REVEALING TAG SYNTHESIS PATHWAY IN THE GREEN MICROALGA Haematococcus pluvialis: A SOURCE OF TRIACYLGLYCERIDES FOR BIODIESEL AND VALUABLE CO-PRODUCTS

SCODELARO BILBAO, PAOLA GABRIELA; GARELLI, ANDRÉS; DÍAZ, MARINA; SALVADOR, GABRIELA ALEJANDRA; LEONARDI, PATRICIA INÉS

Buenos Aires

Congreso; Reunión Conjunta de Sociedades de Biociencia; 2017

Haematococcus pluvialis is an oleaginous microalga known as an important source of the red carotenoid astaxanthin. Recently, we proposed H. pluvialis as a potential source of triacylglycerides (TAG) for biodiesel production, and of phytosterols with potential nutraceutical properties. In this work, our purpose was to study the metabolic pathways involved in TAG synthesis induced by high-light stress in H. pluvialis UTEX 2505. For this end, the strain was grown in Bold?s Basal Medium under high-light intensity or control light for 1, 2 and 3 days. Then, the lipid content and the expression of enzymes known to be involved in lipid metabolism in plants were analyzed. High-light stress significantly stimulated TAG and phytosterol synthesis and accumulation (p