Screening of diatom cultures for detection of highly branched isoprenoid (HBI) alkenes

Abstract

Some diatoms are able to synthesize and accumulate HBIs – highly branched isoprenoids containing 25 carbon atoms, which are used in paleo-reconstruction of sea ice dynamics. The work assessed the ability of eight strains of diatoms to synthesize and accumulate IP25 (Ice Proxy C25). It was shown that among the studied strains only Navicula salinicola Hustedt and Pleurosigma intermedium W. Smith contain HBIs.