102 resultados para Polysiphonia
Resumo:
Four new halogenated sesquiterpenes, 10-bromo-3-chloro-2,7-epoxychamigr-9-en-8a-of (1), 2,10 beta-dibromochamigra-2,7-dien-9 alpha-ol (2), (9S)-2-bromo-3-chloro-6,9-epoxybisabola-7(14),10-diene (3), and (9R)-2-bromo-3-chloro-6,9-epoxybisabola-7(14),10-diene (4), were characterized from the marine red alga Laurencia saitoi. In addition, two known halosesquiterpenes, 2,10-dibromo-3-chlorochamigr-7-en-9 alpha-ol (5) and isolaurenisol (6), were also isolated and identified. Their structures were established on the basis of extensive analysis of spectroscopic data.
Resumo:
The C-phycocyanin and the R-phycoerythrin were purified from the blue-green alga Spirulina platensis and red alga Polysiphonia urceolata respectively. Both sodium periodate and glutaraldehyde are effective coupling agents being capable of constructing the R-phycoerythrin-C-phycocyanin conjugate, which was also called phycobiliproteins energy transfer model. The two artificial conjugates constructed with different methods were purified by Sephadex G-200 chromatography respectively. Spectra analysis indicated that energy transfer occurred in the two conjugates. The conjugate with sodium periodate had the higher efficiency of energy transfer than that with glutaraldehyde conjugate.
Resumo:
Polysiphonia urceolata R-phycoerythrin and Porphyridium cruentum B-phycoerythrin were degraded with proteinaseK, and then the nearly native gamma subunits were isolated from the reaction mixture. The process of degradation of phycoerythrin with proteinaseK showed that the gamma subunit is located in the central cavity of (alpha beta)(6) hexamer of phycoerythrin. Comparative analysis of the spectra of the native phycoerythrin, the phycoerythrin at pH 12 and the isolated gamma subunit showed that the absorption peaks of phycoerythrobilins on alpha or beta subunit are at 535 nm (or 545 nm) and 565 nm, the fluorescence emission maximum at 580 nm; the absorption peak of phycoerythrobilins on the isolated gamma subunit is at 589 nm, the fluorescence emission peak at 620 nm which overlaps the absorption maximum of C-phycocyanin and perhaps contributes to the energy transfer with high efficiency between phycoerythrin and phycocyanin in phycobilisome; the absorption maximum of phycourobilin on the isolated gamma subunit is at 498 nm, which is the same as that in native phycoerythrin, and the fluorescence emission maximum at 575 nm.
Resumo:
Two new and one known squalenoid-derived triterpenoids. namely, laurenmariannol (1) and (21 alpha)-21-hydroxythyrsiferol (2). and the known thyrsiferol (3) were isolated and identified from the marine red alga Laurencia mariannensis, which was collected off the coast of Hainan and Weizhou Islands of China. The structures of these compounds were established by means of spectroscopic analyses, as well as by comparison with literature data. Compounds I and 2 displayed significant cytotoxic activity against P-388 tumor cells with IC50 values of 0.6 and 6.6 mu g/ml, respectively.
