Abstract
Nitrogen is one of the most important nutrient sources for the growth of microalgae. We studied the effects of nitrogen starvation on the growth responses, biochemical composition, and fatty acid profile of Dunaliella tertiolecta, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, and Nannochloropsis oculata. The lack of nitrogen caused changes in carbohydrate, protein, lipid, and fatty acid composition in all examined microalgae. The carbohydrate content increased 59% in D. tertiolecta, while the lipid level increased 139% in P. tricornutum under nitrogen stress conditions compared to the control groups. Nitrogen starvation increased the oligosaccharide and polysaccharide contents of D. tertiolecta 4.1-fold and 3.6-fold, respectively. Furthermore, triacylglycerol (TAG) levels in N. oculata and P. tricornutum increased 2.3-fold and 7.4-fold, respectively. The dramatic increase in the amount of TAG is important for the use of these microalgae as raw materials in biodiesel. Nitrogen starvation increased the amounts of oligosaccharides and polysaccharides of D. tertiolecta, while increased eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in N. oculata and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content in P. tricornutum. The amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), EPA, DHA, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides in microalgal species can be increased without using the too costly nitrogen source in the culture conditions, which can reduce the most costly of living feeding.
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Acknowledgements
This study is dedicated to Prof. Dr. Şevket Gökpınar, who is no longer with us, for his valuable contributions to plankton research in Turkey.
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This study is part of the PhD thesis and was supported by the Ege University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit (Project number: FGA-2021-22737).
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The experiments were designed by Pınar A. Şirin and Serpil Serdar. Laboratory studies were carried out by Pınar A. Şirin. Biochemical analyses were performed by Pınar A. Şirin and Serpil Serdar. The manuscript was written by Pınar A. Şirin. Serpil Serdar reviewed and edited the manuscript. All authors read and approved the manuscript.
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Şirin, P.A., Serdar, S. Effects of nitrogen starvation on growth and biochemical composition of some microalgae species. Folia Microbiol 69, 889–902 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12223-024-01136-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12223-024-01136-5