Phycobiliproteins
(PBPs) are a group of brilliant pigment proteins
found in cyanobacteria and red algae; their synthesis and accumulation
depend on several factors such as the type of strain employed, nutrient
concentration, light intensity, light regimes, and others. This study
evaluates the effect of macronutrients (citrate buffer, NaNO
3
, K
2
HPO
4
, MgSO
4
, CaCl
2
, Na
2
CO
3
, and EDTA) and the concentration of
trace metals in BG-11 media on the accumulation of PBPs in a thermotolerant
strain of
Oscillatoria
sp. The strain was grown in
BG-11 media at 28 °C with a light:dark cycle of 12:12 h at 100
μmol m
–2
s
–1
for 15 days,
and the effect of nutrients was evaluated using a Plackett–Burman
Design followed by optimization using a response surface methodology.
Results from the concentration of trace metals show that it can be
reduced up to half-strength in its initial concentration without affecting
both biomass and PBPs. Results from the Plackett–Burman Design
revealed that only NaNO
3
, Na
2
CO
3
,
and K
2
HPO
4
show a significant increase in PBP
production. Optimization employed a central Non-Factorial Response
Surface Design with three levels and four factors (3
4
)
using NaNO
3
, Na
2
CO
3
, K
2
HPO
4
, and trace metals as variables, while the other components
of BG-11 media (citrate buffer, MgSO
4
, CaCl
2
, and EDTA) were used in half of their initial concentration. Results
from the optimization show that interaction between Na
2
CO
3
and K
2
HPO
4
highly increased
PBPs’ concentration, with values of 15.21, 3.95, and 1.89 (%
w/w), respectively. These results demonstrate that identifying and
adjusting the concentration of critical nutrients can increase the
concentration of PBPs up to two times for phycocyanin and allophycocyanin
while four times for phycoerythrin. Finally, the reduction in non-key
nutrients’ concentration will reduce the production costs of
colorants at an industrial scale and increase the sustainability of
the process.