Resumo:
海洋生物具有产生丰富多样的次生代谢产物的能力,其中红藻门松节藻科海藻卤代次生代谢产物以其结构新颖、生物活性独特引起了天然产物化学家的重视。 本论文对海洋红藻多管藻和松节藻进行了化学成分研究,综合利用各种色谱学方法 (硅胶柱层析、反相硅胶柱层析、凝胶Sephadex LH-20柱层析、半制备高效液相色谱以及重结晶等) 和现代波谱学技术 (IR、UV、EI-MS、FAB-MS、HR-ESI-MS、CD、1H-NMR、13C-NMR、DEPT、1H-1H COSY、HSQC、HMBC等),共分离鉴定了100个化合物,发现25个新化合物。 从多管藻中分离鉴定38个化合物 (24个溴酚化合物),其中7个新化合物 (均为溴酚化合物),包括1个菲并呋喃结构溴酚 (P1), 2个二氢菲结构溴酚 (P2, P3),1个含 5,7-dihydrodibenzo[c,e]oxepine 结构溴酚 (P4)和3个简单溴酚 (P5, P6, P7)。P1 (urceolatin) 属首例报道的具有菲并呋喃结构的天然产物,从该种中分离的化合物P12 和 P13 可能是其生源合成的前体。P2和P3为第二例报道的具有二氢菲结构的溴酚化合物。 从松节藻中分离并鉴定了62 个化合物,其中18 个为溴酚类新化合物,44 个为已知化合物。化合物具有多变的取代基团,包括2 个脲基吡咯烷酮溴酚化合物 (R1, R2), 4 个γ-脲基丁酸溴酚化合物 (R3-R6),5 个酰胺溴酚化合物 (R7, R8, R9, R13, R14),1 个溴酚砜化合物 (R12), 1 个Xanthene 溴酚化合物 (R10)和5 个简单溴酚化合物 (R11, R15, R16, R17, R18)。R1、R2 是首例报道的含有脲基吡咯烷酮片段的天然产物,R10 为首次报道的溴代Xanthene 类天然产物。 对分离到的化合物进行了清除DPPH 和ABTS两种自由基活性的筛选。结果发现溴酚类天然产物具有显著的DPPH自由基清除活性,其中R3 的IC50 仅为3.3 μM, 其活性强度约为阳性对照BHT (IC50 为82.1 μM) 的24倍。另外,溴酚类天然产物对ABTS自由基有较强的清除活性,R2 的TEAC(Trolox efficency activity capacity)值为5.2 mM,约为阳性对照 (ascorbic acid, 1.02 mM) 的 5 倍。初步的构效关系研究发现,稠环分子、多羟基和邻位甲氧基等结构特点能有效增强DPPH 自由基清除活性;特殊取代基如脲基、吡咯烷酮等含有氮原子的基团,能有效增强ABTS 自由基清除活性,多羟基、溴代等结构特点也使其活性有所增强。 本研究结果丰富了海藻卤代化合物的结构类型,为多管藻和松节藻的合理利用提供了一定的科学依据。
Resumo:
对四种大型海藻:江篱(Gracilaria textorii)、孔石莼(Ulva pertusa)、海带苗(Laminaria japonica)和多管藻(Polysiphonia urceolata)表面附着弧菌的多样性进行了分析,同时对多样性分析中采用的不同方法进行了比较。 利用TCBS培养基从四种海藻表面总共分离到12株细菌:G1、G2分离自江篱,U3分离自孔石莼,L4、L5、L6分离自海带苗,P7、P8、P9、P10、P11、P12分离自多管藻。菌株G1,G2属于盐单胞菌(Halomonas),其余10株细菌都属于弧菌(Vibrio)。 对12株细菌的酶学活性、抗生素抗性进行了研究。发现除G1、G2外,其余菌株都可产生淀粉酶和明胶酶。菌株G1、G2和U3对氨苄青霉素、链霉素和四环素有很强抗性。 采用多种分子生物学方法(16S rDNA、gyrB、RFLP、DGGE )分析了上述12株菌的系统发育关系,对不同方法获得的结果进行了比较。 12株菌的16S rDNA系统发生树可分为4个明显分支。G1、G2与细菌H. meridiana构成一个分支。U3与V. lentus构成一个分支。L4、L5、L6、P9、P10、P11、P12与V. tasmaniesis形成一个分支。P7、P8与V. splendidus形成一个分支。 以gyrB基因序列为基础构建的系统发生树将G1、G2以外的10株弧菌分成4个较大分支,L4、P9属于同一分支,L6、P8、P10、P11和P12属于一个大的分支, U3、L5各自构成一个分支。菌株G1、G2没有得到gyrB基因序列扩增带。表明试验设计的引物是弧菌特异性引物。相对16S rDNA,不同菌株间gyrB基因序列差异性更大。 RFLP分析结果显示,12株细菌HinfI酶切后得到6种带型,SmaI酶切后得到4种带型。结合16S rDNA、gyrB基因的分析结果可知,RFLP可以在种的水平上有效进行细菌多样性分析。 12株细菌的DGGE分析结果显示,G1、G2与其它菌株电泳图谱有明显不同。菌株U3独自构成一种带型,L5、L6构成一种带型。表明DGGE技术在属的水平上分析细菌多样性效果较好,在种的水平上分析细菌多样性有一定的局限性。
