High-value chemicals from Botryococcus braunii and their current applications - A review

Pengfei Cheng; Shigeru Okada; Chengxu Zhou; Paul Chen; Shuhao Huo; Kun Li; Min Addy; Xiaojun Yan; Roger R Ruan

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2019.121911

High-value chemicals from Botryococcus braunii and their current applications - A review

Bioresour Technol. 2019 Nov:291:121911. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.121911. Epub 2019 Jul 27.

Authors

Pengfei Cheng¹, Shigeru Okada², Chengxu Zhou³, Paul Chen⁴, Shuhao Huo⁴, Kun Li⁴, Min Addy⁴, Xiaojun Yan⁵, Roger R Ruan⁶

Affiliations

¹ College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China; Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA.
² Department of Aquatic Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.
³ College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China.
⁴ Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA.
⁵ Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China.
⁶ Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA. Electronic address: ruanx001@umn.edu.

PMID: 31383389
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.121911

Abstract

Botryococcus braunii is known for its high yield of extracellular hydrocarbons and polysaccharides. Hydrocarbons, especially botryococcenes and squalene can be used as not only fuels but also alternative feedstock for other fossil-based products. Exopolysaccharides excreted from B. braunii can be used as scaffolds for polyesters production, and have a notable potential for synthesis of nanoparticles. B. braunii is also a rich source of carotenoids, especially the unique secondary carotenoids such as botryoxanthins that have never been found in other microalgae. The morphology, physiology, and outer cell walls of B. braunii are complex. Understanding the colony structure shall provide insights into the mechanism of cell growth and chemicals secretion. It is possible to improve the production economics of the alga with advanced culture systems. Moreover, investigation of metabolic pathways for B. braunii may help us understand their regulation and provide valuable information for strain selection and optimal production of high-value chemicals.

Keywords: Botryococcus braunii; Carotenoids; Exopolysaccharides; High-value; Hydrocarbon.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Carotenoids
Chlorophyta*
Hydrocarbons
Microalgae*
Squalene

Substances

Hydrocarbons
Carotenoids
Squalene