title: Simultaneous production of triacylglycerol and high-value carotenoids by the astaxanthin-producing oleaginous green microalga Chlorella zofingiensis.
abstract: The production of lipids and astaxanthin, a high-value carotenoid, by Chlorella zofingiensis was investigated under different culture conditions. Comparative analysis revealed a good correlation between triacylglycerol (TAG) and astaxanthin accumulation in C. zofingiensis. Stress conditions promoted cell size and weight and induced the accumulation of neutral lipids, especially TAG and astaxanthin, with a concomitant decrease in membrane lipids. The highest contents of TAG and astaxanthin achieved were 387 and 4.89mgg(-1) dry weight, respectively. A semi-continuous culture strategy was developed to optimize the TAG and astaxanthin productivities, which reached 297 and 3.3mgL(-1)day(-1), respectively. Additionally, astaxanthin accumulation was enhanced by inhibiting de novo fatty acid biosynthesis. In summary, our study represents a pioneering work of utilizing Chlorella for the integrated production of lipids and high-value products and C. zofingiensis has great potential to be a promising production strain and serve as an emerging oleaginous model alga.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Food and Bioresource Engineering and Department of Energy and Resources Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China. Electronic address: gjinliu@pku.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Institute for Food and Bioresource Engineering and Department of Energy and Resources Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
authors.forename: Xuemei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: School of Resources, Environmental & Chemical Engineering and MOE Biomass Engineering Research Center, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China; Center for Biorefining, Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering Department, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA.
authors.forename: Wenguang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: National Bioenergy Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401, USA.
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Guarnieri
mesh_terms: D052818:Autotrophic Processes; D018533:Biomass; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D002569:Cerulenin / Q000378:metabolism; D002708:Chlorella / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D058086:Microalgae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D052817:Phototrophic Processes; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism*; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D024341:Xanthophylls; D002569:Cerulenin; D002338:Carotenoids; C005948:astaxanthine
keywords: Astaxanthin; Biofuels; Chlorella zofingiensis; Integrated production; Stress conditions; Triacylglycerol