Resumo:
不饱和脂肪酯是人及动物生长发育的必需物质。本论文分析了海洋动植物脂和脂肪酸的组成,并对不饱和脂肪酸的分离提纯方法进行了研究。一、海洋动植物的中性脂主要包括三酰甘油和胆固醇。动物极性脂主要为磷脂,包括磷脂酰丝馆酸(PS)、磷脂酸(PA)、磷脂酰肌醇(PI)、溶解性磷脂酰乙醇胺(LPE)、神经鞘磷脂(CAEP)、磷脂酰胆碱(PC)、磷脂酰乙醇胺(PE),双磷脂酰甘油(DPG)。其中LPE、DPG为动物所特有的磷脂。植物极性脂包括PI、PC、PE、双半乳糖苷地酰甘油酯(DGDG)、硫代6-脱氧葡萄糖苷二酰甘油酯(SQDG)、单半乳糖苷二酰甘油酯(MGDG)、磷脂酰甘油(PG)及植物脑苷脂(Plant Cerebrosides)。其中MGDG、DGDG、SQDG为植物所特有的三种糖脂。二、海洋动植物含有丰富的不饱和脂肪酸,多聚不饱和脂肪酸(PUFA)含量尤为显著。灰凹贻贝(Crenomythilus graiaynus)的二十碳五烯酸(EPA)含量为10.6%,二十碳四烯酸(AA)为3.7%,二十二碳六烯酸(DHA)为14.26%。中间球海胆(Strongylocentrotus intermedius)的AA含量为7.36%,EPA为15.98%。内枝多管藻(Polysiphonia morroωii)PUFA含量非常高,AA占2.43%,20:4ω3占4.97%,EPA占45.03%。裙带菜(Undaria pinnatifida)的PUFA中,十八碳二烯酸占6.16%,AA占12.99%,EPA占7.83%这些PUFA大都为人及动物生长发育的必需脂肪酸。三、尿素诱导法是大量提取混合PUFA的有效方法。在产品中,饱和脂肪酸的含量可以忽略不计,单烯脂肪酸含量降低很多;高吸附能力的柱层析是提取PUFA单体的较好方法,其产物的纯度达98%以上。
Resumo:
海藻是海洋生物中的一大类群,由于其特殊的生活环境,能够代谢产生大量结构独特多变和活性特殊多样的代谢产物,是化学和生物活性多样性研究的重要对象之一。我国海域辽阔,海藻资源丰富,为寻找结构新颖、生理活性独特的先导化合物,加强对海藻资源的开发利用,本论文对中国沿海的三种海洋红藻进行了化学成分和生物活性研究,同时对山东青岛海域生物量丰富的一种海洋红藻松节藻进行了动物体内抗糖尿病活性研究。 利用正相硅胶柱色谱、Sephadex LH-20柱色谱以及反相HPLC和重结晶等现代分离手段,对山东青岛沿海的红藻扇形叉枝藻(Gymnogongrus flabelliformis)进行了系统的化学成分研究,从中得到单体化合物26个,通过波谱学方法(IR、MS、NMR等)鉴定了他们的结构,分别为(3R,6R,7E)-(+)-3-O-phenylacetyl- 4,7-megastigmadiene-9-one(1),(3R,7E)-(-)-3-O-phenylacetyl-5,7-megastigmadiene -9-one(2),(3S,6R,7E)-(+)-3-hydroxyl-4,7-megastigmadien-9-one(3),(3S,5R,6S,7E)- (-)-3-hydroxy-5,6-epoxy-7-megastigmene-9-one(4),(3S,5S,6R,7E)-(+)-3-hydroxy- 5,6-epoxy-7-megastigmene-9-one(5),Dehydrovomifoliol(6),(3R)-(-)-4-[(2R,4S)-4- acetoxy-2-hydroxy-2,6,6-trimethylcyclohexylidene]-3-buten-2-one(7),2,3,3′-三溴-4,4′,5,5′-四羟基-1′-乙氧甲基双苯基甲烷(8),2,2′,3,3′-四溴-4,4′,5,5′-四羟基双苯基甲烷(9),3-溴-4,5-二羟基苯甲醛(10),2,3-二溴-4,5-二羟基苯甲基甲醚(11),2,3-二溴-4,5-二羟基苯甲醇(12),N, N-二甲基酪胺(13),4-羟基苯甲酸乙酯(14),4-羟基苯甲基乙醚(15),4-羟基苯乙基乙酯(16),4-羟基苯乙酸甲酯(17),4-羟基苯甲醛(18),豆甾-4-烯-3-酮(19),胆甾-4-烯-3-酮(20),胆甾醇(21),尿嘧啶(22),尿嘧啶核苷(23),腺嘌呤核苷(24),丁二酸(25),5-羟基-4-甲基-5-戊基-2,5-二氢呋喃-2-酮(26)。其中化合物1、2为新化合物,化合物3为新天然产物,所有化合物均为首次从该属海藻中分离得到。通过 MTT 法对部分单体化合物进行了肿瘤细胞毒活性筛选, 结果表明,化合物8、9、10、12对筛选的所有细胞株均有较强细胞毒活性,化合物11对人肺癌细胞株(A549)、人肝癌细胞株(Bel 7402)、人结肠癌细胞株(HCT-8)有一定细胞毒活性。