Study of Biochemical Aspects of Lichen Symbiosis. I. Lipids and Fatty Acids in Cultured Lichen Symbionts

I. A. Bychek-Gushchina¹

¹Institute of Ecology of Volga River Basin, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Komzina 10, Togliatti, 445003 Russia; fax: (8469) 48-95-04.

Submitted August 7, 1996; revision submitted February 10, 1997.

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Lipids and fatty acids were studied in cultured lichen photo- and mycobionts. Contents and composition of phospholipids, betaine lipids, and glycolipids significantly differ between the algae and fungi. The fatty acid composition varied from species to species. Lipid and fatty acid composition of mycobionts depended on culture conditions. The differences indicate that lipid exchange between lichen symbionts can be compartmentalized.

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KEY WORDS: lichen symbiosis, mycobiont, photobiont, lipids, fatty acids.

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