Influence of long term nitrogen limitation on lipid, protein and pigment production of Euglena gracilis in photoheterotrophic cultures

PeerJ

article

Marika Tossavainen¹  Usman Ilyass¹  Velimatti Ollilainen³  Kalle Valkonen¹  Anne Ojala¹  Martin Romantschuk¹ 

[1] Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Ecosystems and Environment Research Programme, University of Helsinki;Oy Soya Ab/Jalofoods;Department of Food and Nutrition Sciences, University of Helsinki;Kyrö Distillery Company;Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Institute of Atmospheric and Earth System Research ,(INAR)/Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki;Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science ,(HELSUS), University of Helsinki

关键词: Microalgae;    Fatty acid;    EPA;    DHA;    LC-PUFA;    Carotenoid;    Carotene;    Neoxanthin;    Diadinoxanthin;    Nutrition;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.6624

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

Nitrogen limitation is considered a good strategy for enhancement of algal lipid production while conversely N repletion has been shown to result in biomass rich in proteins. In this study, the influence of long-term N limitation on Euglena gracilis fatty acid (FA), protein, chlorophyll a, and carotenoid concentrations was studied in N limited cultures. Biomass composition was analyzed from three-time points from N starved late stationary phase cultures, exposed to three different initial N concentrations in the growth medium. Total lipid content increased under N limitation in ageing cultures, but the low N content and prolonged cultivation time resulted in the formation of a high proportion of saturated FAs. Furthermore, growth as well as the production of proteins, chlorophyll a and carotenoids were enhanced in higher N concentrations and metabolism of these cellular components stayed stable during the stationary growth phase. Our findings showed that a higher N availability and a shorter cultivation time is a good strategy for efficient E. gracilis biomass production, regardless of whether the produced biomass is intended for maximal recovery of polyunsaturated FAs, proteins, or photosynthetic pigments. Additionally, we showed an increase of neoxanthin, β-carotene, and diadinoxanthin as a response to higher N availability.

【 授权许可】

CC BY