Impact of Neurotransmitters on the Fatty Acid Composition and the Pigments of the Green Microalga Scenedesmus quadricauda

Abstract Apart from their functions in the nervous system of animals, neurotransmitters operate as regulatory agents and signals in diverse kingdoms of life. Some neurotransmitters have recently been revealed to exert specific effects on microalgae, predominantly functioning as algal growth stimulators. This article presents new data on the effects of such neurotransmitters as serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, histamine, and acetylcholine on the fatty acid and pigment composition of the green microalga Scenedesmus quadricauda (Turp.) Breb. K-1149. It was established that acetylcholine and, to a lesser extent, histamine increased the total fatty acid content of S. quadricauda cells, whereas serotonin and dopamine decreased the fatty acid content. Acetylcholine, histamine, and norepinephrine elevated the percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids; in contrast, serotonin and dopamine increased the share of saturated fatty acids. Acetylcholine and, to a lesser extent, norepinephrine increased the total chlorophyll content per gram of dry weight in S. quadricauda, while histamine decreased the chlorophyll content. Histamine also increased the chlorophyll a /chlorophyll b and carotenoid/chlorophyll ratios, which were decreased by dopamine. The data obtained are of biotechnological and ecological interest. The stimulation of fatty acid accumulation and the increase in the percentage of polyunsaturated species was caused by the neurotransmitters acetylcholine and histamine at low (1–10 μM) concentrations, which potentially enables facilitating the biotechnological production of health-promoting preparations for therapeutic and cosmetic purposes. However, other neurotransmitters (dopamine and serotonin) tested increased the relative content of saturated fatty acids; therefore, they apparently can be used to stimulate biofuel production, since saturated fatty acid-rich lipids are advantageous raw materials for biodiesel production. The impact of neurotransmitters on microalgal fatty acid composition and photosystem components may be considered in terms of ongoing chemical interaction between microalgae and other aquatic ecosystem components that are known to produce neurotransmitters.