title: Regulation of the pigment optical density of an algal cell: filling the gap between photosynthetic productivity in the laboratory and in mass culture.
abstract: An increasing number of investors is looking at algae as a viable source of biofuels, beside cultivation for human/animal feeding or to extract high-value chemicals and pharmaceuticals. However, present biomass productivities are far below theoretical estimations implying that a large part of the available photosynthetically active radiation is not used in photosynthesis. Light utilisation inefficiency and rapid light attenuation within a mass culture due to high pigment optical density of wild type strains have been proposed as major limiting factors reducing solar-to-biomass conversion efficiency. Analysis of growth yields of mutants with reduced light-harvesting antennae and/or reduced overall pigment concentration per cell, generated by either mutagenesis or genetic engineering, could help understanding limiting factors for biomass accumulation in photobioreactor. Meanwhile, studies on photo-acclimation can provide additional information on the average status of algal cells in a photobioreactor to be used in modelling-based predictions. Identifying limiting factors in solar-to-biomass conversion efficiency is the first step for planning strategies of genetic improvement and domestication of algae to finally fill the gap between theoretical and industrial photosynthetic productivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 15, Strada Le Grazie, I-37134 Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Formighieri
authors.forename: Fabrice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Franck
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bassi
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods; D056804:Biofuels; D018533:Biomass; D016825:Chlamydomonas reinhardtii / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D008027:Light; D009154:Mutation; D058433:Photobioreactors; D010788:Photosynthesis; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000378:metabolism*; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D010860:Pigments, Biological