The excessive growth of Ulva rigida C. Agardh, a green seaweed present
in the Northern Adriatic Sea, is a problem for the inhabitants and th
e economy of the region. As information about hormonal control of grow
th in seaweeds is scarce, our aim was to investigate the presence of e
ndogenous polyamines and their absorption by algal cells and to correl
ate the findings with terrestrial plants. Free polyamines (putrescine,
spermidine, and spermine) were present endogenously in the algal thal
lus at concentrations ranging from 4 to 134 mu M. Putrescine and sperm
idine were also present in the seawater in which the alga usually grow
s at concentrations between 0 and 0.9 mu M. Uptake of labeled polyamin
es occurred, but it was inhibited by cations present in the seawater.
Uptake was investigated also by incubation in distilled water. In this
case, uptake displayed characteristics similar to those observed in h
igher plant systems. Uptake studies in seawater showed that polyamine
accumulation in algal cells occurred and that it followed a concentrat
ion gradient and displayed linear kinetics. The mechanism proposed tha
t of a passive uptake, as indicated also by the inability of metabolic
inhibitors to block transport, There was evidence for polyamine bindi
ng to external cell sites, but polyamine uptake by protoplasts as well
as polyamine translocation and secretion by the whole thallus was als
o demonstrated. Since cultured and actively growing thallus discs disp
layed a higher uptake ability than freshly collected ones, a role for
polyamines in sustaining growth is discussed.