99
© Springer International Publishing AG 2017
M. Kumar, P. Ralph (eds.), Systems Biology of Marine Ecosystems,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-62094-7_5
Chapter 5
Volatiles in the Aquatic Marine Ecosystem:
Ethylene and Related Plant Hormones
and Sporulation in Red Seaweeds
P. Garcia-Jimenez and R.R. Robaina
Abstract Reports on the production of volatile compounds in algae have been
focused on what they produce rather than on their functions. In this scenario, a
myriad of fatty acid derivatives, nitrogen-containing compounds, organic halogen
compounds, sulphur compounds and compounds derived from transferase activity
have been described. Recently, a broad range of these volatile compounds has also
been identified under a physiological complex pattern in algae, inferring that seaweeds must somehow integrate signals not only to reply to environmental status but
also as a response to their growth and development capacity. Evidence comes from
algal mats, which suffer sudden increments in the number of reproductive structures
and correspondingly abrupt decreases in biomass. Specifically, the emission of airborne substances, such as ethylene and dimethylsulphide (DMS), has provided
valuable information on their participation in algal physiology. DMS is affected by
environmental factors such as light and salinity. In addition, the time course of DMS
and ethylene release has revealed that the synthesis of ethylene, via the alternative
route of DMSP lyase, is not a priority in the red seaweeds. Furthermore, ethylene
has a significant effect on the formation of reproductive structures and the sporulation of the red seaweeds Grateloupia imbricata and Pterocladiella capillacea. Our
data suggest that the presence of putative receptors and the response of ethylene
could be influenced by the length of exposure to this volatile.
Unfortunately, despite the importance of all these facts in the formation of reproductive structures and spore germination, there is to date scant information at a
molecular level, and little is known about the role of genes on these processes. In
this chapter, we aim to compile the current knowledge of volatile compounds in
algae. We will discuss the relation between the emission of volatiles and algal physiology and mainly focus on the involvement of volatiles in the reproduction of red
seaweeds. As far as possible, we will try to unveil the molecular mechanisms of the
perception of volatiles.
P. Garcia-Jimenez (*) • R.R. Robaina
Department Biology, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran
Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands 35017, Spain
e-mail: pilar.garcia@ulpgc.es
© Springer International Publishing AG 2017
M. Kumar, P. Ralph (eds.), Systems Biology of Marine Ecosystems,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-62094-7_5
Chapter 5
Volatiles in the Aquatic Marine Ecosystem:
Ethylene and Related Plant Hormones
and Sporulation in Red Seaweeds
P. Garcia-Jimenez and R.R. Robaina
Abstract Reports on the production of volatile compounds in algae have been
focused on what they produce rather than on their functions. In this scenario, a
myriad of fatty acid derivatives, nitrogen-containing compounds, organic halogen
compounds, sulphur compounds and compounds derived from transferase activity
have been described. Recently, a broad range of these volatile compounds has also
been identified under a physiological complex pattern in algae, inferring that seaweeds must somehow integrate signals not only to reply to environmental status but
also as a response to their growth and development capacity. Evidence comes from
algal mats, which suffer sudden increments in the number of reproductive structures
and correspondingly abrupt decreases in biomass. Specifically, the emission of airborne substances, such as ethylene and dimethylsulphide (DMS), has provided
valuable information on their participation in algal physiology. DMS is affected by
environmental factors such as light and salinity. In addition, the time course of DMS
and ethylene release has revealed that the synthesis of ethylene, via the alternative
route of DMSP lyase, is not a priority in the red seaweeds. Furthermore, ethylene
has a significant effect on the formation of reproductive structures and the sporulation of the red seaweeds Grateloupia imbricata and Pterocladiella capillacea. Our
data suggest that the presence of putative receptors and the response of ethylene
could be influenced by the length of exposure to this volatile.
Unfortunately, despite the importance of all these facts in the formation of reproductive structures and spore germination, there is to date scant information at a
molecular level, and little is known about the role of genes on these processes. In
this chapter, we aim to compile the current knowledge of volatile compounds in
algae. We will discuss the relation between the emission of volatiles and algal physiology and mainly focus on the involvement of volatiles in the reproduction of red
seaweeds. As far as possible, we will try to unveil the molecular mechanisms of the
perception of volatiles.
P. Garcia-Jimenez (*) • R.R. Robaina
Department Biology, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran
Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands 35017, Spain
e-mail: pilar.garcia@ulpgc.es