Seasonal changes in the chemical composision of the red alga Hypnea musciformis

Abstract

Seasonal changes were observed in the chemical composition of the marine red alga Hypnea musciformis. Lipids, cholesterol, and lanosterol were found as constituents of the algal material. No low-molecular weight carbohydrates were found except small amounts of mannitol. The algal hydrolysate was shown to contain galactose, glucose, and xylose in all seasons and was characterized by a high content of glucuronic acid and its lactone in February. Definite seasonal variations were found in the patterns of free amino acids and of amino acid compositions of proteins.