Polyamine Distribution Profiles within Cyanobacteria

Abstract

Cellular polyamines acid-extracted from 63 strains belonging to 25 genera of the phylum Cyanobacteria were analyzed by HPLC. Spermidine was the major polyamine of the order Chroococcales. Homospermidine was found as the major polyamine in the order Nostocales. Spermidine-dominant species and homospermidine-dominant species were found in the orders Pleurocapsales, Oscillatoriales and Stigonematales. Polyamine distribution profiles, found as different triamine types, can be used for the classification of cyanobacteria distributed within the five orders.