• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.34-39
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• 2006

Molecular biology and microalgal biotechnology have the potential to play a major role in improving the production efficiency of a vast variety of products including functional foods, industrial chemicals, compounds with therapeutic applications and bioremediation solutions from a virtually untapped source. Microalgae are a source of natural products and have been recently studied for biotechnological applications. Efficient genetic transformation systems in microalgae are necessary to enhance their potential to be used for human health. A microalga such as Chlarella is a eukaryotic organism sharing its metabolic pathways with higher plants. This microalga is capable of expressing, glycosylating, and correctly processing proteins which normally undergo post-translational modification. Moreover, it can be cultured inexpensively because it requires only limited amount of sunlight and carbon dioxide as energy sources. Because of these advantages, Chlarella may be of great potential interest in biotechnology as a good candidate for bioreactor in the production of pharmaceutical and industrial compounds for human functional foods. Here, we briefly discuss recent progress in microalgal transgenesis that has utilized molecular biology to produce functional proteins and bioactive compounds.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.418-424
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• 2005

The complexity of the biological system/biological systems has been fascinating and challenging for a long time. With the advent of mathematical tools with various omics technology, systems biology was born and is already ubiquitous in every area of biology and biotechnology. Microalgal biotechnology is no exception in this new trend. As tens of microalgal genomes become publicly available on the Internet, vast amounts of data from genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics are reported everyday. Though there has not yet been enough data gathered on microalgal metabolomics, the in silica models for relatively simple cyanobacteria or for organelles, such as chloroplasts, will appear presently. With the help of systems biology, a more in-depth understanding of microalgae will be possible. Consequently, most industrially-interested microalgae can be metabolically redesigned/reconfigured as cell factories. Microalgae will be served as the hosts in white biotechnology.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.637-647
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• 2015

In this study, we attempted to understand signaling pathways behind lipid biosynthesis by employing a chemical genetics approach based on small molecule inhibitors. Specific signaling inhibitors of MAP kinase or modulators of cAMP signaling were selected to evaluate the functional roles of each of the key signaling pathways in three different microalgal species: Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Chlorella vulgaris, and Haematococcus pluvialis. Our results clearly indicate that cAMP signaling pathways are indeed positively associated with microalgal lipid biosynthesis. In contrast, MAP kinase pathways in three microalgal species are all negatively implicated in both lipid and carotenoid biosynthesis.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.360-367
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• 2003

Our research objectives are to determine under what conditions microalgal-based $CO_2$capture from flue gases is economically attractive. Specifically, our objective here was to select microalgae that are temperature, pH and flue gas tolerant. Microalgae were grown under five different temperatures, three different pH and five different flue gas mixtures besides 100% $CO_2$(gas concentrations that the cells were exposed to ranged 5.7-100% $CO_2$, 0-3504ppm SO$_2$, 0-328ppm NO, and 0-126ppm NO$_2$). Our results indicate that the microalgal strains tested exhibit a substantial ability to withstand a wide range of temperature (54 strains tested), pH (20 strains tested) and flue gas composition (24 strains tested) likely to be encountered in cultures used for carbon sequestration from smoke stack gases. Our results indicate that microalgal photosynthesis is a limited but viable strategy for $CO_2$capture from flue gases produced by stationary combustion sources.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.61-68
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• 2013

Microalgae can grow autotrophically with the supply of light, carbon dioxide and inorganic nutrients in water through photosynthesis. Generally, microalgal growth is limited by the concentrations and relative ratio of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) among the nutrients in the aquatic environment. Each microalga has its specific optimum N : P ratio resulting in dominance in a particular water having similar nutrient composition. Algal bloom is an immense growth of certain microalga commonly cyanobacterium and can be sequestrated by reducing the limiting nutrient, generally P in the freshwater. Moreover, dominance of a less toxic blooming strain can be established by manipulating N : P ratio in the water. On the other hand, microalgal biomass of a certain species can be enhanced by increasing limiting nutrient and adjusting the N : P ratio to the target species. The above-mentioned eco-physiological features of microalgae can be more completely interpreted in connection with their genomic informations. Consequently, microalgal growth regulation which can be achieved on the basis of its eco-physiological and further genomic insights would be helpful not only in the control of algal bloom, but also for an increased yield of algal biomass.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.630-637
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• 2018

The high rate algal ponds (HRAP) powered and mixed by a paddlewheel have been widely used for over 50 years to culture microalgae for the production of various products. Since light incidence is limited to the surface, water depth can affect microalgal growth in HRAP. To investigate the effect of water depth on microalgal growth, a mixed microalgal culture constituting three major strains of microalgae including Chlorella sp., Scenedesmus sp., and Stigeoclonium sp. (CSS), was grown at different water depths (20, 30, and 40 cm) in the HRAP, respectively. The HRAP with 20cm of water depth had about 38% higher biomass productivity per unit area ($6.16{\pm}0.33g{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}d^{-1}$) and required lower nutrients and energy consumption than the other water depths. Specifically, the algal biomass of HRAP under 20cm of water depth had higher settleability through larger floc size (83.6% settleability within 5 min). These results indicate that water depth can affect the harvesting process as well as cultivation of microalgae. Therefore, we conclude that water depth is an important parameter in HRAP design for mass cultivation of microalgae.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.192-199
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• 2012

