Separation and Identification of Nucleotides in Some Seaweeds

Abstract

Distribution patterns of nucleotides in five different species of edible marine algae were investigated in order to elucidate the possible relation between these nucleotides and flavor of algae. The nucleotides in the extracts from the seaweeds were fractionated by anion-exchange column and paper chromatographies, and identified by spectral and chemical analyses. The contents of nucleotides in these seaweeds were negligibly small except for Porphyraand Hizikia. In the fronds of Porphyra, with both raw and dried, not only a quantity of 5'-IMP but also a few amounts of IDP, CMP, LIMP, and GMP were contained. Only negligible amounts of AMP and ADP, however, were found in the extracts from this alga. In addition, a considerable activity of AMP deaminase which also showed the activity toward ADP was found in Porphyra tenera. It was suggested by these findings that both IMP and IDP might be enzymatically produced in vivo from AMP and ADP, respectively. Thus, it is interesting that IMP which is known to be widely distributed in animals but rarely in plants occurred only in Porphyra among five algae tested. In view of the fact that Porphyra is phylogenetically primitive and most commonly used for food, the occurrence of IMP in this alga is worthy of note. Nucleotide patterns of Porphyra seemed to vary significantly depending on the season, although no details were investigated in this respect.