Optimizing light regimes for neutral lipid accumulation in Dunaliella salina MCC 43: a study on physiological status and carbon allocation

AbstractDunaliella salina is a favourable source of high lipid feedstock for biofuel and medicinal chemicals. Low biomass output from microalgae is a significant barrier to industrial-scale commercialisation. The current study aimed to determine how photosynthetic efficiency, carbon fixation, macromolecular synthesis, accumulation of neutral lipids, and antioxidative defence (ROS scavenging enzyme activities) ofD. salina cells were affected by different light intensities (LI) (50, 100, 200, and 400  µmol m−2 s−1). The cells when exposed to strong light (400  µmol m−2 s−1) led to reduction in chlorophylla but the carotenoid content increased by 19% in comparison to the control (LI 100). The amount of carbohydrate changed significantly under high light and in spite of stress inflicted on the cells by high irradiation, a considerable increase in activity of carbonic anhydrase and fixation rate of CO2 were recorded, thus, preserving the biomass content. The high light exposed biomass when subjected to nitrogen-deficient medium led to increase in lipid content (59.92% of the dry cell weight). However, neutral lipid made up 78.26% of the total lipid while other lipids like phospholipid and glycolipid content decreased, showing that the lipid was redistributed in these cells under nitrogen deprivation, making the organism more appropriate for biodiesel/jet fuel use. AlthoughD. salina cells had a relatively longer generation time (3.5 d) than other microalgal cells, a...
Source: World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology - Category: Microbiology Source Type: research