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Effect of gamma irradiation on lipid accumulation and expression of regulatory genes involved in lipid biosynthesis in Chlorella sp.

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Abstract

Microalgae are promising species with high potential for biodiesel production. Large-scale cultivation of oleaginous microalgae in industrial effluents and municipal wastewater provides dual benefits of biodiesel production and wastewater treatment. Such approach to biodiesel production does not interfere with conventional agricultural resources and practices. Microalgae can accumulate lipid under various stress conditions. In this study, gamma irradiation was used for the first time as a stressor to trigger lipid accumulation in two strains of Chlorella sorokiniana. Gamma irradiation enhanced the lipid content of more than 40% of biomass. Intracellular reactive oxygen species generated by gamma ray exposure was measured by 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) staining under flow cytometry. Cytoplasmic lipid droplets were observed by Nile red staining using fluorescence microscopy. Expression patterns of regulatory genes involved in lipid biosynthesis, namely acetyl-CoA carboxylase and diacylglycerol acyl transferase, were upregulated immediately after irradiation and were highest 3 days post irradiation. This novel strategy of using gamma radiation as a faster and extremely potent stressor for triggering lipid biosynthesis in microalgae has immense potential in industrial biodiesel production.

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Acknowledgements

This research work was supported by the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, in the form of a fellowship given to Manisha Tale. The authors sincerely acknowledge the contribution of Dr. Veugopalan, Head, NABTD, for critical assessment of the manuscript and for giving very valuable suggestions to improve the language of the manuscript. The authors would also like to acknowledge Ms. Sangeeta Niranjan, project trainee in the laboratory and M.Sc. (Biotech), student of Jiwaji University, Gwalior, India; Mr. Jason Raj J., project trainee in the laboratory and M. Tech. (Biotech) student of VIT University, Chennai, India, for their technical help in media preparation, data collection, and tabulation; and Ms. S. V. Yeole, technical assistant, Food Technology Division, BARC for her technical help in the FAME analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nuclear Agriculture and Biotechnology Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, 400085, India

    Manisha P. Tale, Reema devi Singh & Sukhendu B. Ghosh

  2. Department of Microbiology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, 411007, India

    Manisha P. Tale & Balu P. Kapadnis

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  1. Manisha P. Tale
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  2. Reema devi Singh
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  3. Balu P. Kapadnis
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  4. Sukhendu B. Ghosh
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Correspondence to Sukhendu B. Ghosh.

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Tale, M.P., devi Singh, R., Kapadnis, B.P. et al. Effect of gamma irradiation on lipid accumulation and expression of regulatory genes involved in lipid biosynthesis in Chlorella sp.. J Appl Phycol 30, 277–286 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-017-1229-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-017-1229-9

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