FATE OF METABOLITES ISSUED FROM C-14 DARK FIXATION INTO BROWN SEAWEEDS - CONNECTION WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE BIOLOGY

The fate of C-14 supplied during the dark in Fucus serratus L., F. ves iculosus L. and Cystoseira elegans Sauvageau was compared. The metabol ic pathway of carbon was studied, following the flow of C-14 from non- photosynthetic intermediates into different metabolites during labelli ng experiments with C-14-pulse in the dark and C-12-chase in the dark or in the light. As a source of carbon in the dark the predominant rol e of glutamate in Cystoseira, and of glutamate and principally of glyc erate in the Fucus species was stated. Fucus algae incorporated in the light C-14 fixed in the dark. The C-14 radioactivity was found in 3-p hosphoglycerate, phosphorylated sugars, mannitol, alanine, glycine and serine.