Mycosporine-like amino acid content in the sea anemones Aulactinia marplatensis, Oulactis muscosa and Anthothoe chilensis

The occurrence of mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) in the sea anemones Aulactinia marplatensis (Zamponi, 1977), Oulactis muscosa (Drayton in Dana, 1846) and Anthothoe chilensis (Lesson, 1830), from the rocky intertidal habitats on the coast of Mar del Plata, Argentina, was assessed by HPLC. The pattern of MAAs in the mussel Brachidontes rodriguezi, main component of the diet for A. marplatensis and O. muscosa, was as well determined. The results were comparatively analyzed together and with previously reported MAA content in species mainly of the genus Anthopleura. The correlation between the MAA concentration and light availability of their habitats is in line with the photoprotective role assigned to the compounds. The high proportion of mycosporine-taurine in the three species and the results for the evaluation of MAAs in the mussels point to a non-dietary origin or a regulated biotransformation metabolism of dietary MAAs and/or their precursors that is common to sea anemones.Fil: Arbeloa, Ernesto Maximiliano. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Carignan, Mario Osvaldo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Subsede Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero; ArgentinaFil: Acuña, Fabian Horacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Churio, Maria Sandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Físicas de Mar del Plata. Grupo de Investigación del Departamento de Química de la Unmdp | Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Físicas de Mar del Plata. Grupo de Investigación del Departamento de Química de la Unmdp; ArgentinaFil: Carreto Iraurgui, Jose Ignacio. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias Marinas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Subsede Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero; Argentin

Toxic strains of the Alexandrium ostenfeldii complex in southern South America (Beagle Channel, Argentina)

During phytoplankton monitoring in the Beagle Channel (≈54°52′ S, 67°32′ W) a previously undetected Alexandrium species was observed in coincidence with mouse bioassay toxicity. Detailed thecal plates analysis using epifluorescence and scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence of the Alexandrium ostenfeldii species complex, showing a mixture of the diagnostic features usually used to discriminate between the morphospecies A. ostenfeldii and A. peruvianum. Cells of the A. ostenfeldii complex were commonly observed during spring after the main annual diatom bloom, when temperatures and salinities were respectively around 7.5–10 °C and 30–30.5 psu, and nutrients showed a seasonal decrease. Toxin analysis by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry revealed the production of 13-desmethyl spirolide C and 20-methyl spirolide G in cell cultures. The cellular contain of spirolides during exponential phase growth was 0.5906 ± 0.0032 and 0.1577 ± 0.0023 pg cell−1 for 13-desMe-C and 20-Me-G, respectively. A third unknown compound, with a structure resembling that of spirolides was also detected in culture. Moreover, an additional compound with a similar m/z (692) than that of 13-desMe-C but presenting a higher retention time (Rt = 40.5 min) was found in high proportions in mussel samples. PSP toxins were present at low concentration in mussels but were not detected in cultures. These results extend the world-wide distribution of toxic strains of the A. ostenfeldii complex to the Beagle Channel (southern South America), where toxic events have been traditionally linked to the presence of Alexandrium catenella. This is the first confirmed occurrence of spirolides in mussels and plankton from Argentina, which highlights the importance of monitoring these toxins and their producing organisms to protect public health and improve the management of shellfish resources.Fil: Almandoz, Gaston Osvaldo. Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Division Ficología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Montoya, Nora Gladys. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones y Desarrollo Pesquero; ArgentinaFil: Hernando, Marcelo Pablo. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; ArgentinaFil: Benavides, Hugo R.. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones y Desarrollo Pesquero; ArgentinaFil: Carignan, Mario O.. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones y Desarrollo Pesquero; ArgentinaFil: Ferrario, Martha Elba. Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Division Ficología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin