Chemical composition and quantitative cytological measurements were determined for the eustigmatophyte Nannochloropsis sp. Cultures were grown in turbidostats at three irradiance levels: growth‐limiting light, growth‐saturating light and photoinhibiting light. Cellular chlorophyll a content decreased as irradiance level increased, concomitant with a disproportionate reduction in carotenoid content. Nannochloropsis sp. grown in saturating light was characterized by a high content of lipid, fatty acids and carbohydrate compared with cells grown in light‐limiting conditions. The increase in cellular lipid content coincided with a reduction in the percentage of eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5) and arachidonic acid (C20:4), fatty acids that are mainly associated with galactolipids, and with an increase in the relative abundance of palmitic acid (C16:0) and palmitoleic acid (C16:1). At growth limiting light conditions, Nannochloropsis sp. preferentially synthesized galactolipids; however, as growth became light saturated, relatively more neutral lipids, mainly triacylglycerols, were synthesized. Changes in lipid content and composition were qualitatively related to changes in cell morphology. Cells grown under low light conditions were characterized by a large relative volume of chloroplast, high surface density of thylakoid membranes and low relative volume of lipid storage bodies. The physiological implications of the changes in cellular lipid composition and ultrastructure are discussed in relation to light/shade adaptation.

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Chemical composition and lipid biosynthesis were studied in the marine eustigmatophyte Nannochloropsis sp. Grown under a 12:12 h light‐dark regime. Cellular division occurred in the dark and was associated with a reduction in cell volume. The cellular content of chlorophyll a and carotenoids increased during the light period and decreased during the dark period. Other cellular components, such as proteins, carbohydrates and lipids, followed a similar pattern. Nannochloropsis sp. Incorporated acetate, mostly into lipids during the light period, whereas a low rate of acetate incorporation was observed during the dark period, mostly into nonlipid compounds. Neutral lipids such as triacylglycerol were synthesized and accumulated in the light and showed a rapid turnover in the dark. Polar structural lipids such as monogalactosyl diacylglycerol were synthesized during the light period and hardly turned over during the dark period. Changes in lipid content were associated with variations in cellular fatty acid composition. The light period was characterized by an increase in the percentage of C16:0 and 16:1 fatty acids associated with triacylglycerols. However, in the dark period, as triglycerides were consumed for cellular maintenance, the relative distribution of the C20:5 fatty acid associated with the galactolipids increased.