Isolation and Characterization of a Mesophilic Arthrospira maxima Strain Capable of Producing Docosahexaenoic Acid

Abstract

A strain of the cyanobacterium Arthrospira was isolated from Lake Chahannaoer in northern China and was characterized according to microscopic morphology, photosynthetic oxygen-evolving activity, growth rate, and nutritional profile. Compared with thermophilic Arthrospira species occurring naturally in tropical and subtropical lakes, this isolate is mesophilic and grows optimally at 20 o C. The total protein, fatty acid, phycocyanin, carotenoid, and chlorophyll a contents were 67.6, 6.1, 4.32, 0.29, and 0.76 grams per 100 grams of dry weight, respectively. The strain is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). An essential omega-3 fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), was detected, and γ-linolenic acid (GLA) and DHA accounted for 28.3% of the total fatty acid content. These features of this newly isolated strain make it potentially useful in commercial mass culture in local areas or as a biofuel feedstock. It is also an alternative resource for studying the metabolic PUFA pathways and mechanisms of cold stress tolerance in cyanobacteria.

Investigation of nutraceutical potential of the microalgae Chlorella vulgaris and Arthrospira platensis

“…MUFA are less abundant than SFA and PUFA are rather unimportant (El-Kassas et al, 2015). Other studies (Hu et al, 2011) have found hexadecanoic and octadeca-9,12-dienoic acids in Arthrospira maxima in percentages very similar to those determined in the current study on A. platensis. Substantial levels of octadeca-9,12-dienoic acid in Arthrospira have also been reported by Palaniswamy & Veluchamy (2017).…”

“…Substantial levels of octadeca-9,12-dienoic acid in Arthrospira have also been reported by Palaniswamy & Veluchamy (2017). However, Hu et al (2011) also found non-negligible amounts of DHA and high levels of c-linolenic acids. Since DHA is the longest and most unsaturated FA chain commonly found in biological membranes, it decisively favours membrane fluidity and plays a positive role in low-temperature stress tolerance, which may explain DHA presence in A. maxima biomass, given this species' mesophilic nature (Hu et al, 2011).…”

“…However, Hu et al (2011) also found non-negligible amounts of DHA and high levels of c-linolenic acids. Since DHA is the longest and most unsaturated FA chain commonly found in biological membranes, it decisively favours membrane fluidity and plays a positive role in low-temperature stress tolerance, which may explain DHA presence in A. maxima biomass, given this species' mesophilic nature (Hu et al, 2011). Hence, in the current study, A. platensis FA profile partially overlaps with other profiles determined by other research groups working on different species of this genus.…”

Content of Lipids, Fatty Acids, Carbohydrates, and Proteins in Continental Cyanobacteria: A Systematic Analysis and Database Application

“…Protein content in cyanobacteria selected for this review[41,46,64,[76][77][78][79][80][81][82][83][84][85][86][87][88][89][90][91][92] 1 .…”

Producción y usos de Cficocianina de Arthrospira maxima

“…1) la intensidad y tipo de luz; 2) la concentración de NaCl (Chainapong et al, 2012); 3) la fuente de nitrógeno (Ajayan et al, 2012), pero no es tan determinante como en el caso de la FC; 4) la temperatura (Hu et al, 2011).…”