Electric Stimulation of Astaxanthin Biosynthesis in Haematococcus pluvialis

The green microalga Haematococcus pluvialis accumulates astaxanthin, a potent antioxidant pigment, as a defense mechanism against environmental stresses. In this study, we investigated the technical feasibility of a stress-based method for inducing astaxanthin biosynthesis in H. pluvialis using electric stimulation in a two-chamber bioelectrochemical system. When a cathodic (reduction) current of 3 mA (voltage: 2 V) was applied to H. pluvialis cells for two days, considerable lysis and breakage of algal cells were observed, possibly owing to the formation of excess reactive oxygen species at the cathode. Conversely, in the absence of cell breakage, the application of anodic (oxidation) current effectively stimulated astaxanthin biosynthesis at a voltage range of 2–6 V, whereas the same could not be induced in the untreated control. At an optimal voltage of 4 V (anodic current: 30 mA), the astaxanthin content in the cells electro-treated for 2 h was 36.9% higher than that in untreated cells. Our findings suggest that electric treatment can be used to improve astaxanthin production in H. pluvialis culture if bioelectrochemical parameters, such as electric strength and duration, are regulated properly.

Download Full-text

Effects of selenite on green microalga Haematococcus pluvialis : Bioaccumulation of selenium and enhancement of astaxanthin production

Aquatic Toxicology ◽

10.1016/j.aquatox.2016.12.008 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 183 ◽

pp. 21-27 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Yihong Zheng ◽

Ze Li ◽

Ming Tao ◽

Jiancheng Li ◽

Zhangli Hu

Keyword(s):

Haematococcus Pluvialis ◽

Green Microalga ◽

Astaxanthin Production

Download Full-text

Biomass and Astaxanthin Productivities of Haematococcus pluvialis in an Angled Twin-Layer Porous Substrate Photobioreactor: Effect of Inoculum Density and Storage Time

Biology ◽

10.3390/biology8030068 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 68 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Thanh-Tri Do ◽

Binh-Nguyen Ong ◽

Minh-Ly Nguyen Tran ◽

Doan Nguyen ◽

Michael Melkonian ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Haematococcus Pluvialis ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Porous Substrate ◽

Light Intensities ◽

Alternative Approach ◽

Dry Biomass ◽

Astaxanthin Production ◽

Astaxanthin Content ◽

Storage Times ◽

And Storage

The microalga Haematococcus pluvialis is mainly cultivated in suspended systems for astaxanthin production. Immobilized cultivation on a Twin-Layer porous substrate photobioreactor (TL-PSBR) has recently shown promise as an alternative approach. In Vietnam, a TL-PSBR was constructed as a low-angle (15 °) horizontal system to study the cultivation of H. pluvialis for astaxanthin production. In this study, the biomass and astaxanthin productivities and astaxanthin content in the dry biomass were determined using different initial biomass (inoculum) densities (from 2.5 to 10 g dry weight m−2), different storage times of the initial biomass at 4 °C (24, 72, 120 and 168 h) and different light intensities (300–1000 µmol photons m−2 s−1). The optimal initial biomass density at light intensities between 400–600 µmol photons−2 s−1 was 5–7.5 g m−2. Algae stored for 24 h after harvest from suspension for immobilization on the TL-PSBR yielded the highest biomass and astaxanthin productivities, 8.7 g m−2 d−1 and 170 mg m−2 d−1, respectively; longer storage periods decreased productivity. Biomass and astaxanthin productivities were largely independent of light intensity between 300–1000 µmol photons m−2 s−1 but the efficiency of light use per mole photons was highest between 300–500 µmol photons m−2 s−1. The astaxanthin content in the dry biomass varied between 2–3% (w/w). Efficient supply of CO2 to the culture medium remains a task for future improvements of angled TL-PSBRs.

