Enhancement of microalgae growth and fatty acid content under the influence of phytohormones

Application of chemicals for enhancing lipid production in microalgae-a short review

Microalgae have attracted great attention as a promising sustainable resource for biofuel production. In studies aiming to improve lipid accumulation, many key enzymes involved in lipid biosynthesis were identified and confirmed, but genetic engineering remains a challenge in most species of microalgae. In an alternative approach, various chemical modulators can be used to directly regulate the lipid biosynthesis pathway, with similar effects to gene overexpression and interference approaches, including improving the precursor supply and blocking competing pathways. The produced lipid can be protected from being converted into other metabolites by the chemicals such as lipase inhibitors. In addition, a few chemicals were also demonstrated to greatly influence cell growth and lipid accumulation by indirect regulation of the lipid biosynthesis pathway, such as increasing cell permeability or regulating oxidative stress. Thus, adding chemical modulators can be a useful alternative strategy for improving lipid accumulation in large-scale cultivation of microalgae.

Strategies for enhancement of alpha-linolenic acid rich lipids in Desmodesmus sp. without compromising the biomass production

The indigenous freshwater microalga Desmodesmus sp. produces ALA rich lipids (about 23%). The phytohormones (DAH and KIN; 0.5 mg L^-1) increased the biomass yield and lipid content of microalga by 1.4-1.7 fold. Mixotrophic cultivation (500 mM glucose and 100 mM sodium acetate) enhanced the biomass yield and lipid content by 1.8-2.7 fold. The sodium azide (1.0 mM) led to a 1.5 fold and 1.7 fold enhancement in the lipid content and ALA fraction of total fatty acids, respectively without affecting the biomass yield. The low temperature (5 °C) as the second stage of cultivation enhanced the ALA fraction of total fatty acids by 1.2-1.5 fold for untreated, phytohormone supplemented and mixotrophic cultures, without affecting the biomass yield. These cultivation strategies could, therefore, be used for enhancement of ALA rich lipids in microalgae without compromising the biomass production.

Night illumination using monochromatic light-emitting diodes for enhanced microalgal growth and biodiesel production

The present study investigated the effect of monochromatic light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on the growth and biodiesel yield of the green microalga Scenedesmus obliquus. Different LEDs were applied individually or in combination during the night period. Among different individual treatments, red and blue illumination showed the highest biomass and lipid productivity due to stimulation of pigmentation and photosystem II, respectively. Microalgal growth, lipid production and biodiesel recovery significantly increased under combined blue-red illumination. In addition, saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids proportions increased in favor of polyunsaturated ones. Moreover, blue-red LEDs enhanced the net biodiesel energy output over the control. The total increase in net energy output represented 5.1, 3.8 and 10.8 MJ using red, blue and blue-red light, respectively. In conclusion, application of blue-red LEDs during the night period is an economical technology for microalgae cultivation, which might have a potential impact on the future of commercial biodiesel production from microalgae.

Soil microalgae and cyanobacteria: the biotechnological potential in the maintenance of soil fertility and health

The soil microbiota plays a major role in maintaining the nutrient balance, carbon sink, and soil health. Numerous studies reported on the function of microbiota such as plant growth-promoting bacteria and fungi in soil. Although microalgae and cyanobacteria are ubiquitous in soil, very less attention has been paid on the potential of these microorganisms. The indiscriminate use of various chemicals to enhance agricultural productivity led to serious consequences like structure instability, accumulation of toxic contaminants, etc., leading to an ecological imbalance between soil, plant, and microbiota. However, the significant role of microalgae and cyanobacteria in crop productivity and other potential options has been so far undermined. The intent of the present critical review is to highlight the significance of this unique group of microorganisms in terms of maintaining soil fertility and soil health. Beneficial soil ecological applications of these two groups in enhancing plant growth, establishing interrelationships among other microbes, and detoxifying chemical agents such as insecticides, herbicides, etc. through mutualistic cooperation by synthesizing enzymes and phytohormones are presented. Since recombinant technology involving genomic integration favors the development of useful traits in microalgae and cyanobacteria for their potential application in improvement of soil fertility and health, the merits and demerits of various such advanced methodologies associated in harnessing the biotechnological potential of these photosynthetic microorganisms for sustainable agriculture were also discussed.

