• ALGAE
• /
• 제28권2호
• /
• pp.131-147
• /
• 2013

Major progress has been made in the past decade towards understanding of the biosynthesis of red carotenoid astaxanthin and its roles in stress response while exploiting microalgae-based astaxanthin as a potent antioxidant for human health and as a coloring agent for aquaculture applications. In this review, astaxanthin-producing green microalgae are briefly summarized with Haematococcus pluvialis and Chlorella zofingiensis recognized to be the most popular astaxanthin-producers. Two distinct pathways for astaxanthin synthesis along with associated cellular, physiological, and biochemical changes are elucidated using H. pluvialis and C. zofingiensis as the model systems. Interactions between astaxanthin biosynthesis and photosynthesis, fatty acid biosynthesis and enzymatic defense systems are described in the context of multiple lines of defense mechanisms working in concert against photooxidative stress. Major pros and cons of mass cultivation of H. pluvialis and C. zofingiensis in phototrophic, heterotrophic, and mixotrophic culture modes are analyzed. Recent progress in genetic engineering of plants and microalgae for astaxanthin production is presented. Future advancement in microalgal astaxanthin research will depend largely on genome sequencing of H. pluvialis and C. zofingiensis and genetic toolbox development. Continuous effort along the heterotrophic-phototrophic culture mode could lead to major expansion of the microalgal astaxanthin industry.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
• /
• 제49권2호
• /
• pp.167-173
• /
• 2021

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) disrupt the cellular redox balance, exert cytotoxic effects, and consequently promote the development of various diseases in humans. Previous studies have reported that antioxidants counteract the adverse effects of ROS. Several studies examine the whitening effects of various agents based on their ability to inhibit tyrosinase activity. Tyrosinase is a critical enzyme involved in the synthesis of melanin, which protects the skin against radiation. Various agents exhibiting antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory activities have been synthesized. However, these synthetic drugs are associated with toxicity, decreased safety, and poor skin penetration in vivo, which has limited the clinical application of synthetic drugs. This study examined the antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory activities of some microalgae. The methanol, dichloromethane, and ethyl acetate extracts of four microalgal species (Tetraselmis tetrathele, Dunaliella tertiolecta, Platymonas sp., and Chaetoceros simplex) were prepared. The physiological and whitening effects of microalgal extracts were investigated by measuring the antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory activities. The ethyl acetate extract of D. tertiolecta exhibited the highest antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory activities. Future studies must focus on examining the whitening effects of microalgae on cell lines to facilitate the development of microalga-based therapeutics for skin diseases, functional health foods, and whitening agents. Thus, microalgae have potential applications in the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries.

• ALGAE
• /
• 제31권3호
• /
• pp.189-204
• /
• 2016

Microalgal bioremediation of CO₂, nutrients, endocrine disruptors, hydrocarbons, pesticides, and cyanide compounds have evaluated comprehensively. Microalgal mitigation of nutrients originated from municipal wastewaters, surface waters, and livestock wastewaters has shown great applicability. Algal utilization on secondary and tertiary treatment processes might provide unique and elegant solution on the removing of substances originated from various sources. Microalgae have displayed 3 growth regimes (autotrophic, heterotrophic, and mixotrophic) through which different organic and inorganic substances are being utilized for growth and production of different metabolites. There are still some technology challenges requiring innovative solutions. Strain selection investigation should be directed towards identification of algal that are extremophiles. Understanding and manipulation of metabolic pathways of algae will possible unfold solution to utilization of algae for mitigation of dissolve organic nitrogen in wastewaters.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• 제9권3호
• /
• pp.115-117
• /
• 2006

A micro algal growth-enhancing polysaccharide compound was isolated from the green alga Monostroma nitidum using water extraction, molecular fractionation, a DEAE-cellulose column, and fast protein liquid chromatography using a Superose-12 column. The yield of the compound from the seaweed powder was 8.3$\times$l0$^{-3}$%. At 2 mg/mL concentration, the polysaccharide enhanced Tetraselmis suecica cell growth in f/2 medium by approximately 160%.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
• /
• 제6권3호
• /
• pp.189-193
• /
• 2001

Critical cell density (CCD), the maximum cell concentration without mutual shading in algal cultures, can be used as a new operating parameter for high-density algal cultures and for the application of the flashing light effect on illuminated algal cultures. CCD is a function of average cell volume and light illumination area. The CCD is thus proposed as an index of estimation of mutual shading in algal cultures. Where cell densities are below the CCD, all the cells in photobioreactors can undergo photosysnthesis at their maximum rate. At cell densities over CCD, mutual shading will occur and some cells in the illumination chamber cannot grow photoautotrophically. When the cell concentration is higher than the CCD, specific oxygen production rates under flashing light were higher than those under continuous light. The CCD was found to be a useful engineering parameter for the application of flashing light, particularly in high-density algal cultures.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제31권3호
• /
• pp.387-397
• /
• 2021

