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The Algae World pp 467–481Cite as

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids from Algae

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Part of the book series: Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology ((COLE,volume 26))

Abstract

The n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) are well studied bioactive molecules with important health benefits. These have gained tremendous importance and the global demand of these-PUFAs have risen during last decade. As humans other animals do not carry the require genes necessary for the formation of n-3 fatty acids these must be obtained from other natural sources. The current natural source of n-3 PUFAs is fatty fishes which accumulate these fatty acids in their oil due to its alga rich diet. In recent past excessive harvesting of sea fishes for its health benefits have rendered fisheries to be unsustainable making it important to explore alternate sustainable n-3 PUFA sources. Eukaryotic algae are a very diverse group of organisms capable of producing various bioactive compounds. Lipid analyses of various algae have shown the presence of n-3PUFAs especially EPA and DHA. Various genera of algae such as Nannochloropsis, Schizochytrium, Isochrysis and Phaeodactylum have received due attention for their ability to produce n-3 LC-PUFAs. Isolation and characterization of various desaturases, elongases and other genes involved in n-3 PUFA biosynthesis has been a major target to understand lipid biosynthesis in algae. Marine microalgae are rapidly gaining identity as the alternate natural source for industrial production of EPA and DHA.

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Abbreviations

AA:

arachidic acid (20:0)

ALA:

α-linolenic acid (18:3n-3)

ARA:

arachidonic acid (20:4n-6)

DGLA:

dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (20:3n-6)

DHA:

docosahexaenoic acid (20:6n-3)

DPA:

docosapentaenoic acid (22:5n-3)

EDA:

eicosadienoic acid (20:2n-6)

EPA:

eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3)

ETA:

eicosatetraenoic acid (20:4n-3)

FA(s):

fatty acid(s)

GLA:

γ-linolenic acid (18:3n-6)

HAD:

hexadecadienoic acid (16:2n-4)

HTA:

hexadecatrienoic acid (16:3n-4)

LA:

linoleic acid (18:2n-6)

VLC-PUFA(s):

very long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid(s)

OA:

oleic acid (18:1n-9)

PA:

Palmitic acid (16:0)

PUFA(s):

polyunsaturated fatty acid(s), >C18

SA:

stearic acid (18:0)

SDA:

stearidonic acid (18:4n-3)

AT:

acyl transferase

TAG:

triacylglycerol

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India

    Girish Mishra

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  1. Girish Mishra
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Correspondence to Girish Mishra .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Delhi, Delhi, India

    Dinabandhu Sahoo

  2. The Hebrew Univ Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

    Joseph Seckbach

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Mishra, G. (2015). Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids from Algae. In: Sahoo, D., Seckbach, J. (eds) The Algae World. Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology, vol 26. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-7321-8_18

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