Isolation and molecular characterization of Thraustochytrium strain isolated from Antarctic Peninsula and its biotechnological potential in the production of fatty acids

• Published in: Brazilian Journal of Microbiology
• Main Authors: Caamaño, Esteban, Loperena, Lyliam, Hinzpeter, Ivonne, Pradel, Paulina, Gordillo, Felipe, Corsini, Gino, Tello, Mario, Lavín, Paris, González, Alex R.
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2017
• Subjects: Research Paper; Antarctic; Antarctic Peninsula; The Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5628321/; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28651890; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjm.2017.01.011

Thraustochytrids are unicellular protists belonging to the Labyrinthulomycetes class, which are characterized by the presence of a high lipid content that could replace conventional fatty acids. They show a wide geographic distribution, however their diversity in the Antarctic Region is rather scarce. The analysis based on the complete sequence of 18S rRNA gene showed that strain 34-2 belongs to the species Thraustochytrium kinnei, with 99% identity. The total lipid profile shows a wide range of saturated fatty acids with abundance of palmitic acid (16:0), showing a range of 16.1–19.7%. On the other hand, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, mainly docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid are present in a range of 24–48% and 6.1–9.3%, respectively. All factors analyzed in cells (biomass, carbon consumption and lipid content) changed with variations of culture temperature (10 °C and 25 °C). The growth in glucose at a temperature of 10 °C presented the most favorable conditions to produce omega-3fatty acid. This research provides the identification and characterization of a Thraustochytrids strain, with a total lipid content that presents potential applications in the production of nutritional supplements and as well biofuels.