The alleviative effect of exogenous phytohormones on the growth, physiology and gene expression of Tetraselmis cordiformis under high ammonia-nitrogen stress

In this study, the toxic effect of high ammonia on microalgae Tetraselmis cordiformis and the detoxification of phytohormones were researched. The growth, physiological changes, and gene transcription of T. cordiformis were examined. Malondialdehyde content was increased by 2.12 times compared with the control, suggesting the oxidative damage of T. cordiformis. However, the damaging effect of ammonia stress was significantly alleviated by exogenous phytohormones revealed by photosynthetic activity, antioxidant capacity, and nitrogen metabolism. Compared with cells exposed to 500 mg L^-1 ammonia (NH₄⁺-N), phytohormones increased the transcript abundance of photosynthesis-related gene (rbcL) by up to 10.95 times. Besides, after adding phytohormones, maximum activities of the antioxidant enzyme catalase (CAT) and nitrogen metabolism-related enzyme glutamine synthetase (GS) were 2.17 and 6.72 times that of the cells exposed to 500 mg L^-1 NH₄⁺-N. This study displayed the toxic mechanism of high ammonia on T. cordiformis, and also proved the detoxification of phytohormones.

Adaptive evolution of microalgal strains empowered by fulvic acid for enhanced polyunsaturated fatty acid production

Microalgae have emerged as the potential source for value-added products such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Metabolic engineering of multiple metabolic pathways has promoted eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) production in microalgae, however, further improvement is warranted owing to the burgeoning demand. Here we improved the microalgal strains by adaptive evolution under hyposalinity treatment, which showed that 70% salinity potentiated the algae to enhance PUFAs. To exploit the maximal PUFA production potential of evolved strains, we subjected evolved algae to light, temperature and fulvic acid treatment. Amongst, fulvic acid (15 mg/L) enhanced growth and achieved the highest EPA content (13.9%) in the evolved diatom. Fulvic acid enhanced antioxidant potential and unprecedently governed the expression of PUFA and lipid biosynthetic genes. Collectively, this investigation demonstrates the efficacy of adaptive evolution empowered by fulvic acid and exemplifies a feasible strain improving strategy to harness the biotechnological potential of microalgae.

Coupling of abiotic stresses and phytohormones for the production of lipids and high-value by-products by microalgae: A review

Microalgae can produce lipids and high-value by-products under abiotic stress conditions, including nutrient starvation, high light intensity, extreme temperature, high salinity and the presence of heavy metals. However, the growth and development of microalgae and the accumulation of metabolites may be inhibited by adverse stresses. In recent years, phytohormones have emerged as a topic of intense focus in microalgae research. Phytohormones could sustain the growth of microalgae under abiotic stress conditions. In addition, the combination of plant hormones and abiotic stresses could further promote the biosynthesis of metabolites and improve the ability of microalgae to tolerate abiotic stresses. This review primarily focuses on the regulatory effects of exogenous phytohormones on the biosynthesis of metabolites by microalgae under adverse environmental conditions and discusses the mechanisms of phytohormone-mediated cell growth, stress tolerance and lipid biosynthesis in microalgae under abiotic stress conditions.

DA-6 promotes germination and seedling establishment from aged soybean seeds by mediating fatty acid metabolism and glycometabolism

Soybean seeds contain higher concentrations of oil (triacylglycerol) and fatty acids than do cereal crop seeds, and the oxidation of these biomolecules during seed storage significantly shortens seed longevity and decreases germination ability. Here, we report that diethyl aminoethyl hexanoate (DA-6), a plant growth regulator, increases germination and seedling establishment from aged soybean seeds by increasing fatty acid metabolism and glycometabolism. Phenotypic analysis showed that DA-6 treatment markedly promoted germination and seedling establishment from naturally and artificially aged soybean seeds. Further analysis revealed that DA-6 increased the concentrations of soluble sugars during imbibition of aged soybean seeds. Consistently, the concentrations of several different fatty acids in DA-6-treated aged seeds were higher than those in untreated aged seeds. Subsequently, quantitative PCR analysis indicated that DA-6 induced the transcription of several key genes involved in the hydrolysis of triacylglycerol to sugars in aged soybean seeds. Furthermore, the activity of invertase in aged seeds, which catalyzes the hydrolysis of sucrose to form fructose and glucose, increased following DA-6 treatment. Taken together, DA-6 promotes germination and seedling establishment from aged soybean seeds by enhancing the hydrolysis of triacylglycerol and the conversion of fatty acids to sugars.

Screening chemical modulators of benzoic acid derivatives to improve lipid accumulation in Schizochytrium limacinum SR21 with metabolomics analysis

BACKGROUND

Schizochytrium sp. is a marine fungus with great potential as an alternative commercial source of lipids rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). To further increase lipid accumulation in Schizochytrium sp., the effect of exogenous additives has become one of the hotspots of current research. Although benzoic acid derivatives showed positive effects on lipid accumulation in Schizochytrium, the biochemical mechanism needs further investigation.

