Springer protocols feed by Plant Sciences 
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This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.Imaging and Identification of Marine Algal Bioactive Compounds by Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS)
Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a highly selective technique that can be used for imaging of single algae cells. In contrast to normal Raman spectroscopy, SERS utilizes light interaction with colloidal gold or silver particles working as antennas to match the sensitivity of fluorescence measurements. Furthermore, SERS enables a more profound picture of not only the analyte of interest but also the present biological matrix without the need for additional fluorescence labelling. The introduction of an internal standard in the form of a thiol self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on the colloidal gold or silver partic...
Source: Springer protocols feed by Plant Sciences - June 26, 2015 Category: Biology Source Type: news
Characterization of Alginates by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Vibrational Spectroscopy (IR, NIR, Raman) in Combination with Chemometrics
This chapter describes three different spectroscopic methods for structural characterization of the commercial important hydrocolloid alginate extracted from brown seaweed. The “golden” reference method for characterization of the alginate structure is 1H liquid-state NMR of depolymerized alginate polymers using a stepwise hydrolysis. Having implemented this method, predictive and rapid non-destructive methods using vibrational spectroscopy and chemometrics can be developed. These methods can predict the M/G-ratio of the intact alginate powder with at least the same precision and accuracy as the reference metho...
Source: Springer protocols feed by Plant Sciences - June 26, 2015 Category: Biology Source Type: news
Structural Characterization of a Hybrid Carrageenan-Like Sulfated Galactan from a Marine Red Alga Furcellaria lumbricalis
Carrageenans are sulfated galactan isolated from marine red algae with different disaccharide forms. There are also some hybrid carrageenan-like oligomers, which are reported to possess a number of bioactivities. Here, we describe a method to study the structural characterization of a carrageenan-like sulfated galactan FB1 extracted from the red seaweed Furcellaria lumbricalis. We show the process of the general analysis of FB1, including the molecular weight, sulfate content, total sugar content, protein content, and 3,6-anhydrogalactose (3,6-AnG) content analyses. The fine structure identification methods, including desu...
Source: Springer protocols feed by Plant Sciences - June 26, 2015 Category: Biology Source Type: news
Determination of Substitution Patterns of Galactans from Green Seaweeds of the Bryopsidales
Sulfated and pyruvylated galactans are the major soluble polysaccharides produced by seaweeds of the Bryopsidales. Their backbones have a complex and variable pattern of substitution which, until now, has only been elucidated for a few species. Methods for determination of sulfate and pyruvic acid content, and chemical strategies to determine their position in the galactan chain are outlined here. These methods can also be applied to other sulfated and/or pyruvylated polysaccharides. (Source: Springer protocols feed by Plant Sciences)
Source: Springer protocols feed by Plant Sciences - June 26, 2015 Category: Biology Source Type: news
Marine Algae: a Source of Biomass for Biotechnological Applications
Biomass derived from marine microalgae and macroalgae is globally recognized as a source of valuable chemical constituents with applications in the agri-horticultural sector (including animal feeds and health and plant stimulants), as human food and food ingredients as well as in the nutraceutical, cosmeceutical, and pharmaceutical industries. Algal biomass supply of sufficient quality and quantity however remains a concern with increasing environmental pressures conflicting with the growing demand. Recent attempts in supplying consistent, safe and environmentally acceptable biomass through cultivation of (macro- and micro...
Source: Springer protocols feed by Plant Sciences - June 26, 2015 Category: Biology Source Type: news
Fucoidan Analysis by Tandem MALDI-TOF and ESI Mass Spectrometry
The application of mass spectrometry towards the structural analysis of the most interesting sulfated biopolymers of the brown algae—fucoidans only developed relatively recently. During method development, many problems, both chemical and instrumental, have to be solved. For example, mass spectrometry has a limitation in the analysis of anionic high molecular weight (HMW) polysaccharides because of the labile nature of sulfate groups which cause the polysaccharide to desulfate rather than ionize. Thus, decomposition methods should be developed taking into account the structural features of such a complex and fragile ...
Source: Springer protocols feed by Plant Sciences - June 26, 2015 Category: Biology Source Type: news
Analysis of Marine Biotoxins Using LC-MS/MS
Different clinical types of algae-related poisoning have attracted scientific and commercial attention: paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP), and amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP). Bioassays are common methods for the determination of marine biotoxins. However, biological tests are not completely satisfactory, mainly due to the low sensitivity and the absence of specialized variations. In this context LC-MS methods replaced HPLC methods with optical detectors, allowing both effective seafood control and monitoring of phytoplankton in terms of the different groups of marine biotoxins. Th...
Source: Springer protocols feed by Plant Sciences - June 26, 2015 Category: Biology Source Type: news
Analysis of Betaines from Marine Algae Using LC-MS-MS
Betaines are a class of quaternary ammonium compounds found in marine algae that can act as osmolytes and/or affect gene expression, and therefore improve plant tolerance to stresses such as temperature extremes, drought, and salinity when applied to agricultural crops. In humans, glycine betaine acts as a methyl donor and has been shown to protect internal organs, improve vascular risk factors, and enhance sport performance. Here we describe a sensitive LC-MS-MS method for the baseline separation and quantification of four betaines found in algae, namely, glycine betaine, δ-aminovaleric acid betaine, γ-aminobu...
