The composition and diversity of dinosporin in species of the Apectodinium complex (Dinoflagellata)

Organic-walled dinoflagellate cysts, produced as a result of sexual reproduction, are important tools for studies on recent and past environments. Additionally, the organic-walled cysts can be used as proxies for understanding the composition and chemical transformations of marine kerogen, the largest global organic carbon pool. However, any usage of dinoflagellate cysts in this manner is predicated on an understanding of the composition and transformations of this potential proxy. Dinoflagellate cyst walls are composed of “dinosporin”, a refractory biomacromolecule that probably represents a suite of chemically distinct biopolymers. In order to investigate both the nature of dinosporin and the extent to which the composition of this biomacromolecule may differ between dinoflagellate cyst taxa, we analyzed cyst species from the genus Apectodinium. The species defined within this genus are visually similar with several seeming to represent end-members along a continuum of morphological variation. Micro-Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis was performed on three of these morphospecies (identified visually as A. paniculatum, A. parvum and A. augustum) from two regionally distinct samples. The analyses showed consistent patterns with clear differences between the species. The dinosporin of A. paniculatum closely resembles cellulose and is rich in ether bonds (CO), while the dinosporin of A. augustum contains more carboxyl (COOH) groups. A. parvum appears intermediate in many respects, despite representing an end-member in terms of morphology. These differences are consistent regardless of the regional setting or post-depositional conditions, and strongly suggest that the original cyst wall composition of the species differed when the cysts were formed. These data are the first to clearly show differences in cyst wall composition between species of the same genus and indicate that the chemical diversity of dinosporins is greater than previously thought.

► The cyst wall chemistry of species of the Apectodinium genus was investigated.
► Species were analyzed using micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.
► Clear differences in cyst wall chemistry exist between the various morphospecies.
► Dinosporin composition may be taxon specific.
► Dinosporin is also distinct from other resistant biomacromolecules.