Changes in the lipid composition of Thalassiosira pseudonana during its life cycle

The lipid and fatty acid (FA) compositions of a marine diatom alga Thalassiosira pseudonana grown in culture were investigated. The relative content of separate lipid classes and their FA composition varied during of the life cycle. During the periods of active cell division and resting cell production, the proportion of polar lipids, as the structural components of cell membranes, increased. Changes in the proportion of lipid classes resulted in shifts in the FA composition of total lipids. It is suggested that the structural components of photosynthetic and cells membranes accumulate in the resting cells. Thereby, a rapid cell growth and an extensive development of the species under favorable environmental conditions is provided.