Adaptive laboratory evolution for increased temperature tolerance of the diatom Nitzschia inconspicua

In this study, adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) was performed for over 300 days using consecutive 0.5 °C temperature increases in a constant temperature incubator to attain greater thermal tolerance in the industrially relevant diatomNitzschia inconspicua str. Hildebrandi. The adapted strain was able to grow at a constant temperature of 37.5 °C; whereas this constant temperature was lethal to the parental control, which had an upper-temperature boundary of 35.5°C before adaptive evolution. This ALE method demonstrates the development of enhanced industrial algal strains without the production of genetically modified organisms. AbstractOutdoor microalgal cultivation for the production of valuable biofuels and bioproducts typically requires high insolation and strains with high thermal (>37 °C) tolerance. While some strains are naturally thermotolerant, other strains of interest require improved performance at elevated temperatures to enhance industrial viability. In this study, adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) was performed for over 300 days using consecutive 0.5°C temperature in creases in a constant temperature incubator to attain greater thermal tolerance in the industrially relevant diatomNitzschia inconspicua str. Hildebrandi. The adapted strain was able to grow at a constant temperature of 37.5 °C; whereas this constant temperature was lethal to the parental control, which had an upper-temperature boundary of 35.5°C before adaptive evolution. Several high...
Source: MicrobiologyOpen - Category: Microbiology Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research