed germination of Typha latifolia was completely inhibited by an aqueous extract of cattail leaves but was only partially inhibited by extract treated with polyclar AT to remove phenolic compounds. Seedling growth was slightly inhibited by water from cattail marshes, was highly inhibited by water squeezed from soil in which cattails were growing, and was stimulated (as compared with the distilled water control) by water obtained from a Sphagnum bog. Cattail populations, once established, may this effectively preclude invasion by alien typha genotypes, and the autotoxic properties of the accumulated organic residues may accentuate the unidirectional orientation of marsh succession.

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“…More recently Braus (1951) and his coworkers have taken up the problem, and attention is being focussed on the colored materials in sea water through the researches of Kalle (1949), Jerlov (1953) and Johnston (1955).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemical and Biological Studies on the Yellow Organic Acids of Lake Water1

Shapiro

1957

Limnology & Oceanography

182

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The yellow coloring matter of natural waters has been studied with particular emphasis on Lower Linsley Pond, Connecticut.The best method of isolation was by ethyl acetate extraction of acidified evaporation residues of filtered water.The material thus obtained was a mixture of colorless and colored carboxylic acids, the colored ones fluorescing under ultra-violet light. Numerous yellow fractions were distinguished through paper chromatography, none of which showed maxima in either their visible or ultra-violet absorption spectra. Chemical tests indicated a phenolic or enolic character with probable unsaturation.Elemental analyses showed 1.4% ash, no halogens or sulfur, and resulted in an empirical formula of (ChOH62027N)n. The nitrogen was believed to be an impurity, resulting in an empirical formula of CzlHzsOll on the basis of the determined mean molecular weight of 456. The mean equivalent weight of the mixture was 228. The salts of the acids were dialysable and the acids were amorphous as shown by x-ray diffraction.Infra-red spectroscopy of various derivatives indicated a mixture of hydroxy carboxylic acids and admitted the possibility of unsaturation and aromaticity, although the indications are that if aromaticity exists it is relatively inconsequential. The materials were very resistant to chemical oxidation.Lower Linsley Pond surface water contained between 4.5 and 9.0 milligrams of acids per liter, of which about 40% was estimated to be yellow. Raising the pH from 3 to 11 increased the color by 50%. Solutions of the salts obeyed Beer's law in the range studied from 5 to 70 mg/L. The materials may affect organisms through alteration of light and by their buffering action. They were reasonably stable to biological decomposition over a period of 4% months. Concentrations of up to 50 mg/L had no effect on pure cultures of Chlamydomonas Reinhardi, but Hematococcus pluvialis and Scenedesmus quadricauda were stimulated in their growth by concentrations of between 5 and 50 mg/L. The materials were able to retain iron in a filterable state at pH values up to 13.2.Eleven lakes showed very similar Chromatographic patterns on the same date and on different dates. Evidence is presented for the hypothesis that some of the numerous colored fractions are different salts of a small number of acids. It is concluded that the materials originate as a result of decomposition in soil and possibly in sediments as well. The name 'humolimnic acids' is suggested for the materials to indicate their probable relation but improbable equivalence with so-called 'humic' acids.

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Biologically active compounds in the sea

Cited by 43 publications

References 20 publications

The Role of B Vitamins in Marine Biogeochemistry

The Role of B Vitamins in Marine Biogeochemistry

Autotoxic Feedback in Relatin to Germination and Seedling Growth in Typha Latifolia

Chemical and Biological Studies on the Yellow Organic Acids of Lake Water1

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