Quick estimation of intraspecific variation of fatty acid composition in Dunaliella salina using flow cytometry and Nile Red

• Published in: Journal of applied phycology Vol. 24; no. 5; pp. 1237 - 1243
• Main Authors: Mendoza Guzmán, Héctor, de la Jara Valido, Adelina, Freijanes Presmanes, Karen, Carmona Duarte, Laura
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer-Verlag 01-10-2012; Springer Netherlands
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; cell walls; Dunaliella salina; Ecology; fatty acid composition; flow cytometry; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Life Sciences; membrane permeability; monounsaturated fatty acids; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; polyunsaturated fatty acids; saturated fatty acids; screening; Flow cytometry; Nile Red; Screening; Oil; Strains; Fatty acids
• ISSN: 0921-8971; 1573-5176
• DOI: 10.1007/s10811-011-9768-y

This study shows how relative fatty acid content and unsaturation index of Dunaliella salina strains can be estimated rapidly by analysis with flow cytometry and Nile Red staining. This technique is valid for analysing intraspecific variability and shows no significant distortion phenomena, such as variability in the staining of strains not associated with different fatty acid composition. These phenomena have been related to variations in the permeability of the cell membrane and cell wall to Nile Red in a number of microalgae strains and species. The saturated fatty acids/monounsaturated fatty acids/polyunsaturated fatty acids ratio was estimated indirectly from the relative polar and neutral lipid composition. High intraspecific variability was noted in the fatty acid composition of D. salina, which makes it an ideal species for conducting screening tests of new strains for oil production, using the strategic advantages associated with this species such as the possibility of mass culturing in inexpensive, open systems and high biomass processability due to its lack of cell wall.