title: Induction of canthaxanthin production in a Dactylococcus microalga isolated from the Algerian Sahara.
abstract: Secondary carotenoids are high-valued anti-oxidants which can be produced by some algae when exposed to an environmental stress (e.g. nutrient deprivation, high light intensities). To this end, we characterized the stress-induced carotenoid production of a new microalgal strain, Dactylococcus dissociatus MT1, which was isolated from the Sahara Desert of Algeria. Nitrate starvation, oxidative stress and varying light intensities were applied to determine the effect of illumination on carotenogenesis. Canthaxanthin was the main secondary carotenoid and light intensity had an important influence on the rate of its accumulation. The addition of NaCl also enhanced canthaxanthin production while nitrate depletion had more of an effect on lipid production. However, these two stresses in combination synergistically increased the production of both. Our results represent a step toward the development of strains suitable for secondary carotenoid production at the industrial scale.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Genetic Biochemistry and Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, Université Constantine 1, Constantine, Algeria; Earth & Life Institute - Bioengineering Laboratory, Université Catholique de Louvain, Place Croix du Sud 2, bte. L07.05.19, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
authors.forename: Borhane Samir
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Grama
authors.forename: Samira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chader
authors.forename: Douadi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Khelifi
authors.forename: Spiros N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Agathos
authors.forename: Clayton
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jeffryes
mesh_terms: D000462:Algeria; D018533:Biomass; D016644:Canthaxanthin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D003889:Desert Climate; D008055:Lipids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D058086:Microalgae / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010788:Photosynthesis; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D016644:Canthaxanthin
keywords: Canthaxanthin; Carotenoid; Dactylococcus; Fatty acids; Photosynthetic biorefinery