Variación en la concentración de aminoácidos tipo micosporinas en macroalgas de las regiones de Valparaíso y Magallanes, Chile

The synthesis and accumulation of photoprotective compounds, as mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs), is a mechanisms of protection against UV radiation. The photoprotective compounds synthesis can be induced under different stress factors, including intensity and spectral quality: PAR or UVR. The aim of this study was to assess the MAA concentration of 5 intertidal red seaweeds that inhabit the coast of Valparaiso. The results were compared with the MAAs concentration of the same species collected from Magellan Region in order to assess the latitudinal variation of these UV-absorbing compounds. The results indicate that MAA concentration changes with a latitudinal variation, being the species from Valparaíso (lower latitude and consequently, higher solar radiation) exhibited the higher photoprotective compound concentration.