FATTY-ACIDS OF THE ALGAL CULTURE WESTELLA BOTRYOIDES

The fatty acid compositions of the free fatty acid and total lipid fra ctions of the culture medium of W. botryoides are close, unlike those of the same cell fractions. The development of a culture is accompanie d by an increase in the degree of the fatty acid unsaturation in the l ipid fractions of medium organic substances and cellular free fatty ac ids, and a decrease in the fraction of cellular total lipids. The fatt y acid composition of the algae W. botryoides is close to that of othe r green algae, the main fatty acids having 14, 16, 18, and 20 carbonat oms. Accumulation of fatty acids in the culture medium is related to c ell proliferation and a decrease in the level of functional activity w ith culture age.