Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Heterotrophic production of long chain omega-3 fatty acids utilizing algae and algae-like microorganisms

  • Published:
Journal of Applied Phycology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Although some interest in growing microalgae heterotrophically for the production of pigments was generated in the 1960s, only minimal commercial research was focused on this type of production technology until the 1980s. Recent developments indicating the nutritional and pharmaceutical importance of long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the human diet have stimulated interest in microalgae as a source of these vital compounds, for they are the primary producers of these fatty acids in marine food webs. Food and pharmaceutical quality production can be enhanced both by the degree of process control and by the sterility achieved through a fermentation process, when compared to outdoor solar pond production. The data presented illustrate that microalgal-based heterotrophic production systems can exhibit omega-3 fatty acid productivities 2–3 orders of magnitude greater than those of outdoor pond systems. Additionally, long chain omega-3 fatty acid productivities reported for the microalgal fermentation systems are 1–2 orders of magnitude greater than productivities reported for fungal or bacterial systems.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ackman RG, Jangaard PM, Hoyle RJ, Brockerhoff H (1964) Origin of marine fatty acids. I. Analysis of the fatty acids produced by the diatomSkeletonema costatum. J. Fish. Res. Bd Canada 21: 747–756.

    Google Scholar 

  • Akimoto M, Ishii T, Yamagaki K, Ohtaguchi K, Koide K, Yazawa K (1990) Production of eicosapentaenoic acid by a bacterium isolated from mackerel intestines. J. am. Oil Chem. Soc. 67: 911–915.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ando S, Nakajima K, Hatano M (1992) Incorporation of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in phospholipids of a marine bacteriumVibrio sp. cultivated with sardine oil. J. Ferm. Bioeng. 73: 169–171.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bahnweg G, Jackle I (1986) A new approach to taxonomy of the Thraustochytriales and Lybrinthulales. In Moss ST (ed.), The Biology of Marine Fungi. Cambridge Univ. Press, London: 131–140.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bajpai P, Bajpai PK (1992) Arachidonic acid production by microorganisms. Biotech. appl. Biochem. 15: 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bajpai P, Bajpai PK, Ward OP (1991) Production of docosahexaenoic acid byThraustochytrium aureum. Appl. Microbiol. Biotech. 35: 706–710.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bajpai PK, Bajpai P, Ward OP (1991) Optimization of production of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) byThraustochytrium aureum ATCC 34304. J. am. Oil Chem. Soc. 68: 509–514.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barclay WR (1992) Process for the heterotrophic production of microbial products with high concentrations of omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids. U.S. Patent 5, 130, 242.

  • Barclay WR, Johansen JR, Terry KL, Toon SP (1991) Influence of ionic parameters on the growth and distribution ofBoekelovia hooglandii (Chromophyta). Phycologia 30: 355–364.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barclay WR, Terry KL, Nagle NJ, Weissman JC, Goebel RP (1987) Potential of new strains of marine and inland saline-adapted microalgae for aquaculture. J. world Aquacult. Soc. 18: 218–228.

    Google Scholar 

  • Booth T, Miller CE (1968) Comparative morphologic and taxonomic studies in the genusThraustochytrium. Mycologia 60: 480–495.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cavalier-Smith T (1981) Eukaryotic kingdoms: seven or nine? BioSystems 14: 461–481.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chamberlain AH, Moss ST (1988) The thraustochytrids: a protist group with mixed affinities. BioSystems 21: 341–349.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen Z, Heimer YM (1992) Production of polyunsaturated fatty acids (EPA, ARA, and GLA) by the microalgaePorphyridium andSpirulina. In Kyle DJ, Ratledge C (eds), Industrial Applications of Single Cell Oils. Am. Oil Chem. Soc., Champaign, Illinois: 243–273.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaertner A (1972) Characters used in the classification of thraustochytriaceous fungi. Veröff. Inst. Meeresforsch. Bremerh. 13: 183–194.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gandhi SR, Weete JD (1991) Production of the polyunsaturated fatty acids arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid by the fungusPythium ultimum. J. gen. Microbiol. 137: 1825–1830.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gladue, RM (1991) Heterotrophic microalgae production: Potential for application to aquaculture feeds. In Fulks W, Main KL (eds), Rotifer and Microalgae Culture Systems. Oceanic Institute, Honolulu: 275–286.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein S (1963) Development and nutrition of new species ofThraustochytrium. Am. J. Bot. 50: 271–279.

