Abstract
Photosynthetic carbon partitioning into starch and neutral lipid was investigated in the oleaginous green microalga Pseudochlorococcum sp. When grown under low light and nitrogen-replete conditions, the algal cells possessed a basal level of starch. When grown under high light and nitrogen-limited conditions, starch synthesis was transiently up-regulated. After nitrogen depletion, starch content decreased while neutral lipid rapidly increased to 52.1% of cell dry weight, with a maximum neutral lipid productivity of 0.35gL-1D-1. These results suggest that Pseudochlorococcum used starch as a primary carbon and energy storage product. As nitrogen was depleted for an extended period of time, cells shift the carbon partitioning into neutral lipid as a secondary storage product. Partial inhibition of starch synthesis and degradation enzymes resulted in a decrease in neutral lipid content, indicating that conversion of starch to neutral lipid may contribute to overall neutral lipid accumulation. Biotechnological application of Pseudochlorococcum sp. as a production strain for biofuel was assessed.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 123-129 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Bioresource Technology |
Volume | 102 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 2011 |
Keywords
- Biofuel
- Carbon partitioning
- Neutral lipid
- Oleaginous microalgae
- Starch
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Bioengineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
- Waste Management and Disposal