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Diverse Biosynthetic Pathways and Protective Functions against Environmental Stress of Antioxidants in Microalgae
Diverse Biosynthetic Pathways and Protective Functions against Environmental Stress of Antioxidants in Microalgae
- Source :
- Plants, Plants, Vol 10, Iss 1250, p 1250 (2021)
- Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- Eukaryotic microalgae have been classified into several biological divisions and have evolutionarily acquired diverse morphologies, metabolisms, and life cycles. They are naturally exposed to environmental stresses that cause oxidative damage due to reactive oxygen species accumulation. To cope with environmental stresses, microalgae contain various antioxidants, including carotenoids, ascorbate (AsA), and glutathione (GSH). Carotenoids are hydrophobic pigments required for light harvesting, photoprotection, and phototaxis. AsA constitutes the AsA-GSH cycle together with GSH and is responsible for photooxidative stress defense. GSH contributes not only to ROS scavenging, but also to heavy metal detoxification and thiol-based redox regulation. The evolutionary diversity of microalgae influences the composition and biosynthetic pathways of these antioxidants. For example, α-carotene and its derivatives are specific to Chlorophyta, whereas diadinoxanthin and fucoxanthin are found in Heterokontophyta, Haptophyta, and Dinophyta. It has been suggested that AsA is biosynthesized via the plant pathway in Chlorophyta and Rhodophyta and via the Euglena pathway in Euglenophyta, Heterokontophyta, and Haptophyta. The GSH biosynthetic pathway is conserved in all biological kingdoms; however, Euglenophyta are able to synthesize an additional thiol antioxidant, trypanothione, using GSH as the substrate. In the present study, we reviewed and discussed the diversity of microalgal antioxidants, including recent findings.
- Subjects :
- 0106 biological sciences
0301 basic medicine
Antioxidant
antioxidant
medicine.medical_treatment
Trypanothione
Plant Science
Review
Haptophyta
01 natural sciences
diversity
03 medical and health sciences
chemistry.chemical_compound
medicine
Fucoxanthin
glutathione
Carotenoid
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Heavy metal detoxification
chemistry.chemical_classification
reactive oxygen species
Ecology
microalgae
Botany
Glutathione
ascorbate
carotenoid
environmental stress
030104 developmental biology
chemistry
Biochemistry
QK1-989
Photoprotection
010606 plant biology & botany
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 22237747
- Volume :
- 10
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....9eff6488334a13639d57c36146b331dc