RESULTS

Four benzoic acid derivatives (sodium benzoate, p-aminobenzoic acid, p-methyl benzoic acid and folic acid) were screened and evaluated for their effect on lipid accumulation in Schizochytrium limacinum SR21. The lipid yield was increased by 56.84% with p-aminobenzoic acid (p-ABA) at a concentration of 200 mg/L among the four tested chemical modulators. The metabolomics analysis showed that 200 mg/L p-ABA was optimal for promoting glucose catabolism in glycolysis with an increase in the mevalonate pathway and a weakening of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Moreover, p-ABA increased NADPH generation by enhancing the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), ultimately redirecting the metabolic flux to lipid synthesis. Fed-batch fermentation further proved that p-ABA could significantly increase the yield of lipid by 30.01%, reaching 99.67 g/L, and the lipid content was increased by 35.03%, reaching 71.12%. More importantly, the yields of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) were increased by 33.28% and 42.0%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The addition of p-ABA could promote the synthesis of tetrahydrofolate, enhancing NADPH, which ultimately promoted the flow of carbon flux to lipid synthesis. These findings provide a valuable strategy for improving the lipid accumulation in Schizochytrium by additives.

Microalgae for the production of lipid and carotenoids: a review with focus on stress regulation and adaptation

Microalgae have drawn great attention as promising sustainable source of lipids and carotenoids. Their lipid and carotenoids accumulation machinery can be trigged by the stress conditions such as nutrient limitation or exposure to the damaging physical factors. However, stressful conditions often adversely affect microalgal growth and cause oxidative damage to the cells, which can eventually reduce the yield of the desired products. To overcome these limitations, two-stage cultivation strategies and supplementation of growth-promoting agents have traditionally been utilized, but developing new highly adapted strains is theoretically the simplest strategy. In addition to genetic engineering, adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) is frequently used to develop beneficial phenotypes in industrial microorganisms during long-term selection under specific stress conditions. In recent years, many studies have gradually introduced ALE as a powerful tool to improve the biological properties of microalgae, especially for improving the production of lipid and carotenoids. In this review, strategies for the manipulation of stress in microalgal lipids and carotenoids production are summarized and discussed. Furthermore, this review summarizes the overall state of ALE technology, including available selection pressures, methods, and their applications in microalgae for the improved production of lipids and carotenoids.

Kinetin alleviates chromium toxicity on growth and PS II photochemistry in Nostoc muscorum by regulating antioxidant system

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the metal toxicity alleviating effects of kinetin (KN, 10 nM) on growth, photosynthetic pigments and photochemistry of PS II in the cyanobacterium Nostoc muscorum exposed to chromium (Cr^VI) stress (100 and 150 µM). Chromium declined growth, photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, phycocyanin and carotenoids), photosynthetic oxygen evolution rate and parameters of fluorescence kinetics (ϕP₀, F_V/F₀, ϕE₀, Ψ₀ and PI_ABS except F₀/F_V) in concentration dependent manner, while stimulating effects on respiration, energy flux parameters (ABS/RC, TR₀/RC, ET₀/RC and DI₀/RC), oxidative stress biomarkers i.e., superoxide radical (SOR), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and lipid peroxidation (TBARS contents) and antioxidative enzymes: superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST), were observed. However, upon addition of KN in the growth medium an alleviating effect against chromium induced toxicity on growth, photosynthetic pigments and photochemistry of PS II was recorded. This had occurred due to substantial reduction in levels of oxidative stress biomarkers: SOR, H₂O₂ and TBARS contents with concomitant rise in activity of antioxidative enzymes: SOD, POD, CAT and GST and appreciable lowering in the cellular accumulation of chromium. The overall results demonstrate that KN application significantly alleviated chromium induced toxicity on growth performance of the cyanobacterium N. muscorum due to significant improvement in photosynthetic pigments and photochemistry of PS II by up-regulating the activity of antioxidative enzymes, and declining cellular accumulation of chromium. Furthermore, Cr induced toxicity at lower dose (100 µM) was found to be ameliorated more efficiently in N. muscorum following supplementation of KN.

