''Euglena sanguinea'' is a species of the genus ''
Euglena
''Euglena'' is a genus of single cell flagellate eukaryotes. It is the best known and most widely studied member of the class Euglenoidea, a diverse group containing some 54 genera and at least 200 species. Species of ''Euglena'' are found in f ...
''. The red colour is due to the presence of
astaxanthin
Astaxanthin is a keto- carotenoid within a group of chemical compounds known as terpenes. Astaxanthin is a metabolite of zeaxanthin and canthaxanthin, containing both hydroxyl and ketone functional groups. It is a lipid-soluble pigment with r ...
and the cells can be populous enough to colour water red. The pigment is used to protect the chloroplasts from light that is too intense, but as the light levels change the cells can take on a green colour as the red pigment is moved to the centre of the cells. ''Euglena sanguinea'' is known to make the potent icthyotoxin
euglenophycin Euglenophycin is an ichthyotoxic compound isolated from ''Euglena sanguinea'', a protist of the genus ''Euglena''. It exhibits anticancer and herbicidal activity ''in vitro''.
History
Many fresh-water algae that produce toxins are known, among w ...
.
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Euglenozoa
Articles containing video clips
Species described in 1830
Taxa named by Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg
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