''Delisea pulchra'' is a red algae found in Southern Australia,

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, the Subantarctic Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. It produces a range of

secondary metabolite Secondary metabolites, also called specialised metabolites, toxins, secondary products, or natural products, are organic compounds produced by any lifeform, e.g. bacteria, fungi, animals, or plants, which are not directly involved in the norma ...

s called

halogenated In chemistry, halogenation is a chemical reaction that entails the introduction of one or more halogens into a compound. Halide-containing compounds are pervasive, making this type of transformation important, e.g. in the production of polymers, ...

furanones that have ecological roles as defenses against epiphytes and herbivores.

Halogenated furanones in ''Delisea pulchra''

Localisation of furanones

Furanones are localised in the central vesicle of gland cells in ''D. pulchra''''.'' The presence of a series of conjugated double bonds in the structure of furanones cause these compounds to fluoresce when excited by the wavelength close to UV. Four (4) main types of

furanones were found in this species. Prevention of biofilm on Delisea pulchra's surface The halogenated furanones produced by ''D. pulchra'' are structurally similar to bacterial signalling molecules called acylated homoserine lactones (AHL). There is evidence that the halogenated furanones attach to the bacteria receptor proteins for AHLs disabling bacterial communication. In this way the seaweed can prevent biofilm accumulation on its surface.

References

Bonnemaisoniales Algae of Australia {{rhodophyta-stub