Microalgal biotechnology has gained prominence because of the ability of microalgae to produce value-added products including biodiesel through photosynthesis. However, carbon and nutrient source is often a limiting factor for microalgal growth leading to higher input costs for sufficient biomass production. Use of municipal wastewater as a low cost alternative to grow microalgae as well as to treat the same has been demonstrated in this study using mini raceway open ponds. Municipal wastewater was collected after primary treatment and microalgae indigenous in the wastewater were encouraged to grow in open raceways under optimum conditions. The mean removal efficiencies of TN, TP, COD-$_{Mn}$, $NH_3$-N after 6 days of retention time was 80.18%, 63.56%, 76.34%, and 96.74% respectively. The 18S rRNA gene analysis of the community revealed the presence of Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus obliquus as the dominant microalgae. In addition, 16S rRNA gene analysis demonstrated that Rhodobacter, Luteimonas, Porphyrobacter, Agrobacterium, and Thauera were present along with the microalgae. From these results, it is concluded that microalgae could be used to effectively treat municipal wastewater without aerobic treatment, which incurs additional energy costs. In addition, municipal wastewater shall also serve as an excellent carbon and nitrogen source for microalgal growth. Moreover, the microalgal biomass shall be utilized for commercial purposes.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.377-389
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• 2018

In this study, a novel microalgal strain, Desmodesmus sp. KAERI-NJ5, was isolated, identified, and evaluated as a candidate for biodiesel feedstock. In a preliminary study, the effects of four general microalgal growth factors, including temperature, pH, light intensity, and concentration of nitrogen source ($KNO_3$), on the microalgal photoautotrophic growth were evaluated. With the exception of light intensity, the growth factors needed to be optimized for the microalgal biomass production. Optimization was done using response surface methodology. The optimal conditions for biomass production were pH 6.54, $27.66^{\circ}C$, and 0.52 g/l $KNO_3$. The biomass production at the optimal conditions was 1.55 g/l, which correlated well with the predicted value of 1.5 g/l. The total lipid and fatty acid methyl ester contents of the cells grown at the optimal conditions were 49% and 21.2% of cell dry weight, respectively. To increase the lipid content of the biomass, microalgae were challenged by nitrogen starvation. Enhancement of total lipid and fatty acid content up to 52.02% and 49%, respectively, were observed. Lipid analysis of the nitrogen-starved cells revealed that C16 and C18 species accounted for 95.9% of the total fatty acids. Among them, palmitic acid (46.17%) and oleic acid (39.43%) dominantly constituted the algal fatty acids. These results suggest Desmodesmus sp. KAERI-NJ5 as a promising feedstock for biodiesel production.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.1250-1256
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• 2023

Herein, different extracts of Scenedesmus deserticola JD052, a green microalga, were evaluated in vitro as a potential anti-aging bioagent. Although post-treatment of microalgal culture with either UV irradiation or high light illumination did not lead to a substantial difference in the effectiveness of microalgal extracts as a potential anti-UV agent, the results indicated the presence of a highly potent compound in ethyl acetate extract with more than 20% increase in the cellular viability of normal human dermal fibroblasts (nHDFs) compared with the negative control amended with DMSO. The subsequent fractionation of the ethyl acetate extract led to two bioactive fractions with high anti-UV property; one of the fractions was further separated down to a single compound. While electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy analysis identified this single compound as loliolide, its identification has been rarely reported in microalgae previously, prompting thorough systematic investigations into this novel compound for the nascent microalgal industry.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.331-337
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• 2003

Unicellular green algae of the genus Dunaliella thrive in extreme environmental conditions such as high salinity, low pH, high irradiance and subzero temperatures. Species of Dunaliella are well known in the alga biotechnological industry and are employed widely for the production of valuable biochemicals, such as carotenoids. Some strains of Dunaliella are cultivated commercially in large outdoor ponds and are harvested to produce dry algal meals, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids and oils for the health food industry, and coloring agents for the food and cosmetic industries. During the past decade, the advances in molecular biology and biochemistry of microalgae, along with the advances in biotechnology of microalgal mass cultivation, enabled this microalga to become a staple of commercial exploitation. In particular, the advent of molecular biology and mutagenesis in Dunaliella has permitted enhancements in the carotenoids content of this green alga, making it more attractive for biotechnological applications. Accordingly, the present review summarizes the recent developments and advances in biotechnology of carotenoid production in Dunaliella.