Affiliation

¹ DEPSIEXTRACTA - Tecnologias e Biológicas, Lda, Quinta Taipadas, Canha, Portugal
² Division of Aquaculture and Valorization (DivAV), Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA, I.P.), Rua Magalhães Ramalho, 6, 1495-006 Lisboa, Portugal

Corresponding Author

Carlos Cardoso, Rua Magalhães Ramalho, 6, 1495-006 Lisboa, Portugal, Tel: +351 96 383 74 60; E-mail: carlos.cardoso@ipma.pt

Citation

Cardoso, C. Simultaneous Evaluation of the Production of Squalene and Fatty Acids by Aurantiochytrium. (2018) J Marine Biol Aquacult 4(1): 14- 20.

Copy rights

© 2018 Cardoso, C. This is an Open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords

Abstract

  The growth, squalene content and fatty acid profile of Aurantiochytrium sp. produced at 26 and 30°C, two salinities (1.5 and 3.5%) and three initial glucose concentrations (2, 3, and 4%) were investigated. This study aimed to simultaneously analyse and compare the production of squalene and DHA, offering an uncommon integrated overview of the production possibilities of this microorganism. The highest biomass production was achieved after 72 or 96 hours at both temperatures and higher biomass productivity at 72 hours was recorded in the growth media with lower salinity. Total lipid content of dried biomass was ca. 35% and triacylglycerols accounted for about 65% of total lipids. Saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids accounted for almost all fatty acids. The sum of DHA and DPA n-6 percentages represented about 90% of total PUFA. The presence of a high percentage of odd fatty acids (ca. 30%) is another typical feature of thraustochytrids. The highest production of squalene (7.3 g/100 g and 250 mg/L) was achieved in the trial with 1.5% salinity, 3% of initial glucose concentration, at 26°C and after 48 hours of growth. On the other hand, the highest productivity of PUFA, DHA and DPA n-6 was achieved in the growth medium with low salinity and 3% of initial glucose concentration at 30°C after 96 hours of growth. Accordingly, there is a possibility to combine culture conditions in a way that both maximizes squalene and DHA production, thereby providing cues for an environmentally sustainable bio-refinery approach.