通过研究单体化合物对小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞TNF-分泌的影响,对其进行抗炎活性筛选,结果表明,化合物8、9、11、13、17、23、24、25对小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞TNF-分泌表现出明显的抑制作用。 从采自山东荣成镆铘岛的红藻小珊瑚藻(Corallina pilulifera)的乙酸乙酯萃取物中分离得到16个单体化合物,通过波谱学方法鉴定化合物结构14个(另外2个正在鉴定中),分别为2α-乙氧酰基-2β-羟基-A-降胆甾-5-烯-4-酮(27),胆甾-4-烯-3-酮(28),胆甾醇(29),3β-羟基-胆甾-5,24(28)-二烯-7-酮(30),2α-羟基-胆甾-4-烯-3-酮(31),6α-羟基-胆甾-4-烯-3-酮(32),3β-羟基-胆甾-5-烯-7-酮(33),(E)-phytol epoxide(34),Phytenal(35),3,7,11,15- tetramethyl-hexadec-2-en-1-oll(Phytol)(36),Loloilide(37),(3S,5R,6S,7E)-(-)-3-hydroxy-5,6-epoxy-7- megastigmene-9-one(38),Dehydrovomifoliol(39),4-羟基苯甲醛(40)。其中,化合物 31为新天然产物,化合物27为首次从植物中分离得到,所有化合物均为首次从该种海藻中分离得到。通过 MTT 法对分离得到的单体化合物进行了肿瘤细胞毒活性筛选,化合物27和化合物32对筛选的所有肿瘤细胞株均有细胞毒活性,且化合物27对人胃癌细胞株(BGC-823)、人结肠癌细胞株(HCT-8)和人卵巢癌细胞株(A2780)具有中等强度抑制活性。化合物28、化合物31和化合物33对人肝癌细胞株(Bel 7402)、人结肠癌细胞株(HCT-8)和人卵巢癌细胞株(A2780)有一定细胞毒活性。 从采自广西北海涠洲岛的多管藻Polysiphonia sp.的乙酸乙酯萃取物中分离得到6个单体化合物,通过波谱学方法鉴定化合物结构5个(另外1个仍在鉴定),分别为胆甾醇(41),3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-hexadec-2-en-1-ol(Phytol)(42),3-吲哚甲醛(43),4-羟基苯甲醛(44),4-羟基苯甲酸(45)。 对山东青岛沿海的松节藻 (Rhodomela confervoides) 乙醇提取物进行了初步的体内抗糖尿病活性研究,采用链脲佐菌素诱导的2型糖尿病(STZ-DM)大鼠模型对其进行体内降糖实验,结果发现,松节藻乙醇提取物在糖尿病大鼠体内不仅具有显著的降血糖作用,且呈现良好的量–效关系,而且能够纠正糖尿病引发的物质代谢紊乱,增加体重,提高试验动物的成活率,因此具有良好的应用开发前景。
Resumo:
使用膨化柱和离子交换或羟基磷灰石柱层析相结合的方法,分别从多管藻、坛紫菜及钝顶螺旋藻中分离纯化了R-藻红蛋白溶液和C-藻蓝蛋白。光谱检测及电泳分析结果证明完全符合经典的藻胆蛋白纯度标准。彭化床最突出的优点是克服了常规分离方法堵塞色谱柱的难题,纯化速度快、产量高、不需要常规色谱方法所要求的填料的平衡及粗提液的预处理,仅需一步操作就可以得到满足一般食品添加剂纯度要求的藻胆蛋白,极大地简化了后续的纯化程序,减少了分离纯化的步骤和时间,而其产率及纯度均高于常规的藻胆蛋白分离方法。这同时也降低了藻胆蛋白分离纯化的成本。 本文通过戊二醛或环氧氯丙烷交联的方法,合成了四种壳聚糖-氨基酸共聚小球。并选取吸附性好的戊二醛交联孔球和戊二醛交联微球系统测定了其对R-藻红蛋白和C-藻蓝蛋白的吸附和缓释性能。 纯化了藓羽藻中与其细胞器团聚密切相关的一种凝集素并进行了部分性质的鉴定。N端前15个氨基酸序列及LC-ESI-MS质谱分析结果证明此凝集素属于一种新的蛋白质族。实验证明,凝血活性与细胞器团聚活性并不完全依赖于此凝集素分子相同的结构域。 通过异双功能试剂SPDP处理藓羽藻凝集素使之衍生化,DTT处理R-PE在其分子内引入外源巯基,然后将活化的R-藻红蛋白与凝集素进行交联反应。交联产物经凝胶过滤纯化并检测,但电泳及荧光显微镜检测结果并不能证明交联探针的成功制备。
