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Enhancing Carbohydrate Productivity of Chlorella sp. AE10 in Semi-continuous Cultivation and Unraveling the Mechanism by Flow Cytometry

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Abstract

Accumulated carbohydrate in microalgae is promising feedstock for bioethanol fermentation. Selection of suitable cultivation conditions in semi-continuous cultivation is critical to achieve a high carbohydrate productivity. In the current study, the effects of macro-nutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur) limitations and light intensity were evaluated for the carbohydrate accumulations of Chlorella sp. AE10 under 10% CO2 conditions. It was shown that nitrogen limitation and high light intensity were effective for improving carbohydrate productivity. The average carbohydrate and biomass productivity in semi-continuous cultivation with 1/4 N medium and 1000 μmol photons m−2 s−1 was 0.673 and 0.93 g L−1 day−1, respectively. Sulfur and phosphorus limitations could improve the carbohydrate content but they could not enhance the carbohydrate productivity. The cell cycle progression and chlorophyll a were investigated using flow cytometry (FCM). The results showed that macro-nutrient limitation and high light intensity indeed influenced cell cycle progression and led to the formation of polyploid cells along with the carbohydrate accumulation in a certain range. FCM was rapid and accurate method to investigate the operation conditions why 1/4 N, 2 days as a cycle, and high light intensity were optimal ones. In addition, the remaining high level of photosynthesis activity was also important for achieving a high carbohydrate productivity. Dynamic tracking of carbohydrate accumulation is helpful for establishment of a semi-continuous cultivation for enhancing carbohydrate productivity in microalgae.

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Abbreviations

Chl a:

Chlorophyll a

DAPI:

4′,6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole

DW:

dry weight

FCM:

Flow cytometry

FSC:

Forward scatter

SD:

Standard deviation

SSC:

Side scatter

PBS:

Phosphate-buffered saline

PBR:

Photobioreactor

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Acknowledgements

This study is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21576278).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 99 Haike Road, Shanghai, 201210, China

    Yizhong Yuan, Xuyang Li, Wenqiang Qi, Dujia Cheng, Tao Tang, Quanyu Zhao, Wei Wei & Yuhan Sun

  2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China

    Yizhong Yuan & Dujia Cheng

  3. ShanghaiTech University, 100 Haike Road, Shanghai, 201210, China

    Yizhong Yuan, Heng Liu, Wenqiang Qi, Dujia Cheng, Quanyu Zhao & Yuhan Sun

  4. School of Life Science, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai, 200444, China

    Xuyang Li

  5. Center for Excellence in Urban Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China

    Wei Wei

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  1. Yizhong Yuan
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Correspondence to Quanyu Zhao.

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Yuan, Y., Liu, H., Li, X. et al. Enhancing Carbohydrate Productivity of Chlorella sp. AE10 in Semi-continuous Cultivation and Unraveling the Mechanism by Flow Cytometry. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 185, 419–433 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-017-2667-1

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