Abstract
Heterotrophic growth of thraustochytrids has potential in coproducing biodiesel for transportation, as well as producing a feedstock for omega-3 long-chain (≥C20) polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA), especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for use in nutraceuticals. In this study, we compared eight new endemic Australian thraustochytrid strains from the genera Aurantiochytrium, Schizochytrium, Thraustochytrium, and Ulkenia for the synthesis of exopolysaccharide (EPS), in addition to biodiesel and LC-PUFA. Aurantiochytrium sp. strains readily utilized glucose for biomass production, and increasing glucose from 2 to 4 % w/v of the culture medium resulted in increased biomass yield by an average factor of 1.7. Ulkenia sp. strain TC 010 and Thraustochytrium sp. strain TC 033 did not utilize glucose, while Schizochytrium sp. strain TC 002 utilized less than half the glucose available by day 14, and Thraustochytrium sp. strain TC 004 utilized glucose at 4 % w/v but not 2 % w/v of the culture suggesting a threshold requirement between these values. Across all strains, increasing glucose from 2 to 4 % w/v of the culture medium resulted in increased total fatty acid methyl ester content by an average factor of 1.9. Despite an increasing literature demonstrating the capacity of thraustochytrids for DHA synthesis, the production of EPS from these organisms is not well documented. A broad range of EPS yields was observed. The maximum yield of EPS was observed for Schizochytrium sp. strain TC 002 (299 mg/L). High biomass-producing strains that also have high lipid and high EPS yield may be better candidates for commercial production of biofuels and other coproducts.
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Acknowledgments
The authors thank the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Energy Transformed Flagship and Food Futures Flagship for their support, Ian Jameson for assistance with microscope operation, Cathy Johnston for assistance with culture media preparation, Dan Holdsworth for management and maintenance of the GC-MS facility, Peter Mansour for assistance with GC operation, and the helpful comments from two anonymous journal referees and Dr. Nobuhiro Fusetani. 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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Lee Chang, K.J., Nichols, C.M., Blackburn, S.I. et al. Comparison of Thraustochytrids Aurantiochytrium sp., Schizochytrium sp., Thraustochytrium sp., and Ulkenia sp. for Production of Biodiesel, Long-Chain Omega-3 Oils, and Exopolysaccharide. Mar Biotechnol 16, 396–411 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10126-014-9560-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10126-014-9560-5