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Improving the lipid content of Nannochloropsis oculata by a mutation-selection program using UV radiation and quizalofop

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Abstract

Microalgal biomass with a high content of lipids and fatty acids is generally obtained by culture under stress conditions, limiting its growth and increasing production costs. However, it is possible to obtain strains with higher content of some of the desired biochemical component through genetic improvement strategies. Our objective was to increase the lipid content through a mutation-selection procedure in the microalga Nannochloropsis oculata. This procedure involved the ultraviolet radiation exposure of microalgae at different times at different densities and selecting surviving colonies. Subsequently, they were exposed to the herbicide quizalofop-p-ethyl, selecting the colonies with lower survival. An 85% mortality in the UV-exposed microalgae was recorded at 120 min for 1 × 105 cells mL−1. Two strains surviving quizalofop-p-ethyl were obtained, with only one strain surviving in standard culture conditions. The comparison of the new and original strains shows that the growth rate of the new strain of N. oculata (S3) is greater than that of the original strain, and it also had a higher content of total lipids and some fatty acids such as (a) arachidonic acid (up to five times higher than original); (b) oleic and heptadecaenoic acids (more than double than the original strain); (c) elaidic, tridecanoic, and palmitic acids (slightly higher than the original strain). There were significant differences in composition profile (carbohydrates, proteins) in comparison with the original strain. In conclusion, the mutation-selection procedure for obtaining new strains with higher lipid content is suitable for the freshwater microalga N. oculata. It could be considered as a strategy of genetic improvement with potential for aquaculture, food, pharmaceuticals, and biodiesel.

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Acknowledgements

This project received support from Tecnológico Nacional de México (TNM) through the project 5508.15-P, respectively. Especial thanks to Enoe Erendira Rocha Miller for valuable comments and support during biochemical analysis and to Dra. Verónica Valadez Rocha for the improvement of the language of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tecnológico Nacional de México, División de Ingeniería en Pesquerías, Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Centla, Calle Ejido S/N. Frontera, 86751, Tabasco, Mexico

    Jesús David Moha-León

  2. Tecnológico Nacional de México, División de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Instituto Tecnológico de Boca del Río, Km. 12 Carr. Veracruz-Córdoba, 94290, Boca del Río, Veracruz, Mexico

    Ignacio Alejandro Pérez-Legaspi & Luis Alfredo Ortega-Clemente

  3. Laboratorio Estatal de Salud del Estado de Aguascalientes, del ISSEA, Av. Siglo XXI 105, C.P, 20270, Aguascalientes, Ags., Mexico

    Isidoro Rubio-Franchini

  4. Departamento de Biotecnología y Bioingeniería/Central Analítica, CINVESTAV- Zacatenco, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico

    Elvira Ríos-Leal

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  1. Jesús David Moha-León
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  2. Ignacio Alejandro Pérez-Legaspi
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  3. Luis Alfredo Ortega-Clemente
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Correspondence to Ignacio Alejandro Pérez-Legaspi.

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Moha-León, J.D., Pérez-Legaspi, I.A., Ortega-Clemente, L.A. et al. Improving the lipid content of Nannochloropsis oculata by a mutation-selection program using UV radiation and quizalofop. J Appl Phycol 31, 191–199 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-018-1568-1

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