Temperature modulation of fatty acid profiles for biofuel production in nitrogen deprived Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

• Published in: Bioresource technology Vol. 127; pp. 441 - 447
• Main Authors: James, Gabriel O., Hocart, Charles H., Hillier, Warwick, Price, G. Dean, Djordjevic, Michael A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-01-2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Algae; Biofuel; Biofuel production; Biofuels - analysis; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Chlamydomonas reinhardtii; Chlamydomonas reinhardtii - metabolism; Energy; Fatty acid; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids - metabolism; Fuels; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Modulation; Nitrogen - deficiency; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Temperature; Temperature; Biofuel; Chlamydomonas reinhardtii; Algae; Fatty acid; Chlorophyta; Modulation; Alga; Chlorophyceae; Nitrogen; Fatty acids
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.09.090

► Algae often produce higher levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids than is desirable for biodiesel. ► Temperature shifts can alter the fatty acid profile of storage lipids under nitrogen starvation. ► 32°C was the optimal temperature for fatty acid content and composition for biodiesel production. ► Carbohydrate and lipid storage were both affected by shifting temperature. ► Environmental factors can manipulate algal feedstocks potentially reducing the refining cost.
This study investigated the changes in the fatty acid content and composition in the nitrogen-starved Chlamydomonas reinhardtii starchless mutant, BAF-J5, grown at different temperatures.
The optimal temperature for vegetative growth under nitrogen sufficient conditions was found to be 32°C. Shifting temperature from 25 to 32°C, in conjunction with nitrogen starvation, resulted in BAF-J5 storing the maximum quantity of fatty acid (76% of dry cell weight). Shifting to temperatures lower than 25°C, reduced the total amount of stored fatty acid content and increased the level of desaturation in the fatty acids. The optimal fatty acid composition for biodiesel was at 32°C. This study demonstrates how a critical environmental factor, such as temperature, can modulate the amount and composition of fatty acids under nitrogen deprivation and reduce the requirement for costly refining of biofuels.