title: Potential of lipid metabolism in marine diatoms for biofuel production.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diatoms are an ecologically relevant group of microalgae that are not commonly considered for bio-oil production even if they are responsible for massive blooms at sea. Seventeen diatom species were screened for their capacity to produce biomass and lipids, in relation to their growth rate. Triglyceride levels were also assessed as a preferential source of biofuels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using statistical analysis, two centric diatoms, Thalassiosira weissflogii and Cyclotella cryptica, were selected as good candidates for oil production. Lipid levels significantly increased when the two diatoms were cultivated in a two-stage process under nitrogen limitation. The effect was less pronounced in cultures where silicon was reduced to 20% of the standard supply. Nitrogen limitation did not affect growth rates but led to lipid remodeling and de novo synthesis of triacylglycerols.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Triacylglycerols in T. weissflogii and C. cryptica can account for up to 82% and 88% of total glycerolipids, thereby suggesting that the two species are promising candidates for large-scale experimentation for biofuel production.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare (ICB) - CNR, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, NA Italy.
authors.forename: Giuliana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: d'Ippolito
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare (ICB) - CNR, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, NA Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sardo
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare (ICB) - CNR, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, NA Italy.
authors.forename: Debora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paris
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare (ICB) - CNR, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, NA Italy.
authors.forename: Filomena Monica
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Vella
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare (ICB) - CNR, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, NA Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Adelfi
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare (ICB) - CNR, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, NA Italy.
authors.forename: Pierpaolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Botte
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare (ICB) - CNR, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, NA Italy.
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare (ICB) - CNR, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, NA Italy.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fontana
keywords: Bioenergy; Biofuels; Diatoms; Lipid metabolism; Microalgae