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Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology

, Volume 66, Issue 5, pp 486–496 | Cite as

Botryococcus braunii: a rich source for hydrocarbons and related ether lipids

  • P. MetzgerEmail author
  • C. Largeau
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Abstract

This paper presents a review on Botryococcus braunii, a cosmopolitan green colonial microalga characterised by a considerable production of lipids, notably hydrocarbons. Strains like wild populations of this alga differ in the type of hydrocarbons they synthesise and accumulate: (1) n-alkadienes and trienes, (2) triterpenoid botryococcenes and methylated squalenes, or (3) a tetraterpenoid, lycopadiene. In addition to hydrocarbons and some classic lipids, these algae produce numerous series of characteristic ether lipids closely related to hydrocarbons. This review covers the algal biodiversity, the chemical structures and biosynthesis of hydrocarbons and ether lipids and the biotechnological studies related to hydrocarbon production.

Keywords

Hydrocarbon Squalene Ivory Coast Farnesol Ether Lipid 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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© Springer-Verlag 2004

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Laboratoire de Chimie Bioorganique et Organique PhysiqueEcole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de ParisParisFrance

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