Algal Carotenoids 51. Secondary carotenoids 2.Haematococcus pluvialis aplanospores as a source of (3S, 3′S)-astaxanthin esters

Aplanospores ofHaematococcus pluvialis MUR 145 contained 0.7% carotenoids (dry wt. basis) consisting of β,β-carotene (5% of total carotenoid), echinenone (4%), canthaxanthin (4%), (3S,3′S)-astaxanthin diester (34%), (3S,3′S)-astaxanthin monoester (46%), (3S,3′S)-astaxanthin (1%) and (3R,3′R,6′R)-lutein (6%). The astaxanthin esters were examined by TLC and HPLC and VIS,¹H NMR and mass spectra recorded. Their chirality was determined by the camphanate method (Vecchi & Müller, 1979) after anaerobic hydrolysis. The tough cell wall of the aplanospores required enzymatic treatment prior to pigment extraction. The potential use of this microalga as a feed ingredient in aquaculture is discussed briefly.     

Expression in Escherichia coli and properties of the carotene ketolase from Haematococcus pluvialis

Abstract High level expression of the functional β-carotene ketolase gene bkt from Haematococcus pluvialis occurred in Escherichia coli transformants producing β-carotene or zeaxanthin as a result of the presence of additional carotenoid genes from Erwinia uredovora . Requirement of molecular oxygen for the insertion of the keto group was demonstrated. The final product of this two-step ketolase reaction from β-carotene is canthaxanthin (4,4'-diketo-β-carotene) with the 4-monoketo derivative echinenone as an intermediate. A reaction sequence for the formation of astaxanthin from β-carotene was established based on kinetic data on astaxanthin formation in E. coli transformants carrying the hydroxylase gene crtZ from Erwinia along with bkt . We conclude that the carotenoids zeaxanthin and adonixanthin which accumulate in addition to astaxanthin in this transformant are products of side reactions rather than direct precursors of astaxanthin. The possible mechanisms for the formation of the keto derivatives are discussed.     

ACCUMULATION OF ASTAXANTHIN IN HAEMATOCOCCUS LACUSTRIS (CHLOROPHYTA)1

In N-limited continuous chemostat cultures of the green alga Haematococcus lacustris (Gir.) Rostaf. (UTEX 16), the steady-state astaxanthin content of the cells was determined by the specific growth rate of the cultures. The highest, pigment content was obtained at the lowest dilution rate. The specific rate of astaxanthin accumulation was, however, a function of the photon flux density measured at the illuminated culture surface. In nongrowing Haematococcus cultures, the specific rate of astaxanthin accumulation was determined by the growth rate of the culture during growth phase. The highest possible cellular astaxanthin content of all cultures was comparable and independent of the culture parameters.     

Cell fragility — The key problem of microalgae mass production in closed photobioreactors

The gap between the theoretical biological potential of microalgae and the biomass productivity obtained with algal culture in tubular biophotoreactors is due to a reduced growth rate related to hydrodynamic stress of pumping. High levels of mixing are necessary to reach a turbulent flow of the culture, in order to optimize the light regime. The optimal conditions of pumping to produce this significant liquid mixing may produce some cell damage. Factors affecting this hydrodynamic stress (geometry of the bioreactor involved, type of pump utilized, morphology of algal cells, physiological conditions of microalgae, etc.) are discussed.     

Screening and characterization of astaxanthin-hyperproducing mutants of Haematococcus pluvialis

Haematococcus pluvialis was mutated by UV or ethyl methanesulphonate. Mutants resistant to nicotine, diphenylamine, fluridone or norflurazon were then selected. Several nicotine-resistant mutants showed increased (1.9% to 2.5% vs. 1.2% w/w) astaxanthin production. Mutants maintained high astaxanthin production over 4 months of repeated culture.     

利用雨生红球藻表达系统高通量筛选活力提高的阿特拉津氯水解酶突变子

阿特拉津氯水解酶定向改造的关键是开发一种廉价的、表型改变明显的高通量筛选方法。利用高错误倾向PCR和DNA洗牌相结合的突变方法,对来源于假单胞菌ADP和节杆菌AD1的阿特拉津氯水解酶基因进行随机突变,以雨生红球藻为受体、以阿特拉津为选择压力对突变文库进行高通量筛选。筛选到的12个突变子序列分析显示,突变均为点替换,位点分散在全基因上,是在高错误倾向PCR及DNA洗牌过程中逐渐累积形成的。酶活力分析显示,突变子的酶活力均高于野生株,在添加1.0 mg/L阿特拉津培养液中的活力是野生株的1.9~3.6倍,在添     

雨生红球藻虾青素合成研究进展

虾青素是一种重要的次级类胡萝卜素,具有高活性的抗氧化功能,广泛应用于食品保健、医药、水产养殖等领域。雨生红球藻是一种在胁迫条件下能够大量积累虾青素的微藻。文中回顾了雨生红球藻虾青素的生物合成研究的进展,包括虾青素生物合成的诱导与调控、虾青素合成与光合作用及脂类代谢的关系等研究现状。     

雨生红球藻中虾青素的研究与应用

雨生红球藻是单细胞微藻,其中的虾青素具有抗氧化、抗肿瘤、预防心脑血管疾病等多种生物活性,在食品、医药、保健品、化妆品及养殖业有诸多用途。概述了雨生红球藻虾青素含量影响因素,雨生红球藻培养方法、虾青素的提取方法及其应用领域等最新研究成果,为虾青素的开发利用提供帮助。     

Astaxanthin preparation by fermentation of esters from Haematococcus pluvialis algal extracts with Stenotrophomonas species

Natural astaxanthin (Ax) is an additive that is widely used because of its beneficial biochemical functions. However, the methods used to produce free Ax have drawbacks. Chemical saponification methods produce several by‐products, and lipase‐catalyzed hydrolysis methods are not cost effective. In this study, a bacterial strain of Stenotrophomonas sp. was selected to enzymatically catalyze the saponification of Ax esters to produce free all‐trans‐Ax. Through single‐factor experiments and a Box–Behnken design, the optimal fermentation conditions were determined as follows: a seed culture age of 37.79 h, an inoculum concentration of 5.92%, and an initial broth pH of 6.80. Under these conditions, a fermentation curve was drawn, and the optimal fermentation time was shown to be 60 h. At 60 h, the degradation rate of the Ax esters was 98.08%, and the yield of free all‐trans‐Ax was 50.130 μg/mL. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 32:649–656, 2016