Protective pigmentation in UVB-screened Antarctic lichens studied by Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy: an extremophile bioresponse to radiation stress

Edwards, Howell G.M.; Cockell, Charles S.; Newton, Emma M.; Wynn-Williams, David D.. 2004 Protective pigmentation in UVB-screened Antarctic lichens studied by Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy: an extremophile bioresponse to radiation stress. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 35 (6). 463-469. 10.1002/jrs.1172

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Abstract/Summary

FT-Raman spectra were obtained for two Antarctic extremophiles, the epilithic lichens Xanthoria elegans and Caloplaca sublobulata from the maritime ecological long-term research site on Leonie Island. Twelve specimens from cloches designed for the filtering out and transmission of UVB radiation over a 2 year period and two specimens from the natural habitat outside the cloches were analysed in terms of their characteristic Raman bands from the two photoprotective pigments parietin and beta-carotene. Following chemometric analysis, the specimens inside the UVB-protective cloches exhibited a lower parietin:beta-carotene ratio than specimens from the same habitat that did not have UVB protection. The relative roles of parietin, a passive UVB photoprotectant, and beta-carotene are discussed and a possible duality of biological function is suggested for these pigments.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1002/jrs.1172
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Antarctic Science in the Global Context (2000-2005) > Life at the Edge - Stresses and Thresholds
ISSN:	0377-0486
Additional Keywords:	UV radiation stress, Antarctic lichens, Mars analogues, radiation stress, photoprotective pigments
NORA Subject Terms:	Botany Ecology and Environment Earth Sciences
Date made live:	16 Jan 2012 13:24 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/12155

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