    Google Scholar 

  • Health & Welfare Canada (1991) Nutrition Recommendations. Ottawa, Canada, 40–45 and 203.

  • Jareonkitmongkol S, Shimizu S, Yamada H (1993) Production of an eicosapentaenoic acid-containing oil by a Δ12 desaturase-defective mutant ofMortierella alpina 1S-4. J. am. Oil Chem. Soc. 70 (2): 119–123.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson TW (1976) The Phycomycetes: Morphology and Taxonomy. In Jones EBG (ed.), Recents Advances in Aquatic Mycology. John Wiley & Sons, New York: 193–211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones EGB, Harrison JL (1976) Physiology of marine Phycomycetes. In Jones EBG (ed.), Recents Advances in Aquatic Mycology. John Wiley & Sons, New York: 261–278.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kathrein HR (1960) Production of carotenoids by the cultivation of algae. U.S. Patent 2,949,700.

  • Kawaguchi K (1980) Microalgal production systems in Japan. In Shelef G, Soeder C (eds), Algae Biomass: Production and Use. Elsevier North Holland, Amsterdam 25–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kendrick A, Ratledge C (1992) Lipids of selected molds grown for production of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Lipids 27 (1): 15–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kyle DJ (1992) Microbial oil mixtures and uses thereof. International Patent Application, Patent Cooperation Treaty Publication WO 92/12711.

  • Kyle DJ, Gladue RM (1991) Eicosapentaenoic acids and methods for their production. International Patent Application, Patent Cooperation Treaty Publication WO 91/14427, October 3, 1991.

  • Kyle DJ, Reeb SE, Sicotte VJ (1991) Docosahexaenoic acid, methods for its production and compounds containing the same. International Patent Application, Patent Cooperation Treaty Publication WO 91/11918, August 22, 1991.

  • Kyle DJ, Boswell KDB, Gladue RM, Reeb SE (1992) Designer oils from microalgae as nutritional supplements. In Bills DD, Kung SD (eds), Biotechnology and Nutrition. Butterworth-Heinemann, Boston: 451–468.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leedale G (1974) How many are the kingdoms of organisms. Taxon 23: 261–270.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li CW, Volcani BE (1987) Four new apochlorotic diatoms. Br. phycol. J. 22: 375–382.

    Google Scholar 

  • López Alonso D, Molina Grima E, Sánchez Pérez JA, Garcia Sánchez JL, Garcia Camacho F (1992) Isolation of clones ofIsochrysis galbana rich in eciosapentaenoic acid. Aquaculture 102: 363–371.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mannella CA, Frank J, Delihas N (1987) Interrelatedness of 5S RNA sequences investigated by correspondence analysis. J. mol. Evol. 24: 228–235.

    Google Scholar 

  • Margulis L, Sagan D (1985) Order amidst animalcules: the Protoctista kingdom and its undulipodiated cells. BioSystems 18: 141–147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moss S (1986) Biology and phylogeny of the Labrinthulales and Thraustochytriales. In Moss ST (ed.), The Biology of Marine Fungi. Cambridge University Press, London 105–130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nettleton JA (1993) Are n-3 fatty acids essential nutrients for fetal and infant development? J. Am. Dietetic Assoc. 93: 58–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicol WM (1992) Nutritional and physiological significance of unsaturated fatty acids. Food Safety Notebook 3 (6): 57–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Brien DJ, Kurantz MJ, Kwoczak R (1993) Production of eicosapentaenoic acid by the filamentous fungusPythium irregulare. Appl. Microbiol. Biotech. (in press).