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海洋微生物次生代谢产物是海洋天然产物研究的重要组成部分。其中海洋真菌因其代谢可以产生大量结构新颖活性独特的化合物,已经成为天然药物的重要来源。近来已经有许多关于海洋生物内生真菌的生理活性次生代谢的报道,为寻找发现新的药物先导化合物提供了可能。本论文对一株毛壳霉属海藻内生真菌Chaetomium sp和一株红树林内生真菌的次生代谢产物的化学成分进行了研究,对其中分离得到的化合物进行了初步的生物活性筛选。 毛壳霉属海藻内生真菌Chaetomium sp.系从青岛近海采集的红藻多管藻Polysiphonia urceolate Grev中分离得到。红树林内生真菌Fs系从采自中国南海红树林植物海桑Sonneratia caseolaris中分离得到。对这两株真菌分别进行了发酵培养,对真菌培养物的菌丝体和发酵液分别用甲醇和乙酸乙脂进行提取。将提取液经减压蒸干后经HPLC检测,两部分基本相同,合并进行化学分离。 对发酵提取物采用常规的硅胶柱层析、制备薄层层析、凝胶Sephadex LH-20柱层析、反相硅胶柱层析,重结晶以及半制备高效液相色谱等分离手段,得到单体化合物。利用各种现代波谱技术(IR、UV、EI-MS、FAB-MS、HR-ESI-MS、1H-NMR、13C-NMR、DEPT、1H-1H COSY、HMQC、HMBC等),结合甲醇解等化学转化方法鉴定了其中45个化合物的结构。其中,从Chaetomium sp分离鉴定了35个化合物,其中2个为新化合物,分别为化合物EN1 (命名为Chaetopyranin)、EN2 (命名为Chaetofuranin)。从Fs中分离鉴定了10个化合物的结构,其中1个为新化合物Fs1。 对大部分分离到的单体化合物进行了细胞毒活性测试,结果显示新化合物EN1对3株细胞系SMMC-7721, HMEC和A-549具有中等细胞毒活性,IC50分别为28.5, 15.4, 39.1 μg/mL。同时一些已知化合物特别是苯甲醛类衍生物对A-549显示了较强的细胞毒活性,这些在以前文献中未见报道。
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We conducted this study to assess the diversity of bacteria associated with the surfaces of algae based on 16S rDNA sequence analyses. Twelve strains of bacteria were obtained from the surfaces of the following four species of algae: Gracilaria textorii, Ulva pertusa, Laminaria japonica, and Polysiphonia urceolata. The isolated strains of bacteria can be divided into two groups: Halomonas and Vibrio, in physiology, biochemical characteristics and 16S rDNA sequence analyses. The phylogenetic tree constructed based on 16S rDNA sequences of the isolates shows four obvious clusters, Halomonas venusta, Vibrio tasmaniensis, Vibrio lentus, and Vibrio splendidus. Isolates from the surface of P. urceolata are more abundant and diverse, of which strains P9 and P28 have a 16S rDNA sequence very similar (97.5%-99.8%) to that of V. splendidus. On the contrary, the isolates from the surfaces of G textorii, U. pertusa and L. japonica are quite simple and distribute on different branches of the phylogenetic tree. In overall, the results of this study indicate that the genetic relationships among the isolates are quite close and display a certain level of host species specificity, and alga-associated bacteria species are algal species specific.
