Polyamines of unicellular thermoacidophilic red alga Cyanidium caldarium

Abstract Polyamines in two types of the unicellular thermoacidophilic red alga (Rhodophyta), Cyanidium caldarium , were analysed. Strain RK-1 (and strain KS-1) contained putrescine, spermidine and spermine. This polyarnine distribution pattern is similar to that found in other red algae belonging to the class Protoflorideophyceae. On the other hand, strain M-8 contained diaminopropane, norspermidine and norspermine in addition to putrescine, spermidine and spermine. Thermospermine was not detected in either type of C. caldarium . This polyainine distribution pattern is quite different from that of any eukaryotic algae. In both types of C. caldarium the concentrations of polyamines, especially tetraamines (spermine and/or norspermine) increased when the culture temperature was raised from 20 to 50°.