Skip to main content
Log in

An ultraviolet (UV-A) absorbing biopterin glucoside from the marine planktonic cyanobacterium Oscillatoria sp.

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We have investigated the physiological response of marine planktonic cyanobacteria to UV-A (320–390 nm) irradiation. Here, we report the isolation of a UV-A absorbing pigment from a UV-A resistant strain of Oscillatoria. This pigment has been purified, and its structure determined to be biopterin glucoside (BG), a compound chemically related to the pteridine pigments found in butterfly wings. A UV-A sensitive isolate did not produce significant levels of this chromophore. UV-A radiation was very effective in eliciting synthesis of BG. In addition, increased UV-A radiation, increased intracellular levels of BG. These data suggest that BG may protect the cyanobacterium from adverse effects of UV-A radiation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Allen MM (1968) Simple conditions for growth of unicellular blue-green algae on plates. J Phycol 4:1–4

    Google Scholar 

  • Brock TD (1973) Evolutionary and ecological aspects of the cyanophytes. In: Carr NG, Whitton BA (eds) The biology of blue-green algae. Blackwell, Oxford, pp 487–500

    Google Scholar 

  • Castenholz RW, Gherna GH, Lewin R, Rippka R, Waterbury JB, Whitton BA (1989) Oxygenic photosynthetic bacteria. In: Staley JT (ed) Bergey's manual of systematic bacteriology. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, pp 1710–1806

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunlap WC, Chalker BE (1986) Identification and quantification of near-UV absorbing compounds (S-320) in a hermatypic scleractinian. Coral Reefs 5:155–159

    Google Scholar 

  • Forrest HS, Van Baalen C, Myers J (1957) Occurrence of pteridines in a blue-green alga. Science 125:699–700

    Google Scholar 

  • Forrest HS, Van Baalen C, Myers J (1958) Isolation and identification of a new pteridine from a blue-green alga. Arch Microbiol Biophys 78:95–99

    Google Scholar 

  • Garcia-Pichel F, Castenholz RW (1991) Characterization and biological implications of scytonemin, a cyanobacterial sheath pigment. J Phycol 27:395–409

    Google Scholar 

  • Halldall P (1967) Ultraviolet action spectra in algology. A review. Photochem Photobiol 6:445–460

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirosawa T, Miyachi S (1983) Inactivation of Hill reaction by long-wavelength ultraviolet radiation (UV-A) and its photoreactivation by visible light in the cyanobacterium, Anacystis nidulans. Arch Microbiol 135:98–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Okada M, Kitajima M, Butler WL (1976) Inhibition of photosystem I and photosystem II in chloroplasts by UV radiation. Plant Cell Physiol 17:35–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Scherer S, Chen TW, Boger P (1988) A new UV-A/B protecting pigment in the terrestrial cyanobacterium Nostoc commune. Plant Physiol 88:1055–1057

    Google Scholar 

  • Shibata H, Baba K, Ochiai H (1991) Near-UV irridiation induces shock proteins in Anacystis nidulans R-2; possible role of active oxygen. Plant Cell Physiol 32:771–776

    Google Scholar 

  • Shibata K (1969) Pigments and a UV-absorbing substance in corals and a blue green alga living in the Great Barrier Reef. Plant Cell Physiol 10:325–335

    Google Scholar 

  • Sisson WB (1981) Photosynthesis, growth and ultraviolet irridiance absorbance of Cucurbita pepe L. leaves exposed to ultraviolet-B radiation (280–315 nm). Plant Physiol 67:120–124

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Baalen C, O'Donnell R (1972) Action spectra for ultraviolet killing and photoreactivation in the blue green alga Agmenelum quadruplicatum. Photochem Photobiol 15:269–274

    Google Scholar 

  • Waterbury JB, Watson SW, Guillard RR, Brand LE (1979) Widespread occurrence of a unicellular, marine, planktonic, cyanobacterium. Nature 277:293–294

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Correspondence to: T. Matsunaga

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Matsunaga, T., Burgess, J.G., Yamada, N. et al. An ultraviolet (UV-A) absorbing biopterin glucoside from the marine planktonic cyanobacterium Oscillatoria sp.. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 39, 250–253 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00228614

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00228614

Keywords

Navigation