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Biodiscovery of new Australian thraustochytrids for production of biodiesel and long-chain omega-3 oils

  • Bioenergy and biofuels
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Abstract

Heterotrophic growth of thraustochytrids has potential in co-producing a feedstock for biodiesel and long-chain (LC, ≥C20) omega-3 oils. Biodiscovery of thraustochytrids from Tasmania (temperate) and Queensland (tropical), Australia, covered a biogeographic range of habitats including fresh, brackish, and marine waters. A total of 36 thraustochytrid strains were isolated and separated into eight chemotaxonomic groups (A–H) based on fatty acid (FA) and sterol composition which clustered closely with four different genera obtained by 18S rDNA molecular identification. Differences in the relative proportions (%FA) of long-chain C20, C22, omega-3, and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), docosapentaenoic acid, arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and saturated FA, as well as the presence of odd-chain PUFA (OC-PUFA) were the major factors influencing the separation of these groups. OC-PUFA were detected in temperate strains of groups A, B, and C (Schizochytrium and Thraustochytrium). Group D (Ulkenia) had high omega-3 LC-PUFA (53% total fatty acids (TFA)) and EPA up to 11.2% TFA. Strains from groups E and F (Aurantiochytrium) contained DHA levels of 50–61% TFA after 7 days of growth in basal medium at 20 °C. Groups G and H (Aurantiochytrium) strains had high levels of 15:0 (20–30% TFA) and the sum of saturated FA was in the range of 32–51%. β,β-Carotene, canthaxanthin, and astaxanthin were identified in selected strains. Phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic groupings demonstrated similar patterns for the majority of strains. Our results demonstrate the potential of these new Australian thraustochytrids for the production of biodiesel in addition to omega-3 LC-PUFA-rich oils.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the CSIRO Energy Transformed Flagship and Food Futures Flagship for their support, Dion Frampton and Rob Gurney for assistance during sample collection and cooperation, Ian Jameson for epifluorescence microscope operation, Malcolm Brown for comments on an earlier version of this manuscript, and the helpful comments from two anonymous journal referees and Dr. Claudia Schmidt-Dannert. Kim Jye Lee Chang was supported by an Australian Postgraduate Award and a CSIRO Office of the Chief Executive top-up scholarship through the CSIRO Energy Transformed Flagship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Energy Transformed National Research Flagship, CSIRO, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia

    Kim Jye Lee Chang, Graeme A. Dunstan & Susan I. Blackburn

  2. Food Futures National Research Flagship, CSIRO, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia

    Peter D. Nichols

  3. CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia

    Kim Jye Lee Chang, Graeme A. Dunstan, Guy C. J. Abell, Lesley A. Clementson, Susan I. Blackburn & Peter D. Nichols

  4. School of Plant Science, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia

    Kim Jye Lee Chang & Anthony Koutoulis

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  1. Kim Jye Lee Chang
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Correspondence to Kim Jye Lee Chang.

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Lee Chang, K.J., Dunstan, G.A., Abell, G.C.J. et al. Biodiscovery of new Australian thraustochytrids for production of biodiesel and long-chain omega-3 oils. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 93, 2215–2231 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-011-3856-4

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