Functional biomolecules of Antarctic stromatolitic and endolithic cyanobacterial communities
For activity and survival in extreme terrestrial Antarctic habitats, lithobiontic cyanobacteria depend on key biomolecules for protection against environmental stress and for optimization of growth conditions. Their ability to synthesize such molecules is central to their pioneering characteristics...
Published in: | European Journal of Phycology |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | unknown |
Published: |
1999
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/503876/ https://doi.org/10.1080/09670269910001736442 |
id |
ftnerc:oai:nora.nerc.ac.uk:503876 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftnerc:oai:nora.nerc.ac.uk:503876 2023-05-15T13:15:21+02:00 Functional biomolecules of Antarctic stromatolitic and endolithic cyanobacterial communities Wynn-Williams, D. D Edwards, H. G. M. Garcia-Pichel, F. 1999 http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/503876/ https://doi.org/10.1080/09670269910001736442 unknown Wynn-Williams, D. D; Edwards, H. G. M.; Garcia-Pichel, F. 1999 Functional biomolecules of Antarctic stromatolitic and endolithic cyanobacterial communities. European Journal of Phycology, 34 (4). 381-391. https://doi.org/10.1080/09670269910001736442 <https://doi.org/10.1080/09670269910001736442> Publication - Article PeerReviewed 1999 ftnerc https://doi.org/10.1080/09670269910001736442 2023-02-04T19:38:06Z For activity and survival in extreme terrestrial Antarctic habitats, lithobiontic cyanobacteria depend on key biomolecules for protection against environmental stress and for optimization of growth conditions. Their ability to synthesize such molecules is central to their pioneering characteristics and major role as primary producers in Antarctic desert habitats. Pigmentation is especially important in protecting them against enhanced UVB damage during stratospheric ozone depletion (the Ozone Hole) during the Antarctic spring and subsequent photoinhibition in the intense insolation of the summer. To be effective, especially for the screening of highly shade-adapted photosystems of cyanobacteria, protective pigments need to be located strategically. Antarctic lithic cyanobacterial communities are therefore stratified, as in soil biofilms of Alexander Island, the benthic stromatolitic mats of ice-covered hypersaline lakes in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, and the endolithic communities within translucent Beacon sandstone outcrops of Victoria Land. The protective pigments include scytonemin, carotenoids, anthroquinones and mycosporine-like amino acids. To detect and locate photoprotective pigments in situ in free-living cyanobacteria and cyanolichens from hot and cold desert habitats, we have used Fourier-transform Raman micro-spectroscopy. With appropriate power inputs for labile molecules, this high-precision, non-intrusive laser-based technique can not only identify biomolecules in their natural state but also locate them spatially within the habitat relative to the components of the community, which require protection. In conjunction with direct and epifluorescence microscopy it provides a spatial and functional description of the protective strategy of a community. We present the unique Raman spectrum of scytonemin and use its primary and corroborative peaks to identify it within the plethora of other biochemical constituents of several natural cyanobacterial communities, including an Antarctic endolith. The ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Alexander Island Antarc* Antarctic McMurdo Dry Valleys Victoria Land Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive Antarctic The Antarctic Victoria Land McMurdo Dry Valleys Alexander Island ENVELOPE(-69.895,-69.895,-71.287,-71.287) European Journal of Phycology 34 4 381 391 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive |
op_collection_id |
ftnerc |
language |
unknown |
description |
For activity and survival in extreme terrestrial Antarctic habitats, lithobiontic cyanobacteria depend on key biomolecules for protection against environmental stress and for optimization of growth conditions. Their ability to synthesize such molecules is central to their pioneering characteristics and major role as primary producers in Antarctic desert habitats. Pigmentation is especially important in protecting them against enhanced UVB damage during stratospheric ozone depletion (the Ozone Hole) during the Antarctic spring and subsequent photoinhibition in the intense insolation of the summer. To be effective, especially for the screening of highly shade-adapted photosystems of cyanobacteria, protective pigments need to be located strategically. Antarctic lithic cyanobacterial communities are therefore stratified, as in soil biofilms of Alexander Island, the benthic stromatolitic mats of ice-covered hypersaline lakes in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, and the endolithic communities within translucent Beacon sandstone outcrops of Victoria Land. The protective pigments include scytonemin, carotenoids, anthroquinones and mycosporine-like amino acids. To detect and locate photoprotective pigments in situ in free-living cyanobacteria and cyanolichens from hot and cold desert habitats, we have used Fourier-transform Raman micro-spectroscopy. With appropriate power inputs for labile molecules, this high-precision, non-intrusive laser-based technique can not only identify biomolecules in their natural state but also locate them spatially within the habitat relative to the components of the community, which require protection. In conjunction with direct and epifluorescence microscopy it provides a spatial and functional description of the protective strategy of a community. We present the unique Raman spectrum of scytonemin and use its primary and corroborative peaks to identify it within the plethora of other biochemical constituents of several natural cyanobacterial communities, including an Antarctic endolith. The ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Wynn-Williams, D. D Edwards, H. G. M. Garcia-Pichel, F. |
spellingShingle |
Wynn-Williams, D. D Edwards, H. G. M. Garcia-Pichel, F. Functional biomolecules of Antarctic stromatolitic and endolithic cyanobacterial communities |
author_facet |
Wynn-Williams, D. D Edwards, H. G. M. Garcia-Pichel, F. |
author_sort |
Wynn-Williams, D. D |
title |
Functional biomolecules of Antarctic stromatolitic and endolithic cyanobacterial communities |
title_short |
Functional biomolecules of Antarctic stromatolitic and endolithic cyanobacterial communities |
title_full |
Functional biomolecules of Antarctic stromatolitic and endolithic cyanobacterial communities |
title_fullStr |
Functional biomolecules of Antarctic stromatolitic and endolithic cyanobacterial communities |
title_full_unstemmed |
Functional biomolecules of Antarctic stromatolitic and endolithic cyanobacterial communities |
title_sort |
functional biomolecules of antarctic stromatolitic and endolithic cyanobacterial communities |
publishDate |
1999 |
url |
http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/503876/ https://doi.org/10.1080/09670269910001736442 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-69.895,-69.895,-71.287,-71.287) |
geographic |
Antarctic The Antarctic Victoria Land McMurdo Dry Valleys Alexander Island |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic The Antarctic Victoria Land McMurdo Dry Valleys Alexander Island |
genre |
Alexander Island Antarc* Antarctic McMurdo Dry Valleys Victoria Land |
genre_facet |
Alexander Island Antarc* Antarctic McMurdo Dry Valleys Victoria Land |
op_relation |
Wynn-Williams, D. D; Edwards, H. G. M.; Garcia-Pichel, F. 1999 Functional biomolecules of Antarctic stromatolitic and endolithic cyanobacterial communities. European Journal of Phycology, 34 (4). 381-391. https://doi.org/10.1080/09670269910001736442 <https://doi.org/10.1080/09670269910001736442> |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1080/09670269910001736442 |
container_title |
European Journal of Phycology |
container_volume |
34 |
container_issue |
4 |
container_start_page |
381 |
op_container_end_page |
391 |
_version_ |
1766268152482627584 |