Screening of chemical modulators for lipid accumulation in Schizochytrium sp. S31

Schizochytrium sp. is a promising candidate for docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) production due to its high content of lipid and DHA proportions. To further enhance the lipid accumulation, seven chemical modulators were screened to evaluate their roles on lipid accumulation. Notably, among the seven tested chemical modulators, the addition of naphthoxyacetic acid (BNOA) or jasmonic acid (JA) was able to increase the lipid accumulation of Schizochytrium sp. S31. In addition, the effects of BNOA and JA were demonstrated dose-dependent and time-dependent, achieving a highest increase in lipid content by 11.16% and 12.71% when 2.0 mg/L of BNOA or 20 mg/L of JA was added into culture at 48 h after inoculation, respectively. In addition, the combination of 2 mg/L BNOA and 20 mg/L JA further increased lipid accumulation up to 16.79%. These results provided valuable strategy on promoting the lipid accumulation and DHA production by chemical modulators in Schizochytrium sp. S31.

Enhancement of microalgal growth and biocomponent-based transformations for improved biofuel recovery: A review

Microalgal biomass has received much attention as feedstock for biofuel production due to its capacity to accumulate a substantial amount of biocomponents (including lipid, carbohydrate, and protein), high growth rate, and environmental benefit. However, commercial realization of microalgal biofuel is a challenge due to its low biomass production and insufficient technology for complete utilization of biomass. Recently, advanced strategies have been explored to overcome the challenges of conventional approaches and to achieve maximum possible outcomes in terms of growth. These strategies include a combination of stress factors; co-culturing with other microorganisms; and addition of salts, flue gases, and phytohormones. This review summarizes the recent progress in the application of single and combined abiotic stress conditions to stimulate microalgal growth and its biocomponents. An innovative schematic model is presented of the biomass-energy conversion pathway that proposes the transformation of all potential biocomponents of microalgae into biofuels.

Investigation on the feasibility of Chlorella vulgaris cultivation in a mixture of pulp and aquaculture effluents: Treatment of wastewater and lipid extraction

In this study, feasibility of Chlorella vulgaris cultivation in pulp wastewater (PWW) diluted with lake water (LW) and aquaculture wastewater (AWW) was investigated. The best ratios of PWW and AWW (PAWW) viz., 80% PWW:20% AWW and 60% PWW:40% AWW were selected as microalgal culture medium. Algal growth was investigated with and without addition of macro and micronutrients to the cultivation medium. The highest dry algal weight was observed as 1.31 g/L in 60% PWW:40% AWW without adding micronutrients. Nutrients and organic compounds removal efficiencies by microalga were studied in PAWW. Protein, carbohydrate and lipid percentage of harvested microalga from wastewater and Bold's Basal Medium (BBM) solution were analyzed. Fatty acids analysis revealed that C16 and C18 are the major fatty acids in C. vulgaris cultivated in BBM and PAWW. The results of this study revealed that C. vulgaris is a potential candidate for PAWW treatment and lipid and carbohydrate accumulation.

Phytohormone addition coupled with nitrogen depletion almost tripled the lipid productivities in two algae

Nitrogen starvation has been an effective method to enhance the lipid content in microalgae, but low biomass means the method is far from large-scale application. In this study a combination of phytohormones, indolebutyric acid (IBA) and naphthylacetic acid (NAA), was used to verify whether phytohormones can assist two microalgae, Scenedesmus SDEC-8 and Chlorella sorokiniana SDEC-18, to resist nitrogen depletion, and achieve satisfactory biomass and lipid productivity. The two algae grew poorly but accumulated high lipid concentrations under nitrogen-depleted condition without phytohormones. However, phytohormone addition maintained the biomass concentration, and furthermore yielded lipid productivities (SDEC-8: 26.7mg/L/d, SDEC-18: 25.9mg/L/d) almost 3 times as high as those in BG11. The oxidative damage caused by nitrogen depletion could be alleviated by phytohormones. The investigation demonstrated that phytohormone supplementation simultaneously improved lipid accumulation and maintained growth of microalgae, while also optimizing the biodiesel properties compared with the tactic of nitrogen depletion alone.

Enhanced growth and fatty acid accumulation of microalgae Scenedesmus sp. LX1 by two types of auxin

Microalgae are potential candidates for the production of valuable products, such as renewable biodiesel, health products and pigments. However, low biomass productivity has restricted their large-scale applications. In this study, the effects of two auxins (one natural type of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and the other synthetic type of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D)) on the growth and fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) production of a freshwater microalgae Scenedesmus sp. LX1 were investigated. Both auxins showed a "low dosage-promotion and high dosage-inhibition" effect on the growth and FAMEs accumulation. The optimum dosage of IAA and 2,4-D were 1mgL^-1 and 0.1mgL^-1, respectively. Moreover, the IAA could increase the monounsaturated fatty acid content. The auxins may promote the growth by enhancing the photosynthetic activity through increasing chlorophyll contents. Therefore, auxin significantly enhanced microalgal growth and FAMEs accumulation, and has a potential for application in developing efficient microalgal cultivation.

