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Utilization of glucose and acetate by Chlorella and the effect of multiple factors on cell composition

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Abstract

Microalgae are rich in various high-value compounds and thus have been proposed for use in biodiesel production and other industrial processes. Mixotrophy of microalgae can generate a high biomass and a high cell content of desirable compounds. To elucidate the probable relationship between pH drift, carbon source utilization, light intensity, and biomass accumulation in Chlorella cultivation, we compared the growth, pH drift, total biomass, and lipid and starch contents of Chlorella sorokiniana GXNN01 under different culture conditions. We also labeled the cell with 13C-labeled substrates. The results of pH drift and 13C labeling showed that Chlorella preferred acetate under high light, but glucose under low light. Glucose utilization resulted in decrease of pH, while acetate had the opposite effect. A combination of acetic acid and glucose as carbon source maintained the pH close to the initial value and significantly increased total biomass production. Cultures using acetic acid as carbon source or addition of sodium acetate under low light appeared to enhance total lipid content, while pH adjustment, addition of two carbon sources, or addition of sodium acetate under normal light (20 μmol photons m−2 s−1) resulted in high starch content. This knowledge will guide future Chlorella cultivation.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA11020404-1), National Natural Science Foundation of China (41406169), Postdoctoral Innovation Project Special Funds of Shandong Province (2014), and the National International cooperation project (2015DFG32160).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Science, 7 Nanhai Road, Qingdao, 266071, Shandong, China

    Aiyou Huang, Songcui Wu, Caixia Liu, Peipei Zhao, Xiujun Xie & Guangce Wang

  2. Tianjin Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Chemistry, College of Marine Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, 300457, China

    Lili Sun

  3. Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266071, China

    Aiyou Huang, Xiujun Xie & Guangce Wang

Authors
  1. Aiyou Huang
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  2. Lili Sun
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  3. Songcui Wu
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  4. Caixia Liu
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  5. Peipei Zhao
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  6. Xiujun Xie
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  7. Guangce Wang
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Correspondence to Guangce Wang.

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Huang, A., Sun, L., Wu, S. et al. Utilization of glucose and acetate by Chlorella and the effect of multiple factors on cell composition. J Appl Phycol 29, 23–33 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-016-0920-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-016-0920-6

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