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Biomass Growth and Fatty Acid Production by the Marine Thraustochytrium sp. RT2316-16 in Chemically Defined Media

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The biomass and lipid production responses of the psychrophilic marine thraustochytrid Thraustochytrium sp. RT2316-16 were assessed in chemically defined media comprising glucose, up to 17 amino acids and up to 9 B-vitamins and mineral salts. Compared to the control medium with all amino acids and B-vitamins (biomass concentration: 7.1 ± 0.1 g L−1; total lipid content: 30.4 ± 0.5% of the DW), the growth of RT2316-16 was reduced by more than 50% in the medium that lacked cyanocobalamin or pyridoxamine. The total lipid content of the biomass grown in the absence of vitamins was 63% lower than in the biomass produced in the control medium. The composition of the B-vitamin mixture modulated the fatty acid composition, an effect that may have been related to the availability of dissolved oxygen. In bioreactor culture with the dissolved oxygen level controlled to ≥10% of air saturation, the microorganism consumed all 17 amino acids; 8 of the amino acids were fully consumed within a 0–33 h period, in which the specific growth rate was 0.065 h−1. Under these culture conditions, the sum of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in the total fatty acid content rose from 15% (at time 0) to 54% (after 95 h). A medium that contained the 9 amino acids that were not preferentially consumed favored the accumulation of total lipids, but reduced biomass growth.

Source: Marine Drugs

DOI: 10.3390/md23120482

Authors: Liset Flores, María Paz Lefiguala, Carolina Shene

Institutions: Universidad de La Frontera, Centre for Biotechnology and Bioengineering

Language: English

Topic: Algal biology and biofuel production

Subfield: Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Field: Energy

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,499