Selective enrichment of Eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3) in N. oceanica CASA CC201 by natural auxin supplementation

The present study aims to evaluate the effect of different concentration of natural auxin, Indole-3 acetic acid (IAA) on growth, lipid yield, PUFA and EPA accumulation in Nannochloropsis oceanica CASA CC201. It was observed that the, treatment with 10ppm concentration of IAA resulted in high cell number 579.5×10⁶cells/ml than the control (215.5×10⁶cells/ml). Treatment with IAA at a concentration of 40ppm gives the highest cellular lipid accumulation of 60.9% DCW than the control 31.05% DCW). Lipid yield is also found to be increased by the addition of 40ppm IAA (319.5mg/L) compared with the control (121.5mg/L). EPA percentage is increased to 10.76% by the addition of 40ppm IAA compared to the control (1.87%).

The effects of combined agricultural phytohormones on the growth, carbon partitioning and cell morphology of two screened algae

Applying phytohormones has been considered a promising way to increase lipid productivity of microalgae recently. Eight dosages of auxin phytohormones were tested to exploit the effects and mechanism of such stimulants on microalgae. The optimal one was 20mgL^-1, leading to an increase in biomass concentration of 59.3% for Scenedesmus sp. SDEC-8 and 76.6% for Chlorella sorokiniana SDEC-18, meanwhile the lipid content rose from 18.74% to 56.17% (SDEC-8) and from 19.69% to 55.76% (SDEC-18). Proton pumps were activated by the stimulants, causing excretion of H⁺, which resulted in pH decline and a favorable condition for growth. Pigments changes implied that hormones strengthened the dark reactions of photosynthesis. Auxin addition led to a 3μm increase in diameter for C. sorokiniana SDEC-18 and altered the cellular pattern of Scenedesmus sp. SDEC-8, which improved the cells elongation. Therefore, supplement of auxin phytohormones simultaneously increased the viability and lipid production of microalgae.

Nitrate concentration-shift cultivation to enhance protein content of heterotrophic microalga Chlorella vulgaris: Over-compensation strategy

Protein production from microalgae requires both high cell density during cultivation and high protein content in cells. Heterotrophic microalgae can achieve high cell density, and yet are confronted with the problem of low protein content. Based on over-compensation strategy, a new concentration-shift method was proposed to cultivate heterotrophic Chlorella vulgaris, aiming to increase protein content. With a prior starvation period, microalgae utilized more nitrate and accumulated more proteins compared to one-stage cultivation. Considering the convenience of operation, nitrate-added culture was adopted for producing heterotrophic microalgae, rather than sterile centrifugal culture. Operating parameters including nitrate concentration in N-deficient medium, N-starved time and nitrate concentration in N-rich medium were optimized, which were 0.18gl^-1, 38h and 2.45gl^-1, respectively. Under the optimized conditions, protein content in heterotrophic Chlorella reached 44.3%. Furthermore, the heterotrophic microalga was suggested to be a potential single-cell protein source according to the amino acid composition.

The boosted biomass and lipid accumulation in Chlorella vulgaris by supplementation of synthetic phytohormone analogs

This study attempted at maximizing biomass and lipid accumulation in Chlorella vulgaris by supplementation of natural abscisic acid (ABA) or synthetic 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) hormone analogs. Amongst three tested additives, NAA-treatment performed remarkable promoting effect on cell growth and lipid biosynthesis. The favorable lipid productivity (418.6mg/L/d) of NAA-treated cells showed 1.48 and 2.24 times more than that of 2,4-D and ABA. NAA-treatment also positively modified the proportions of saturated (C16:0 and C18:0) and monounsaturated fatty acids (C18:1) which were prone to high-quality biofuels-making. Further, NAA-treatment manipulated endogenous phytohormones metabolism leading to the elevated levels of indole-3-acetic acid, jasmonic acid, and salicylic acid and such hormone accumulation might be indispensable for signal transduction in regulating cell growth and lipid biosynthesis in microalgae. In addition, the economic-feasibility and eco-friendly estimation of NAA additive indicated the higher possibilities in developing affordable and scalable microalgal lipids for biofuels.

