Fatty acids of green macrophytic algae from the sea of Japan

Abstract The fatty acid composition of Blidingia minima , Ulva fenestrata , Enteromorpha linza , E. flexuosa , Codium fragile , Cladophora stimpsonii , Chaetomorpha linum and C. moniligera from the Sea of Japan was examined. It was demonstrated that significant amounts of C 16 and C 18 polyunsaturated fatty acids were characteristic of these Chlorophyta. Only C. fragile contained a high proportion of 16:3 (n-3) acid. Other species contained 16:4 (n-3). Algae of two classes, Chlorophyceae and Siphonophyceae, differed in fatty acid composition which may be useful for taxonomic purposes. Algae belonging to Chlorophyceae: (1) contained 16:4 and also 16:3 acids, (2) had a 18:1 (n-7)/18:1 (n-9) ratio much greater than 1, (3) were very rich in (n-3) polyenoic fatty acids. Algae of Siphonophyceae: (1) contained either 16:3 or 16:4 acid, (2) had a 18:1 (n-7)/18:1 (n-9) ratio less than 1, (3) had a lower content of (n-3) polyenoic acids than algae of the former class. Correlation between fatty acid composition of the algae and their taxonomic position in the Chlorophyta phylum is discussed.