Source: Springer protocols feed by Plant Sciences - June 26, 2015 Category: Biology Source Type: news
Characterization of Phlorotannins from Brown Algae by LC-HRMS
Phlorotannins are a class of polyphenols found in brown seaweeds that have significant potential for use as therapeutics, owing to their wide range of bioactivities. Molecular characterization of phlorotannin-enriched extracts is challenging due to the extreme sample complexity and the wide range of molecular weights observed. Herein, we describe a method for characterizing phlorotannins employing ultrahigh-pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC) operating in hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) mode combined with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). (Source: Springer protocols feed by Plant Sciences)
Source: Springer protocols feed by Plant Sciences - June 26, 2015 Category: Biology Source Type: news
The Use of HPLC for the Characterization of Phytoplankton Pigments
HPLC is still the technique of choice for the analysis and characterization of phytoplankton pigments. In this chapter we describe procedures for sample preparation and pigment extraction, and the use of octyl silica columns and pyridine-containing mobile phases to separate chlorophylls and carotenoids. The identification of pigments on the basis of their retention times and visible spectra, the preparation of pigment standards, and the quantitative analysis by either external or internal standard procedures are also described. (Source: Springer protocols feed by Plant Sciences)
Source: Springer protocols feed by Plant Sciences - June 26, 2015 Category: Biology Source Type: news
Extraction, Isolation, and Identification of Sesquiterpenes from Laurencia Species
The knowledge about the chemical structure of the secondary metabolites and their relative abundances in algae is very important to several fields of basic and applied research in biology, chemistry, and many other disciplines. The attainment of such knowledge requires special attention to the origin of the organism in question and the methodology applied. Here, we present a protocol to obtain and identify some sesquiterpenes from Laurencia species based on traditional methodologies, such as flash and thin-layer chromatographies, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Red algae o...
Source: Springer protocols feed by Plant Sciences - June 26, 2015 Category: Biology Source Type: news
Extraction, Purification, and NMR Analysis of Terpenes from Brown Algae
Algal terpenes constitute a wide and well-documented group of marine natural products with structures differing from their terrestrial plant biosynthetic analogues. Amongst macroalgae, brown seaweeds are considered as one of the richest source of biologically and ecologically relevant terpenoids. These metabolites, mostly encountered in algae of the class Phaeophyceae, are mainly diterpenes and meroditerpenes (metabolites of mixed biogenesis characterized by a toluquinol or a toluquinone nucleus linked to a diterpene moiety). (Source: Springer protocols feed by Plant Sciences)
Source: Springer protocols feed by Plant Sciences - June 26, 2015 Category: Biology Source Type: news
HRMAS NMR Analysis of Algae and Identification of Molecules of Interest via Conventional 1D and 2D NMR: Sample Preparation and Optimization of Experimental Conditions
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has become an astounding tool for molecular characterization. Thanks to the development of probes and the increase of magnetic field, NMR has entered the field of biology and facilitated the identification of natural compounds. Indeed, this nondestructive NMR tool makes possible the complete characterization of less and less quantities of material via 1D and 2D sequences on many nuclei (e.g., 1H, 13C, 31P, 15N). More recently, the development of high-resolution magic-angle spinning (HRMAS) probes have permitted direct analysis of living tissue (e.g., a piece of algae) without prior extracti...
Source: Springer protocols feed by Plant Sciences - June 26, 2015 Category: Biology Source Type: news
Lipids and Fatty Acids in Algae: Extraction, Fractionation into Lipid Classes, and Analysis by Gas Chromatography Coupled with Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID)
Despite the number of biochemical studies exploring algal lipids and fatty acid biosynthesis pathways and profiles, analytical methods used by phycologists for this purpose are often diverse and incompletely described. Potential confusion and potential variability of the results between studies can therefore occur due to change of protocols for lipid extraction and fractionation, as well as fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) preparation before gas chromatography (GC) analyses. Here, we describe a step-by-step procedure for the profiling of neutral and polar lipids using techniques such as solid–liquid extraction (SLE), ...
Source: Springer protocols feed by Plant Sciences - June 26, 2015 Category: Biology Source Type: news
Extraction and Analysis of Oxylipins from Macroalgae Illustrated on the Example Gracilaria vermiculophylla
Oxylipins are natural products that are derived by oxidative transformations of unsaturated fatty acids. These metabolites are found in a wide range of organisms from the animal kingdom to plants and algae. They represent an important class of signaling molecules, mediating intra- and intercellular processes such as development, inflammation, and other stress responses. In addition, these metabolites directly function as chemical defense against grazers and pathogens. In the red alga Gracilaria vermiculophylla, oxylipin production is initiated by mechanical tissue disruption and can also be induced in intact algae in respo...
Source: Springer protocols feed by Plant Sciences - June 26, 2015 Category: Biology Source Type: news
