Insights into cell wall disintegration of Chlorella vulgaris

With their ability of CO2 fixation using sunlight as an energy source, algae and especially microalgae are moving into the focus for the production of proteins and other valuable compounds. However, the valorization of algal biomass depends on the effective disruption of the recalcitrant microalgal...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sophie Weber, Philipp M. Grande, Lars M. Blank, Holger Klose
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2022-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8759652/?tool=EBI
_version_ 1798021111876681728
author Sophie Weber
Philipp M. Grande
Lars M. Blank
Holger Klose
author_facet Sophie Weber
Philipp M. Grande
Lars M. Blank
Holger Klose
author_sort Sophie Weber
collection DOAJ
description With their ability of CO2 fixation using sunlight as an energy source, algae and especially microalgae are moving into the focus for the production of proteins and other valuable compounds. However, the valorization of algal biomass depends on the effective disruption of the recalcitrant microalgal cell wall. Especially cell walls of Chlorella species proved to be very robust. The wall structures that are responsible for this robustness have been studied less so far. Here, we evaluate different common methods to break up the algal cell wall effectively and measure the success by protein and carbohydrate release. Subsequently, we investigate algal cell wall features playing a role in the wall’s recalcitrance towards disruption. Using different mechanical and chemical technologies, alkali catalyzed hydrolysis of the Chlorella vulgaris cells proved to be especially effective in solubilizing up to 56 wt% protein and 14 wt% carbohydrates of the total biomass. The stepwise degradation of C. vulgaris cell walls using a series of chemicals with increasingly strong conditions revealed that each fraction released different ratios of proteins and carbohydrates. A detailed analysis of the monosaccharide composition of the cell wall extracted in each step identified possible factors for the robustness of the cell wall. In particular, the presence of chitin or chitin-like polymers was indicated by glucosamine found in strong alkali extracts. The presence of highly ordered starch or cellulose was indicated by glucose detected in strong acidic extracts. Our results might help to tailor more specific efforts to disrupt Chlorella cell walls and help to valorize microalgae biomass.
first_indexed 2024-04-11T17:08:45Z
format Article
id doaj.art-031b5bb31a3a40938468acfc944211d0
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1932-6203
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-11T17:08:45Z
publishDate 2022-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj.art-031b5bb31a3a40938468acfc944211d02022-12-22T04:12:57ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032022-01-01171Insights into cell wall disintegration of Chlorella vulgarisSophie WeberPhilipp M. GrandeLars M. BlankHolger KloseWith their ability of CO2 fixation using sunlight as an energy source, algae and especially microalgae are moving into the focus for the production of proteins and other valuable compounds. However, the valorization of algal biomass depends on the effective disruption of the recalcitrant microalgal cell wall. Especially cell walls of Chlorella species proved to be very robust. The wall structures that are responsible for this robustness have been studied less so far. Here, we evaluate different common methods to break up the algal cell wall effectively and measure the success by protein and carbohydrate release. Subsequently, we investigate algal cell wall features playing a role in the wall’s recalcitrance towards disruption. Using different mechanical and chemical technologies, alkali catalyzed hydrolysis of the Chlorella vulgaris cells proved to be especially effective in solubilizing up to 56 wt% protein and 14 wt% carbohydrates of the total biomass. The stepwise degradation of C. vulgaris cell walls using a series of chemicals with increasingly strong conditions revealed that each fraction released different ratios of proteins and carbohydrates. A detailed analysis of the monosaccharide composition of the cell wall extracted in each step identified possible factors for the robustness of the cell wall. In particular, the presence of chitin or chitin-like polymers was indicated by glucosamine found in strong alkali extracts. The presence of highly ordered starch or cellulose was indicated by glucose detected in strong acidic extracts. Our results might help to tailor more specific efforts to disrupt Chlorella cell walls and help to valorize microalgae biomass.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8759652/?tool=EBI
spellingShingle Sophie Weber
Philipp M. Grande
Lars M. Blank
Holger Klose
Insights into cell wall disintegration of Chlorella vulgaris
PLoS ONE
title Insights into cell wall disintegration of Chlorella vulgaris
title_full Insights into cell wall disintegration of Chlorella vulgaris
title_fullStr Insights into cell wall disintegration of Chlorella vulgaris
title_full_unstemmed Insights into cell wall disintegration of Chlorella vulgaris
title_short Insights into cell wall disintegration of Chlorella vulgaris
title_sort insights into cell wall disintegration of chlorella vulgaris
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8759652/?tool=EBI
work_keys_str_mv AT sophieweber insightsintocellwalldisintegrationofchlorellavulgaris
AT philippmgrande insightsintocellwalldisintegrationofchlorellavulgaris
AT larsmblank insightsintocellwalldisintegrationofchlorellavulgaris
AT holgerklose insightsintocellwalldisintegrationofchlorellavulgaris