Analysis and enhancement of astaxanthin accumulation in Haematococcus pluvialis.
The green microalga Haematococcus pluvialis was cultured with different concentrations of NaNO(3) to determine the effect on cell growth and astaxanthin accumulation. The optimum nitrate concentration to obtain astaxanthin and to avoid the cessation of cell division was 0.15 g/l NaNO(3). The ratio chlorophyll a/total carotenoids proved a good physiological indicator of nitrogen deficiency in the cell. The effect of different carbon sources, malonate and acetate, on astaxanthin accumulation was also studied; up to 13 times more carotenoids per cell were accumulated in cultures with malonate than in cultures without this compound. The pigment analysis was performed by a new low toxicity HPLC method capable of separating chlorophylls a and b, carotenes and xanthophylls in a short-period of time, using low volumes of solvents and with an economical price. With this method even echinenone was separated, which had been unsuccessful by any other method.
Laboratorio de Microbioloxía, Universidade da Coruña, Campus da Zapateira s/n, A Coruña 15071, Spain.
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Orosa
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Franqueira
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Cid
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Abalde
D000085:Acetates / Q000494:pharmacology; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D000077194:Chlorophyll A; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008314:Malonates / Q000494:pharmacology; D009566:Nitrates; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000032:analysis*; D013997:Time Factors; D024341:Xanthophylls; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
D000085:Acetates; D008314:Malonates; D009566:Nitrates; D010860:Pigments, Biological; D024341:Xanthophylls; D019207:beta Carotene; D002734:Chlorophyll; C031618:sodium nitrate; C005948:astaxanthine; C030290:malonic acid; D009584:Nitrogen; D000077194:Chlorophyll A