There is growing interest in the production of microalgae-based, high-value by-products as an emerging green biotechnology. However, a cultivation platform for Oocystis sp. has yet to be established. We therefore examined the effects of bacterial culture additions on the growth and production of valuable compounds of the microalgal strain Oocystis sp. KNUA044, isolated from a locally adapted region in Korea. The strain grew only in the presence of a clear supernatant of Sphingomonas sp. KNU100 culture solution and generated 28.57 mg/l/d of biomass productivity. Protein content (43.9 wt%) was approximately two-fold higher than carbohydrate content (29.4 wt%) and lipid content (13.9 wt%). Oocystis sp. KNUA044 produced the monosaccharide fucose (33 ㎍/mg and 0.94 mg/l/d), reported here for the first time. Fatty acid profiling showed high accumulation (over 60%) of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) compared to saturated (29.4%) and monounsaturated fatty acids (9.9%) under the same culture conditions. Of these PUFAs, the algal strain produced the highest concentration of linolenic acid (C18:3 ω3; 40.2%) in the omega-3 family and generated eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5 ω3; 6.0%), also known as EPA. Based on these results, we suggest that the application of Sphingomonas sp. KNU100 for strain-dependent cultivation of Oocystis sp. KNUA044 holds future promise as a bioprocess capable of increasing algal biomass and high-value bioactive by-products, including fucose and PUFAs such as linolenic acid and EPA.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• 제14권4호
• /
• pp.414-421
• /
• 1999

본 연구에서는 미세조류의 배양액을 통한 빛의 전달특성을 수식적으로 표현하고 이를 바탕으로 광합성 활성을 예측할 수 있는 수학적 모델을 구축하였다. 먼저 미세조류의 배양액에서의 빛의 거동은 Beer-Lambert 식으로서 개략적으로 표현할 수 있었다. 미세조류의 광합성을 산소생산속도로서 나타낸 결과 미세조류의 농도가 높은 경우 낮은 농도에 비하면 단위 부피당 활성은 크게 나타난 반면 단위 건조중량당 활성은 오히려 낮게 나타났다. 이렇게 운전조건에 의존적인 광반응곡선을 예측하기 위하여 국부적인 광합성 활성을 가정하고 이를 전체부피에 대하여 평균하는 방버으로 수학적인 모델을 구축하였다. 또한 실험결과를 이용하여 고유 매개변수를 추정하였으며 예측치와 실험치를 비교한 결과 우수한 일치성을 확인하였다. 모델을 이용하여 광합성 활성에 크게 영향을 미치는 빛의 세기, 세포농도 및 빛의 투과특성과 같은 주요 운전조건에 대하여 그 영향을 살펴보았다. 그 결과 빛의 세기가 강할수록 광합성 활성은 증가하지만 광합성효율은 감소하는 경향을 확인할 수 있었다. 미세조류의 세포농도의 경우 단위 부피당 산소생산속도를 위한 최적의 농도가 존재함을 알 수 있었으며 이는 조사되는 빛의 세기에 따라 변화하였다. 빛의 투과거리가 짧을수록 광합성 효율은 증가하지만 충분히 강한 빛이 공급될 경우에는 일정한 투과거리까지는 최고치를 유지하였다. 결론적으로 광생물반응기의 성능을 예측하고 최적조건을 결정하는데 제시된 모델이 유용하게 사용될 수 있을 것으로 판단된다

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국생물공학회 2001년도 추계학술발표대회
• /
• pp.501-502
• /
• 2001

Characteristics of $CO_2$ fixation by Chlorella sp. HA -1 were studied in a high cell culture using semi-continuous mode. As a result, it may be possible to obtain not only high cell concentration but also effective $CO_2$ removal at a moderate dilution ratio, which is' the most significant factor to control the microalgal growth in the semi-continuous mode.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• 제30권2호
• /
• pp.91-95
• /
• 2015

Production of biodiesel from microalgae is dependent on the microalgal lipid content and free fatty acid composition. Both lipid and free fatty acid are regulated by nutrient sources. In this study, newly developed mutant Chlamydomonas reinhardtii with higher lipid content was investigated for the effect of nutrient limitation. Nitrogen $NO_3{^{-}}$ and phosphate $PO_4{^{3-}}$ were limited for nutrient starvation during the cultivation. Under nutrient starvation, total lipid content level was increased to 27~33% and C16:0 fatty acid content constituted over 31~43% of total fatty acid. Interestingly, we also found that the expression of fatty acid desaturase (FAD7) was decreased when nutrients were starved.

• 한국물환경학회지
• /
• 제24권3호
• /
• pp.306-310
• /
• 2008

Characteristics of microalgal growth was investigated using anaerobic effluent from two-phase animal waste digestor as substrate. Batch experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of the initial nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations on growth of Microcystis aeruginosa, Chlorella sp. and Euglena gracilis. In 400 times diluted anaerobic effluent (TN 3 mg/L), single cell growth of the Euglena gracilis population increased twice without delay, although Chlorella sp. and Microcystis aerugenos take over 144 hours. Similar appearance with single cell growth was observed in mixed cultures. However, microalgae population did not increase under condition of 10 times diluted influent (TP 3 mg/L) in both pure and mixed cultures, which was affected by high organic and nitrogen concentration. Logistic growth model successfully fitted to determine biokinetic parameters such as ${\lambda}$: lag time, ${\mu}m$: maximal specific growth rate, A: asymptote of growth.