Nitrogen starvation-induced cellular crosstalk of ROS-scavenging antioxidants and phytohormone enhanced the biofuel potential of green microalga Acutodesmus dimorphus

BACKGROUND

Microalgae accumulate a considerable amount of lipids and carbohydrate under nutrient-deficient conditions, which makes them one of the promising sustainable resources for biofuel production. In the present study, to obtain the biomass with higher lipid and carbohydrate contents, we implemented a short-term nitrogen starvation of 1, 2, and 3 days in a green microalga Acutodesmus dimorphus. Few recent reports suggest that oxidative stress-tolerant microalgae are highly efficient for biofuel production. To study the role of oxidative stress due to nitrogen deficiency, responses of various stress biomarkers like reactive oxygen species (ROS), cellular enzymatic antioxidants superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and non-enzymatic scavengers proline and polyphenols were also evaluated. Further, the endogenous levels of phytohormones abscisic acid (ABA) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) were also determined to study their response to nitrogen deficiency.

RESULTS

We observed that nitrogen starvation of 2 days is effective to produce biomass containing 29.92% of lipid (comprising about 75% of neutral lipid) and 34.80% of carbohydrate, which is significantly higher (about 23 and 64%, respectively) than that of the control culture. Among all nitrogen-starved cultures, the accumulations of ROS were lower in 2 days starved culture, which can be linked with the several folds higher activities of SOD and CAT in this culture. The accumulations of proline and total polyphenols were also significantly higher (about 4.7- and 1.7-folds, respectively, than that of the control) in 2 days nitrogen-starved culture. The levels of phytohormones once decreased significantly after 1 day, increased continuously up to 3 days of nitrogen starvation.

CONCLUSION

The findings of the present study highlight the interaction of nitrogen starvation-induced oxidative stress with the signaling involved in the growth and development of microalga. The study presents a comprehensive picture of the adaptive mechanisms of the cells from a physiological perspective along with providing the strategy to improve the biofuel potential of A. dimorphus through a short-term nitrogen starvation.

Toward facilitating microalgae cope with effluent from anaerobic digestion of kitchen waste: the art of agricultural phytohormones

BACKGROUND

Although numerous studies have used wastewater as substitutes to cultivate microalgae, most of them obtained weaker algal viability than standard media. Some studies demonstrated a promotion of phytohormones on algal growth in standard media. For exploiting a strategy to improve algal biomass accumulation in effluent from anaerobic digestion of kitchen waste (ADE-KW), the agricultural phytohormones gibberellin, indole-3-acetic acid, and brassinolide (GIB) were applied to Chlorella SDEC-11 and Scenedesmus SDEC-13 at different stages of algal growth. Previous studies have demonstrated a promotion of phytohormones on algal growth in standard media, but attempts have been scarce, focusing on wastewater cultivation system. In addition, the effects of wastewater on algal morphology and ultrastructure have not been revealed so far, much less on the mechanism of the role of phytohormones on algae.

RESULTS

ADE-KW disrupted the membranes of nuclear and chloroplast in ultrastructural cell of SDEC-11, and reduced the room between chloroplast and cell membrane and increased the starch size of SDEC-13. This reduced algal growth and biocompound accumulation, but SDEC-13 had greater adaptation to ADE-KW than SDEC-11. Moreover, inoculation with an algal seed pretreated with GIB aided the adaptability and viability of algae in ADE-KW, which for SDEC-13 was even promoted to the level in BG11. GIB mitigated the inhibition of ADE-KW on algal cell division and photosynthetic pigments and apparatus, and increased lipid droplets, which might result from the change in the synthesis and the fate of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate. GIB addition significantly promoted lipid productivity of the two algal species, following 13 mg L^-1 d^-1 of SDEC-11 in B⁺ADE-KW and especially 13 mg L^-1 d^-1 of SDEC-13 achieved during the priming of algal seed with the hormones, which is 139% higher than 5 mg L^-1 d^-1 achieved in ADE-KW control.

CONCLUSIONS

Agricultural phytohormones could be applied as a strategy for promoting biomass and biocompound accumulation of algae in ADE-KW, in which pretreatment of the algal inoculum with hormones is a unique way to help algae survive under stress. Considering our results and treatment technology for kitchen waste, a more feasible and economic plant can be built incorporating anaerobic digestion, algae cultivation with ADE-KW assisted with phytohormones, and biodiesel production.

Integrated mRNA and miRNA transcriptome reveal a cross-talk between developing response and hormone signaling for the seed kernels of Siberian apricot

Recently, our transcriptomic analysis has identified some functional genes responsible for oil biosynthesis in developing SASK, yet miRNA-mediated regulation for SASK development and oil accumulation is poorly understood. Here, 3 representative periods of 10, 30 and 60 DAF were selected for sRNA sequencing based on the dynamic patterns of growth tendency and oil content of developing SASK. By miRNA transcriptomic analysis, we characterized 296 known and 44 novel miRNAs in developing SASK, among which 36 known and 6 novel miRNAs respond specifically to developing SASK. Importantly, we performed an integrated analysis of mRNA and miRNA transcriptome as well as qRT-PCR detection to identify some key miRNAs and their targets (miR156-SPL, miR160-ARF18, miR164-NAC1, miR171h-SCL6, miR172-AP2, miR395-AUX22B, miR530-P2C37, miR393h-TIR1/AFB2 and psi-miRn5-SnRK2A) potentially involved in developing response and hormone signaling of SASK. Our results provide new insights into the important regulatory function of cross-talk between development response and hormone signaling for SASK oil accumulation.