Download Full-text

Maximization of Astaxanthin Production from Green Microalga <i>Haematococcus pluvialis</i> Using Internally-Illuminated Photobioreactor

Advances in Bioscience and Bioengineering ◽

10.11648/j.abb.20180602.11 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 10 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yiu Hang Ho

Keyword(s):

Haematococcus Pluvialis ◽

Green Microalga ◽

Astaxanthin Production

Download Full-text

A green decontamination technology through selective biomineralization of algicidal microorganisms for enhanced astaxanthin production from Haematococcus pluvialis at commercial scale

Bioresource Technology ◽

10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125121 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 125121

Author(s):

Byung Sun Yu ◽

Min Eui Hong ◽

Young Joon Sung ◽

Hong Il Choi ◽

Won Seok Chang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Haematococcus Pluvialis ◽

Commercial Scale ◽

Astaxanthin Production

Download Full-text

Dynamic modelling of Haematococcus pluvialis photoinduction for astaxanthin production in both attached and suspended photobioreactors

Algal Research ◽

10.1016/j.algal.2015.11.019 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 13 ◽

pp. 69-78 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Dongda Zhang ◽

Minxi Wan ◽

Ehecatl A. del Rio-Chanona ◽

Jianke Huang ◽

Weiliang Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Haematococcus Pluvialis ◽

Dynamic Modelling ◽

Astaxanthin Production

Download Full-text

Peroxynitrite and nitryl chloride enhance astaxanthin production by the green microalga Chlorella zofingiensis in heterotrophic culture

Process Biochemistry ◽

10.1016/j.procbio.2005.03.055 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 40 (11) ◽

pp. 3595-3599 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Po-Fung Ip ◽

Feng Chen

Keyword(s):

Heterotrophic Culture ◽

Chlorella Zofingiensis ◽

Nitryl Chloride ◽

Green Microalga ◽

Astaxanthin Production

Download Full-text

Exogenous γ-aminobutyric acid promotes biomass and astaxanthin production in Haematococcus pluvialis

Algal Research ◽

10.1016/j.algal.2020.102089 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 52 ◽

pp. 102089

Author(s):

Lamei Li ◽

Zhu Chen ◽

Qing Huang

Keyword(s):

Haematococcus Pluvialis ◽

Aminobutyric Acid ◽

Astaxanthin Production

Download Full-text

Identification and Content of Astaxanthin and Its Esters from Microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis by HPLC-DAD and LC-QTOF-MS after Extraction with Various Solvents

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10112413 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 2413

Author(s):

Biljana Todorović ◽

Veno Jaša Grujić ◽

Andreja Urbanek Krajnc ◽

Roman Kranvogl ◽

Jana Ambrožič-Dolinšek

Keyword(s):

High Performance ◽

Haematococcus Pluvialis ◽

Methyl Tert Butyl Ether ◽

Diode Array ◽

Diode Array Detection ◽

Butyl Ether ◽

Flight Mass Spectrometry ◽

Green Microalga ◽

Array Detection ◽

Long Chain

Haematococcus pluvialis, a unicellular green microalga that produces a secondary metabolite under stress conditions, bears one of the most potent antioxidants, namely xanthophyll astaxanthin. The aim of our study was to determine the content of astaxanthin and its esterified forms using three different solvents—methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), hexane isopropanol (HEX -IPA) and acetone (ACE)—and to identify them by using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection and the quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD and LC-QTOF-MS) technique. We identified eleven astaxanthin monoesters, which accounted for 78.8% of the total astaxanthin pool, six astaxanthin diesters (20.5% of total), while free astaxanthin represented the smallest fraction (0.7%). Astaxanthin monoesters (C16:2, C16:1, C16:0), which were the major bioactive compounds in the H. pluvialis samples studied, ranged from 10.2 to 11.8 mg g−1 DW. Astaxanthin diesters (C18:4/C18:3, C18:1/C18:3) were detected in the range between 2.3 and 2.6 mg g−1 DW. All three solvents were found to be effective for extraction, but MTBE and hexane-isopropanol extracted the greatest amount of free bioactive astaxanthin. Furthermore, MTBE extracted more low-chain astaxanthin monoesters (C16), and hexane-isopropanol extracted more long-chain monoesters (C18 and above) and more diesters. We can conclude that MTBE is the solvent of choice for the extraction of monoesters and hexane-isopropanol for diesters.

Download Full-text