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Microalgae as a Source for VLC-PUFA Production

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Lipids in Plant and Algae Development

Part of the book series: Subcellular Biochemistry ((SCBI,volume 86))

Abstract

Microalgae present a huge and still insufficiently tapped resource of very long-chain omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (VLC-PUFA) for human nutrition and medicinal applications. This chapter describes the diversity of unicellular eukaryotic microalgae in respect to VLC-PUFA biosynthesis. Then, we outline the major biosynthetic pathways mediating the formation of VLC-PUFA by sequential desaturation and elongation of C18-PUFA acyl groups. We address the aspects of spatial localization of those pathways and elaborate on the role for VLC-PUFA in microalgal cells. Recent progress in microalgal genetic transformation and molecular engineering has opened the way to increased production efficiencies for VLC-PUFA. The perspectives of photobiotechnology and metabolic engineering of microalgae for altered or enhanced VLC-PUFA production are also discussed.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge Professor Zvi Cohen for his great contribution to the field, constant guidance and support, Dr. Umidjon Iskandarov for reading the manuscript and his valuable suggestions. Financial support from the European Commission’s Seventh Framework Program for Research and Technology Development (FP7), project GIAVAP, Grant No. 266401 is acknowledged.

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  1. Microalgal Biotechnology Laboratory, French Associates Institute for Agriculture and Biotechnology of Drylands, J. Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, 84990, Israel

    Inna Khozin-Goldberg, Stefan Leu & Sammy Boussiba

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  1. Inna Khozin-Goldberg
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  2. Stefan Leu
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  3. Sammy Boussiba
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Correspondence to Inna Khozin-Goldberg .

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  1. Academia Sinica, Institute of Plant and Microbial Bi, Taipei, Taiwan

    Yuki Nakamura

  2. Institut de Biologie Environnementale et, Université Aix Marseille, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, Bouches-du-Rhône, France

    Yonghua Li-Beisson

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© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Khozin-Goldberg, I., Leu, S., Boussiba, S. (2016). Microalgae as a Source for VLC-PUFA Production. In: Nakamura, Y., Li-Beisson, Y. (eds) Lipids in Plant and Algae Development. Subcellular Biochemistry, vol 86. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-25979-6_19

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