USE OF LECTINS TO RECOGNIZE AND DIFFERENTIATE UNICELLULAR ALGAE

Clonal cultures of five species of unicellular algae from three different phyla (Cyanobacteria, two Chroococcus spp.; Dinophyceae, two Prorocentrum lima; Conjugatophyceae, four Spirogyra insignis and two Zygnema spp.) were recognized using nine FITC labeled lectins: Phaseolus limensis (PHA), Phytolacca americana (PWM), Erithryna cristagalli (ECA), Canavalia ensiformis (Con A), Helix pomatia (HPA), Triticum vulgare (WGA), Pisum sativum (PEA), Arachis hypogaea (PNA) and Glycine maxima (SBA). The binding activity of lectins was easily detected by fluorescence, but some lectins were also able to agglutinate cells. Lectins appear to be an interesting tool to identify and differentiate between different clones (genotypes) of the same species. Also, lectins are able to discriminate between phylogenetically closely related species. So, the two Chroococcus spp. clones can be distinguished by PHA; the two Prorocentrum triestinum clones were distinguished by ECA as well as the two Prorocentrum lima clones. Also the four Spirogyra insignis clones can be differentiated using PWN, HPA, PNA and ECA lectins, and the two Zygnema spp. clones were distinguished by ECA and HPA lectins.