Microalga, Acutodesmus obliquus KGE 30 as a potential candidate for CO2 mitigation and biodiesel production

In this study, the effect of flue gas CO2 on growth, lipid production, and fatty acid composition of a green microalga Acutodesmus obliquus KGE 30 was investigated. The highest growth rate (0.46 g L(-1) and μmax = 1.09 day(-1)), total inorganic carbon removal (95.9 mg L(-1)), and lipid productivity (20.1 mg L(-1) day L(-1)) was obtained at 14.1 % CO2 after 4 days of cultivation. In a semicontinuous batch reactor, the highest biomass production (1.19 g L(-1)) was achieved after 12 days with continuous injection of flue gas CO2. Compared with synthetic CO2, fatty acid methyl ester analysis showed that the amount of unsaturated fatty acid increased by 19.2 % with 14.1 % flue gas CO2. The application of flue gas CO2 improved biomass production and lipid productivity in A. obliquus. The current investigation demonstrated that the use of flue gas CO2 could reduce the cost of microalgae biomass production for better biofuel generation.

Indole-3-Acetic Acid Is Produced by Emiliania huxleyi Coccolith-Bearing Cells and Triggers a Physiological Response in Bald Cells

Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) is an auxin produced by terrestrial plants which influences development through a variety of cellular mechanisms, such as altering cell orientation, organ development, fertility, and cell elongation. IAA is also produced by bacterial pathogens and symbionts of plants and algae, allowing them to manipulate growth and development of their host. They do so by either producing excess exogenous IAA or hijacking the IAA biosynthesis pathway of their host. The endogenous production of IAA by algae remains contentious. Using Emiliania huxleyi, a globally abundant marine haptophyte, we investigated the presence and potential role of IAA in algae. Homologs of genes involved in several tryptophan-dependent IAA biosynthesis pathways were identified in E. huxleyi. This suggests that this haptophyte can synthesize IAA using various precursors derived from tryptophan. Addition of L-tryptophan to E. huxleyi stimulated IAA production, which could be detected using Salkowski's reagent and GC × GC-TOFMS in the C cell type (coccolith bearing), but not in the N cell type (bald). Various concentrations of IAA were exogenously added to these two cell types to identify a physiological response in E. huxleyi. The N cell type, which did not produce IAA, was more sensitive to it, showing an increased variation in cell size, membrane permeability, and a corresponding increase in the photosynthetic potential quantum yield of Photosystem II (PSII). A roseobacter (bacteria commonly associated with E. huxleyi) Ruegeria sp. R11, previously shown to produce IAA, was co-cultured with E. huxleyi C and N cells. IAA could not be detected from these co-cultures, and even when stimulated by addition of L-tryptophan, they produced less IAA than axenic C type culture similarly induced. This suggests that IAA plays a novel role signaling between different E. huxleyi cell types, rather than between a bacteria and its algal host.

Metabolomics analysis reveals 6-benzylaminopurine as a stimulator for improving lipid and DHA accumulation of Aurantiochytriumsp

BACKGROUND

Phytohormones are chemical messengers that have a positive effect on biodiesel production of microalgae at low concentrations. However, the effect of phytohormone 6-benzylaminopurine on lipid and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) production in marine DHA-producer Aurantiochytrium has never been reported. In this study, a GC-MS-based metabolomics method combined with a multivariate analysis is applied to reveal the metabolic mechanism of 6-benzylaminopurine enhancing production of lipid and DHA in Aurantiochytrium sp.YLH70.

RESULTS

In total, 71 metabolites were identified by GC-MS. The PCA model revealed that 76.9% of metabolite variation was related to 6-benzylaminopurine treatment, and overall metabolomics profiles between the 6-benzylaminopurine and control groups were clearly discriminated. Forty-six metabolites identified by the PLS-DA model were responsible for responding to 6-benzylaminopurine. Metabolic analysis showed that 6-benzylaminopurine could accelerate the rate of utilization of glucose in Aurantiochytrium sp. YLH70, and the metabolic flux from glycolysis, TCA cycle and mevalonate pathway to fatty acids biosynthesis was promoted. Moreover, the anti-stress mechanism in Aurantiochytrium sp.YLH70 might be induced by 6-benzylaminopurine.