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Eight new bromophenol derivatives, 2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl methyl sulfoxide (1), 4-(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-butene-2-one (2), 2-(3-bromo-5-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-3-(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxyphenyl)propionic acid (3), 2-(3-bromo-5-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-3-(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxyphenyl)propionic acid methyl ester (4), 2-phenyl-3-(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxyphenyl)propionic acid (5), 4'-methoxy-2",3',3"-tribromo-4",5',5"-trihydroxydiphenylacetic acid (6), and 3-bromo-5-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenylacetic acid (7) and its methyl ester (8), together with a known bromophenol, 3-bromo-5-hydroxy4-methoxybenzoic acid (9), were isolated from the red alga Rhodomela confervoides. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including IR, EIMS, FABMS, ESIMS, HRFABMS, HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR, and single-crystal X-ray structure analysis. Compounds 1-4, 8, and 9 were found inactive against several human cancer cell lines and microorganisms.
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Three new bromophenols coupled with pyroglutamic acid derivatives and one bromophenol coupled with deoxyguanosine were obtained from the red alga Rhodomela confervoides. By spectroscopic methods including 2D NMR and single-crystal X-ray structure analysis their structures were elucidated as N-(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl)methyl pyroglutamate (1), N-(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl)pyroglutamic acid (2), N-[3-bromo-2-(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl)-4,5-dihydroxybenzyllmethyl pyroglutamate (3), and 2-N-(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzylamino)deoxyguanosine (4), respectively. Compounds 1-4 were evaluated against several microorganisms and human cancer cell lines, but found inactive. To our knowledge this is the first report of bromophenols coupled with amino acid or nucleoside derivatives through the C-N bond.
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Thirty-nine species of marine algae collected from the coast of China were screened for their antitumor activities, and eight species Leathesia difformes, Polysiphonia urcedata, Scytosiphon lomentarius, Gloiopeliis furcata, Punctaria latifolia, Symphyocladia latiuscula, Rhodomela confervoides and Ulva pertusa showed potent cytotoxic activities. Three, Rhodomela confervoides, Scytosiphon lomentarius and Gloiopeliis furcata, were used for further investigation. More than 30 compounds were isolated and purified, and 14 bromophenols, 1 steroid and 1 carotene were identified by advanced spectroscopic methods including IR, MS, and NMR techniques. Amongst the 16 identified compounds, 7 showed vigorously selective activities against KB, Bel7402 and A549 cancer cells, and 6 bromophenols were new compounds.
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Four of the five members of the Dasyaceae found in the British Isles, Dasya corymbifera J. Agardh, Dasya hutchinsiae Harvey, Dasya punicea Meneghini ex Zanardini and Heterosiphonia plumosa (Ellis) Batters, appear to have Polysiphonia-type life histories on the basis of evidence from field collections of tetrasporophytes and gametophytes. In collections from the British Isles of the fifth species, Dasya ocellata (Grateloup) Harvey, only tetrasporophytes have ever been observed, but there are two reports of gametophytes in this species from further south in Europe. Dasya ocellata tetraspores were isolated into culture from populations in Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland, and Agadir, Morocco, where one female thallus was collected amongst tetrasporophytes. Dasya ocellata from Ireland underwent a direct tetraspore-to-tetrasporophyte life history, which was followed through two complete cycles. Karyological studies showed that meiosis does not occur during tetrasporangial development: tetrasporangia are mitotic, with c. 64 small chromosomes. Comparison with chromosome numbers in meiotic tetrasporangia of D. hutchinsiae (n = c. 32) showed that this is the diploid chromosome complement. Tetraspores from the Moroccan isolate, by contrast, gave rise to gametophytes (although only the males became fertile) and tetrasporophyte recycling did not occur. Thalli sampled from a population in southern Portugal consisted only of tetrasporophytes. Dasya ocellata, like many members of the Ceramiales, shows intraspecific life history variability; a sexual life history apparently occurs only in southern populations.