Biotechnology Bulletin ›› 2018, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (5): 154-162.doi: 10.13560/j.cnki.biotech.bull.1985.2017-1134

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Effects of Nitrogen Concentration on the Growth,Lipid Accumulation and Fatty Acids Distribution of Oleaginous Chlorococcum sp.

LI Tao1, XU Jin2, WU Hua-lian1, WANG Ming3, XIANG Wen-zhou1   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology,South China Sea Institute of Oceanology,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Guangzhou 510301;
    2. Key Lab of Renewable Energy and Natural Gas Hydrate,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Guangzhou 510640;
    3. School of Eco-Environmental Engineering,Guizhou Minzu University,Guiyang 550025
  • Received:2017-12-28 Online:2018-05-26 Published:2018-06-07

Abstract: Oleaginous microalga with rich polyunsaturated fatty acids(PUFAs)is considered an optimal raw material for the production of high-valued microalgae oil. The key screening indexes of high-valued microalgae include oil yield,neutral lipid fractionation,and PUFAs distribution. Low-nitrogen stress is one of the most effective approaches in inducing oil accumulation in microalgae. The changes in growth,lipid composition,and PUFAs distribution of Chlorococcum sp. were determined under 17.6 mmol/L NaNO3,5.9 mmol/L NaNO3,and 3.5 mmol/L NaNO3. The results showed the total lipid yield reached 2.55 g/L and 2.51 g/L at 3.5 mmol/L and 5.9 mmol/L NaNO3 group,respectively,much higher than that 1.43 g/L at 17.6 mmol/L NaNO3 group. Lowering nitrogen concentration increased the proportion of neutral lipids,i.e.,it was the highest at 3.5 mmol/L NaNO3,accounted for 88.6% in total lipid,higher than 86.3% at 5.9 mmol/L NaNO3,and 80.5% at 17.6 mmol/L NaNO3. Decreasing nitrogen concentration also changed the fatty acids distribution in different lipid fractionations and promoted the fatty acids more distributed in neutral lipids. For instance,at 3.5 mmol/L NaNO3,the proportion of α-linolenic acid in neutral lipids increased to 86.5% at the end of the cultivation from 33.9% at the beginning of cultivation. Conclusively,appropriate nitrogen concentration has a great role in the improvement of total oil yield,neutral lipid fractionation,and PUFAs distribution;moreover,the accumulated C18:3(ω-3)in Chlorococcum sp. tends to be distributed in neutral lipids under low nitrogen,and thus Chlorococcum sp. is a potential oleaginous microalgae for the production of high-valued microalgae oil.

Key words: oleaginous Chlorococcum sp., microalgae oil, nitrogen concentration, lipid composition, fatty acids distribution