Abstract
Dunaliella salina is a rich source of carotenoids. Carotenoid production is induced under specific conditions, i.e., high light intensity, high salt concentration, nutrient limitation, and suboptimal temperatures in this microalga. The control of environmental factors is vital for high productivity of carotenoids. In this paper, the effect of different ethanol concentrations in combination with nitrogen deficiency was investigated to induce carotenoid production in D. salina CCAP 19/18. Also, some biochemical and molecular parameters were investigated in response to ethanol in the cells. It was shown that ethanol at 0.5% concentration increased cell number but, at 5% concentration, reduced cell viability compared to the control. The highest carotenoid production was achieved at 3% ethanol concentration, which was 1.46 fold higher than the nitrogen deficiency condition. Investigation of the 3 carotenoid biosynthesis genes revealed that their expression levels increased at 3% ethanol concentration, and the phytoene synthase gene was the most upregulated one. Lipid peroxidation increased at both 3% and 5% ethanol concentrations. At 3% concentration, the activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase increased, but no significant changes were seen at 5% ethanol concentration. Peroxidase activity reduced at both 3% and 5% concentrations. Moreover, proline and reducing sugar content increased at 3% concentration while decreased at 5% ethanol concertation. The results showed that at 3% ethanol concentration, higher carotenoid productivity was associated with an increase in other intracellular responses (molecular and biochemical). Ethanol as a controllable element may be beneficial to increase carotenoid production even under inappropriate environmental conditions in D. salina.
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This study was financially supported by the Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran, and by Grant No. 970203 of the Biotechnology Development Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
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Data Acquisition was carried out by Aida Hamidkhani. Formal analysis and validation of data was done by Aida Hamidkhani, Azra Saboora, Nassim Gorbanmehr and Ezat Asgarani. Preparation of the manuscript draft was done by Aida Hamidkhani. Ezat Asgarani, Nassim Gorbanmehr and Azra Saboora provided administrative, technical and material support. Supervision of the work was done by Azra Saboora, Ezat Asgarani and Mohammad A. Hejazi.
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Hamidkhani, A., Asgarani, E., Saboora, A. et al. Ethanol as a carotenoid production stimulator in Dunaliella salina CCAP 19/18. Folia Microbiol 68, 925–937 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12223-023-01062-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12223-023-01062-y