Using FTIR spectroscopy for rapid determination of lipid accumulation in response to nitrogen limitation in freshwater microalgae.
In this study Fourier transform infrared micro-spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to determine lipid and carbohydrate content over time in the freshwater microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Scenedesmus subspicatus grown in batch culture in limiting concentrations of nitrogen (N). Both algae exhibited restricted cell division and increased cell size following N-limitation. FTIR spectra of cells in N-limited media showed increasing lipid:amide I and carbohydrate:amide I ratios over time. The use of lipid- and starch-staining dyes confirmed that the observed ratio changes were due to increased lipid and carbohydrate synthesis. These results demonstrate rapid metabolic responses of C. reinhardtii and S. subspicatus to changing nutrient availability, and indicate the efficiency of FTIR as a reliable method for high-throughput determination of lipid induction.
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK.
Andrew P
AP
Dean
David C
DC
Sigee
Beatriz
B
Estrada
Jon K
JK
Pittman
D000577:Amides / Q000032:analysis; D018533:Biomass; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D002452:Cell Count; D048429:Cell Size; D016825:Chlamydomonas reinhardtii / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D005453:Fluorescence; D005618:Fresh Water; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D044444:Scenedesmus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
D000577:Amides; D002241:Carbohydrates; D003470:Culture Media; D008055:Lipids; D002734:Chlorophyll; D010758:Phosphorus; D009584:Nitrogen