The Biology of Phenolic Containing Vesicles

Abstract

Physodes are membrane bound, spherical bodies containing phlorotannins. They stain black with osmium, blue with Toluidine Blue O, red with neutral red, orange with fast red GG and are autofluorescent under violet and UV excitation (Clayton and Ashburner 1994; Schoenwaelder and Clayton 1998a, b; Schoenwaelder 2002a). Small light refracting bodies (probably physodes), were first described many years ago by Nägeli (1847) and Rosanoff (1868) (see Ragan 1976). Since then, many others have described them by many different terms including, brown algal bodies, fucosan granules and tannin bodies. It was Crato (1892) who first used the term physode, to describe the typically round to elliptical, mobile, vesicle-like, strongly light refracting bodies that he observed in cytoplasm of brown algae and other algae (Schoenwaelder 1996; Schoenwaelder 2002a). Brown algal physodes are vesicles containing predominantly phenolic compounds, specifically phloroglucinol and derivatives of phloroglucinol (Ragan and Glombitza 1986). Brown algal polyphenolics, occurring in a single structural class-the phlorotannins, are thought to be synthesized via the acetate-malonate pathway (Targett and Arnold 1998). Their chemical structure has been investigated in many species of brown algae (Glombitza and

Seaweed extract stimuli in plant science and agriculture

“…Phlorotannins Polymeric polyphenols or phlorotanins are important components of many brown algae (Glombitza et al 1975;Ragan and Craigie 1976;Schoenwaelder 2008;Schoenwaelder and Clayton 1999;Steinberg 1989). Detailed chemical investigations initiated during the 1970s have provided considerable information on the highly variable chemical structures of these polyphenols (comprehensively reviewed in Ragan and Glombitza 1986).…”

Brown Algae

“…Species that become calcified with CaCO 3 (especially Pleurocladia, Porterinema) may require treatment with dilute acid (1% HCl) to improve observation of cellular detail. Alternatively, phenolics autofluoresce in the bluegreen region under UV excitation (Schoenwaelder, 2008). Vanillin-HCl may also be used, which stains physodes red (Chadefaud, 1950).…”

“…The macroscopic color varies from brown to pale tan or gray, depending on the quantity of carbonate co-precipitation (Schloesser and Blum, 1980;Kusel-Fetzmann, 1996;Wehr et al, 2013). Many species contain many light-refractive bodies, including physodes, darkly pigmented vesicles that store phaeophycean tannins (fucosan), other polyphenolics, and terpenes (Chadefaud, 1950;Schoenwaelder, 2008). Cells contain one to several golden-brown chloroplasts, which may be discoid, ribbon-like, or irregularly shaped, and usually parietal.…”

Effect of GeO2on embryo development and photosynthesis in Fucus vesiculosus (Phaeophyceae)

“…If Ge can also substitute for B in brown algae, that might explain their increased sensitivity to GeO 2 compared with green or red algae (Tatewaki and Mizuno 1979). Both B and Ge can form complex compounds with other membrane and cell wall components such as phenols (Cakmak et al 1995), and brown algae have high contents of phenolic compounds (Schoenwaelder 2002(Schoenwaelder , 2008. Phenolics play a critical role in early development of fucoids participating in cell wall formation, zygote adhesion to the substratum and polar axis formation Wiencke 2000, Bisgrove andKropf 2001b).…”