I have a mutant with an interesting phenotype and I would be
interested in hearing any speculations about the cause of this
characteristc.
The membrane lipids of a recently isolated mutant of a
unicellular marine alga, Nannochloropsis, is deficient in the
fatty acid 20:5. The cells accumulate the fatty acid 20:4 instead.
These cells grow more slowly than wild type on agar.
The strange phenotype is: liquid cultures of the cells are
very sensitive to agitation, i.e., if cells are magnetically stirred
in a small volume of media, they will not grow. Any ideas?
Carrie Schneider
