Analysis of the Redox Capacity and Metabolomic Profile of the Brown Alga Sargassum filipendula: Spatio-Temporal Variation

• Grant number: 24/16437-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Botany
• Principal Investigator: Fanly Fungyi Chow Ho
• Grantee: Vanessa Sayuri Osaki
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The genus Sargassum is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, playing a fundamental ecological role as a canopy former in marine ecosystems. In addition, its species are known for their high antioxidant potential, attributable to a rich variety of bioactive compounds. This study will explore the spatiotemporal variations in the redox capacity and metabolomic profile of the brown seaweed Sargassum filipendula C.Agardh along the Brazilian coast, in three phytogeographic subprovinces: Tropical Atlantic, Transitional and Warm Temperate Atlantic. Based on the ecological and biotechnological importance of Sargassum, the work will aim to elucidate the biochemical responses of the seaweed to different seasonal and spatial environmental conditions, in order to verify the influence of meteorological and oceanographic factors on the gradients of chemogeographic patterns in the species. The collections will be carried out in two distinct seasonal periods, followed by analyses of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant activity, in addition to the metabolomic profile by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The data obtained will be statistically analyzed to evaluate patterns of variation. The expected results will contribute to the understanding of the physiological plasticity of Sargassum and its adaptation to environmental variations, offering subsidies for the conservation and sustainable management of marine ecosystems and biotechnological exploration of the species.