title: Isolation and characterization of a mesophilic Arthrospira maxima strain capable of producing docosahexaenoic acid.
abstract: A strain of the cyanobacterium Arthrospira was isolated from Lake Chahannaoer in northern China and was characterized according to microscopic morphology, photosynthetic oxygen-evolving activity, growth rate, and nutritional profile. Compared with thermophilic Arthrospira species occurring naturally in tropical and subtropical lakes, this isolate is mesophilic and grows optimally at ~20 degreesC. The total protein, fatty acid, phycocyanin, carotenoid, and chlorophyll a contents were 67.6, 6.1, 4.32, 0.29, and 0.76 grams per 100 grams of dry weight, respectively. The strain is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). An essential omega-3 fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), was detected, and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and DHA accounted for 28.3% of the total fatty acid content. These features of this newly isolated strain make it potentially useful in commercial mass culture in local areas or as a biofuel feedstock. It is also an alternative resource for studying the metabolic PUFA pathways and mechanisms of cold stress tolerance in cyanobacteria.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Speciality Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academic of Sciences Wuhan 430074, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Hongjun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Yeguang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Chuntao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Yexin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ouyang
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000032:analysis; D002681:China; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000032:analysis; D000077194:Chlorophyll A; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D010798:Phycocyanin / Q000032:analysis; D013696:Temperature; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D005227:Fatty Acids; D010798:Phycocyanin; D002734:Chlorophyll; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D002338:Carotenoids; D000077194:Chlorophyll A