Antarctic Thraustochytrids as Sources of Carotenoids and High-Value Fatty Acids
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and carotenoids are needed as human dietary supplements and are essential components in commercial feeds for the production of aquacultured seafood. Microorganisms such as thraustochytrids are potential natural sources of these compounds. This...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Marine Drugs |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/19/7/386 |
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| author | Allison Leyton Liset Flores Carolina Shene Yusuf Chisti Giovanni Larama Juan A. Asenjo Roberto E. Armenta |
| author_facet | Allison Leyton Liset Flores Carolina Shene Yusuf Chisti Giovanni Larama Juan A. Asenjo Roberto E. Armenta |
| author_sort | Allison Leyton |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and carotenoids are needed as human dietary supplements and are essential components in commercial feeds for the production of aquacultured seafood. Microorganisms such as thraustochytrids are potential natural sources of these compounds. This research reports on the lipid and carotenoid production capacity of thraustochytrids that were isolated from coastal waters of Antarctica. Of the 22 isolates, 21 produced lipids containing EPA+DHA, and the amount of these fatty acids exceeded 20% of the total fatty acids in 12 isolates. Ten isolates were shown to produce carotenoids (27.4–63.9 μg/g dry biomass). The isolate RT2316-16, identified as <i>Thraustochytrium</i> sp., was the best producer of biomass (7.2 g/L in five days) rich in carotenoids (63.9 μg/g) and, therefore, became the focus of this investigation. The main carotenoids in RT2316-16 were β-carotene and canthaxanthin. The content of EPA+DHA in the total lipids (34 ± 3% <i>w/w</i> in dry biomass) depended on the stage of growth of RT2316-16. Lipid and carotenoid content of the biomass and its concentration could be enhanced by modifying the composition of the culture medium. The estimated genome size of RT2316-16 was 44 Mb. Of the 5656 genes predicted from the genome, 4559 were annotated. These included genes of most of the enzymes in the elongation and desaturation pathway of synthesis of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Carotenoid precursors in RT2316-16 were synthesized through the mevalonate pathway. A β-carotene synthase gene, with a different domain organization compared to the gene in other thraustochytrids, explained the carotenoid profile of RT2316-16. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:34:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3206fae8b75349bf8c5e3e94816ab4c5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1660-3397 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:34:09Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Marine Drugs |
| spelling | doaj.art-3206fae8b75349bf8c5e3e94816ab4c52023-11-22T04:14:10ZengMDPI AGMarine Drugs1660-33972021-07-0119738610.3390/md19070386Antarctic Thraustochytrids as Sources of Carotenoids and High-Value Fatty AcidsAllison Leyton0Liset Flores1Carolina Shene2Yusuf Chisti3Giovanni Larama4Juan A. Asenjo5Roberto E. Armenta6Center for Biotechnology and Bioengineering (CeBiB), Center of Food Biotechnology and Bioseparations, BIOREN and Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de La Frontera, Francisco Salazar 01145, Temuco 4780000, ChileCenter for Biotechnology and Bioengineering (CeBiB), Center of Food Biotechnology and Bioseparations, BIOREN and Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de La Frontera, Francisco Salazar 01145, Temuco 4780000, ChileCenter for Biotechnology and Bioengineering (CeBiB), Center of Food Biotechnology and Bioseparations, BIOREN and Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de La Frontera, Francisco Salazar 01145, Temuco 4780000, ChileSchool of Engineering, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4442, New ZealandCentro de Modelación y Computación Científica, Universidad de La Frontera, Av. Francisco Salazar 01145, Temuco 4780000, ChileCentre for Biotechnology and Bioengineering (CeBiB), Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Universidad de Chile, Beauchef 851, Santiago 8370459, ChileMara Renewables Corporation, 101A Research Drive, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 4T6, CanadaEicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and carotenoids are needed as human dietary supplements and are essential components in commercial feeds for the production of aquacultured seafood. Microorganisms such as thraustochytrids are potential natural sources of these compounds. This research reports on the lipid and carotenoid production capacity of thraustochytrids that were isolated from coastal waters of Antarctica. Of the 22 isolates, 21 produced lipids containing EPA+DHA, and the amount of these fatty acids exceeded 20% of the total fatty acids in 12 isolates. Ten isolates were shown to produce carotenoids (27.4–63.9 μg/g dry biomass). The isolate RT2316-16, identified as <i>Thraustochytrium</i> sp., was the best producer of biomass (7.2 g/L in five days) rich in carotenoids (63.9 μg/g) and, therefore, became the focus of this investigation. The main carotenoids in RT2316-16 were β-carotene and canthaxanthin. The content of EPA+DHA in the total lipids (34 ± 3% <i>w/w</i> in dry biomass) depended on the stage of growth of RT2316-16. Lipid and carotenoid content of the biomass and its concentration could be enhanced by modifying the composition of the culture medium. The estimated genome size of RT2316-16 was 44 Mb. Of the 5656 genes predicted from the genome, 4559 were annotated. These included genes of most of the enzymes in the elongation and desaturation pathway of synthesis of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Carotenoid precursors in RT2316-16 were synthesized through the mevalonate pathway. A β-carotene synthase gene, with a different domain organization compared to the gene in other thraustochytrids, explained the carotenoid profile of RT2316-16.https://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/19/7/386<i>Thraustochytrium</i>antarctic thraustochytridsmicrobial carotenoidscanthaxantindocosahexaenoic acideicosapentaenoic acid |
| spellingShingle | Allison Leyton Liset Flores Carolina Shene Yusuf Chisti Giovanni Larama Juan A. Asenjo Roberto E. Armenta Antarctic Thraustochytrids as Sources of Carotenoids and High-Value Fatty Acids Marine Drugs <i>Thraustochytrium</i> antarctic thraustochytrids microbial carotenoids canthaxantin docosahexaenoic acid eicosapentaenoic acid |
| title | Antarctic Thraustochytrids as Sources of Carotenoids and High-Value Fatty Acids |
| title_full | Antarctic Thraustochytrids as Sources of Carotenoids and High-Value Fatty Acids |
| title_fullStr | Antarctic Thraustochytrids as Sources of Carotenoids and High-Value Fatty Acids |
| title_full_unstemmed | Antarctic Thraustochytrids as Sources of Carotenoids and High-Value Fatty Acids |
| title_short | Antarctic Thraustochytrids as Sources of Carotenoids and High-Value Fatty Acids |
| title_sort | antarctic thraustochytrids as sources of carotenoids and high value fatty acids |
| topic | <i>Thraustochytrium</i> antarctic thraustochytrids microbial carotenoids canthaxantin docosahexaenoic acid eicosapentaenoic acid |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/19/7/386 |
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