Haematococcus pluvialis AS A SOURCE OF TRIACYLGLYCEROL FOR BIODIESEL AND VALUABLE CO-PRODUCTS

SCODELARO BILBAO, PAOLA GABRIELA; DAMIANI, CECILIA; MARTÍN, LUCAS; POPOVICH, CECILIA; SALVADOR, GABRIELA ALEJANDRA; LEONARDI, PATRICIA INÉS

Rosario

Congreso; L REUNIÓN ANUAL DE LA SOCIEDAD ARGENTINA DE INVESTIGACIÓN EN BIOQUÍMICA Y BIOLOGÍA MOLECULAR; 2014

Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Bioquímica y Biología Molecular

Haematococcus pluvialis is an oleaginous microalga which has been previously described as an important source of astaxanthin and, recently, of triacylglycerol (TAG) for biodiesel production. In this work, our purpose was to describe the effects of light-induced stress on H. pluvialis lipid metabolism. For this end, native strain from Bahía Blanca (Arg.) was grown in appropriate culture medium and maintained under control conditions or light-induced stress (300 μmol photons m-2 s-1) for 3, 6 and 12 days. After that, pigment content and lipid profile were analyzed. Under light-induced stress conditions, microalga cultures showed increased levels of astaxanthin and phytosterols, and diminished chlorophyll content. After 12 days of light-induced stress, H. pluvialis cultures showed the maximal TAG accumulation (568, 8%) with respect to control conditions. TAG accumulation was accompanied by a strong diminution in the protein content and in cell density. Fatty acid profile analyzed by GC was similar in all the assayed conditions and met biodiesel standards. Our results suggest that light-induced stress in H. pluvialis triggers TAG accumulation suitable for biodiesel production and also the accretion of valuable co-products (astaxanthin and phytosterols).