Abstract
Despite the number of biochemical studies exploring algal lipids and fatty acid biosynthesis pathways and profiles, analytical methods used by phycologists for this purpose are often diverse and incompletely described. Potential confusion and potential variability of the results between studies can therefore occur due to change of protocols for lipid extraction and fractionation, as well as fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) preparation before gas chromatography (GC) analyses. Here, we describe a step-by-step procedure for the profiling of neutral and polar lipids using techniques such as solid–liquid extraction (SLE), thin-layer chromatography (TLC), and gas chromatography coupled with flame ionization detector (GC-FID). As an example, in this protocol chapter, analyses of neutral and polar lipids from the marine microalga Pavlova lutheri (an EPA/DHA-rich haptophyte) will be outlined to describe the distribution of fatty acid residues within its major lipid classes. This method has been proven to be a reliable technique to assess changes in lipid and fatty acid profiles in several other microalgal species and seaweeds.
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported by NutraMara, the Irish Marine Functional Foods Research Initiative (Grant-Aid Agreement No. MFFRI/07/01) carried out under the Sea Change Strategy with the support of the Marine Institute and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), funded under the National Development Plan 2007–2013 for Ireland.
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Guihéneuf, F., Schmid, M., Stengel, D.B. (2015). Lipids and Fatty Acids in Algae: Extraction, Fractionation into Lipid Classes, and Analysis by Gas Chromatography Coupled with Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID). In: Stengel, D., Connan, S. (eds) Natural Products From Marine Algae. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1308. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2684-8_11
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2684-8_11
Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY
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