FATTY-ACID COMPOSITION OF 15 SPECIES OF MARINE MICROALGAE

The fatty acid composition of 15 marine microalgal species, belonging to the Chlorophyceae, Prasinophyceae, Bacillariophyceae, Prymnesiophyceae, Dinophyceae, Eustigmatophyceae, Cryptophyceae, Rhodophyceae, and cultured under comparable conditions has been studied. It is shown that each class of microalgae is characterized by a specific fatty acid profile. It is proposed that uncommon acids, some typical acids and the ratio of acids are useful chemotaxonomic markers. The reliable markers of Bacillariophyceae were a preference of 16:1(n-7) over 16:0, high levels of 14:0, 20:5(n-3), C-16 polyunsaturated fatty acids with double bonds at (n-4) and (n-1), and insignificant amounts of C-18 acids and 22:6(n-3). The fatty acid profiles of the different microalgae were compared with previously published data.