CONCLUSION

Metabolomics is a suitable tool to discover the metabolic mechanism for improving lipid and DHA accumulation in a microorganism. 6-benzylaminopurine has the potential to stimulate lipid and DHA production of Aurantiochytrium sp.YLH70 for industrial purposes. © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Effect of diethyl aminoethyl hexanoate on the accumulation of high-value biocompounds produced by two novel isolated microalgae

The low productivity of microalgae has restricted scale-up application of microalgae-based biodiesel processes. Diethyl aminoethyl hexanoate (DA-6) was investigated to enhance the biomass and metabolite productivity. At a very low concentration (10(-7)M) DA-6 made Chlorella ellipsoidea SDEC-11 and Scenedesmus quadricauda SDEC-13 obtain enlarged cell size, 114mgL(-1)d(-1), 101mgL(-1)d(-1) biomass productivity and 39.13mgL(-1)d(-1), 32.69mgL(-1)d(-1) lipid productivity, respectively. Biomass and lipid productivity of SDEC-11 and SDEC-13 were 100mgL(-1)d(-1) and 30.05mgL(-1)d(-1), 94mgL(-1)d(-1) and 28.43mgL(-1)d(-1), respectively, without DA-6. Twice hormone dose in 10(-6)M DA-6 medium resulted in higher biomass productivity (106mgL(-1)d(-1)) and longer exponential growth of SDEC-13. DA-6 also ensured the property of microalgae biodiesel to meet the EN 14214 standard. The current investigation demonstrated that DA-6 accelerated the microalgae growth and simultaneously improved the quality and quantity of lipid for biodiesel production.

Feasibility of various carbon sources and plant materials in enhancing the growth and biomass productivity of the freshwater microalgae Monoraphidium griffithii NS16

In order to assess the feasibility of various carbon sources and plant materials in increasing the growth rate and biomass productivity of Monoraphidium griffithii, ten carbon sources as well as six plant materials were tested in mixotrophic cultures with or without aeration. It was found that glucose, fructose, maltose, sodium acetate and mannitol were potential carbon sources for growth enhancement of M. griffithii. Supplementation of culture medium with these carbon sources resulted in approximately 1-4-fold increase in cell density compared to control in a small scale culture. In a larger scale mixotrophic culture with aeration, 0.05% mannitol and 0.1% fructose resulted in a decent 1-1.5-fold increase in final cell density, approximately 2-fold increase in growth rate and 0.5-1-fold increase in dry biomass weight. Findings from this study suggests that glucose, fructose, maltose and mannitol were potential organic carbon sources for mixotrophic culture of M. griffithii.

Effect of Metals, Metalloids and Metallic Nanoparticles on Microalgae Growth and Industrial Product Biosynthesis: A Review

Microalgae are a source of numerous compounds that can be used in many branches of industry. Synthesis of such compounds in microalgal cells can be amplified under stress conditions. Exposure to various metals can be one of methods applied to induce cell stress and synthesis of target products in microalgae cultures. In this review, the potential of producing diverse biocompounds (pigments, lipids, exopolymers, peptides, phytohormones, arsenoorganics, nanoparticles) from microalgae cultures upon exposure to various metals, is evaluated. Additionally, different methods to alter microalgae response towards metals and metal stress are described. Finally, possibilities to sustain high growth rates and productivity of microalgal cultures in the presence of metals are discussed.

Mixotrophic cultivation of a microalga Scenedesmus obliquus in municipal wastewater supplemented with food wastewater and flue gas CO2 for biomass production

The biomass and lipid/carbohydrate production by a green microalga Scenedesmus obliquus under mixotrophic condition using food wastewater and flue gas CO2 with municipal wastewater was investigated. Different dilution ratios (0.5-2%) of municipal wastewater with food wastewater were evaluated in the presence of 5, 10 and 14.1% CO2. The food wastewater (0.5-1%) with 10-14.1% CO2 supported the highest growth (0.42-0.44 g L(-1)), nutrient removal (21-22 mg TN L(-1)), lipid productivity (10-11 mg L(-1)day(-1)) and carbohydrate productivity (13-16 mg L(-1)day(-1)) by S. obliquus after 6 days of cultivation. Food wastewater increased the palmitic and oleic acid contents up to 8 and 6%, respectively. Thus, application of food wastewater and flue gas CO2 can be employed for enhancement of growth, lipid/carbohydrate productivity and wastewater treatment efficiency of S. obliquus under mixotrophic condition, which can lead to development of a cost effective strategy for microalgal biomass production.