  • Porter D (1990) Phylum Labrinthulomycota. In Margulis L, Corliss JO, Melkonian M, Chapman DJ (eds), Handbook of Protoctista. Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Boston: 388–398.

    Google Scholar 

  • Radwan S (1991) Sources of C20-polyunsaturated fatty acids for biotechnological use. Appl. Microbio. Biotech. 35: 421–430.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raghu-Kumar S, Gaertner A (1980) Ecology of the thraustochytrids (lower marine fungi) in the Fladen Ground and other parts of the North Sea II. Veröff. Inst. Meeresforsch. Bremerh. 18: 289–308.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richmond A, Vonshak A (1984) Management ofSpirulina in mass culture. In Barclay W, McIntosh R (eds), Algal Biomass Technologies: An Interdisciplinary Perspective. J. Cramer, Berlin: 222–223.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ringø E, Jøstensen JP, Olsen RE (1992) Production of eicosapentaenoic acid by freshwaterVibrio. Lipids 27 (7): 564–566.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sakamoto M, Holland DL, Jones DA (1982) Modification of the nutritional composition ofArtemia by incorporation of polyunsaturated fatty acids using micro-encapsulated diets. Aquaculture 28: 311–320.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seto A, Wang HL, Hesseltine CW (1984) Culture conditions affect eicosapentaenoic acid content ofChlorella minutissima. J. am. Oil Chem. Soc. 61: 487–495.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seto A, Kumasaka M, Hosaka M, Kojima E, Kashiwakura M, Kato T (1992) Production of eicosapentaenoic acid by a marine microalgae and its commercial utilization for aquaculture. In Kyle DJ, Ratledge C (eds), Industrial Applications of Single Cell Oils. Am. Oil Chem. Soc., Champaign, Illinois: 219–234.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shinmen Y, Kawashima H, Shimizu S, Yamada H (1992) Concentration of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in an arachidonic acid-producing fungus,Mortierella alpina 1S-4, grown with fish oil. Appl. Microbiol. Biotech. 38: 301–304.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sigma Chemical Co. (1993) Biochemicals, Organic Compounds: 1993 Catalog. Sigma Chemical Co., St Louis, Missouri.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simopoulos AP (1991) Omega-3 fatty acids in health and disease and in growth and development. Am. J. clin. Nutr. 54: 438–463.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tornabene T (1974) Sterols, aliphatic hydrocarbons, and fatty acids of a nonphotosynthetic diatom,Nitzschia alba. Lipids 9: 279–284.

    Google Scholar 

  • Volkman JK, Jeffrey SW, Nichols PD, Rogers GI, Garland CD (1989) Fatty acid and lipid composition of 10 species of microalgae used in mariculture. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 128: 219–240.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whyte JNC, Bourne N, Hodgson CA (1990) Nutritional condition of rock scallop,Crassadoma gigantea (Gray), larvae fed mixed algal diets. Aquaculture 86: 25–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yongmanitchai W, Ward OP (1989) Omega-3 fatty acids: alternative sources of production. Process Biochem. 24: 117–125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zajic JE, Chiu YS (1970) Heterotrophic growth of algae. In Zajic JE (ed.), Properties and Products of Algae. Plenum Press, New York: 1–47.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Omega Tech, Inc., 5766 Central Ave., Boulder, Colorado, 80301, USA

    W. R. Barclay, K. M. Meager & J. R. Abril

Authors
  1. W. R. Barclay
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. K. M. Meager
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. R. Abril
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Barclay, W.R., Meager, K.M. & Abril, J.R. Heterotrophic production of long chain omega-3 fatty acids utilizing algae and algae-like microorganisms. J Appl Phycol 6, 123–129 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02186066

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02186066

Key words

Search

Navigation