Marine Protists and Rhodotorula Yeast as Bio-Convertors of Marine Waste into Nutrient-Rich Deposits for Mangrove Ecosystems

Protist. 2020 Jul;171(3):125738. doi: 10.1016/j.protis.2020.125738. Epub 2020 May 28.

Abstract

This paper represents a comprehensive study of two new thraustochytrids and a marine Rhodotorula red yeast isolated from Australian coastal waters for their abilities to be a potential renewable feedstock for the nutraceutical, food, fishery and bioenergy industries. Mixotrophic growth of these species was assessed in the presence of different carbon sources: glycerol, glucose, fructose, galactose, xylose, and sucrose, starch, cellulose, malt extract, and potato peels. Up to 14g DW/L (4.6gDW/L-day and 2.8gDW/L-day) of biomass were produced by Aurantiochytrium and Thraustochytrium species, respectively. Thraustochytrids biomass contained up to 33% DW of lipids, rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6, 124mg/g DW); up to 10.2mg/gDW of squalene and up to 61μg/gDW of total carotenoids, composed of astaxanthin, canthaxanthin, echinenone, and β-carotene. Along with the accumulation of these added-value chemicals in biomass, thraustochytrid representatives showed the ability to secrete extracellular polysaccharide matrixes containing lipids and proteins. Rhodotorula sp lipids (26% DW) were enriched in palmitic acid (C16:0, 18mg/gDW) and oleic acid (C18:1, 41mg/gDW). Carotenoids (87μg/gDW) were mainly represented by β-carotene (up to 54μg/gDW). Efficient growth on organic and inorganic sources of carbon and nitrogen from natural and anthropogenic wastewater pollutants along with intracellular and extracellular production of valuable nutrients makes the production of valuable chemicals from isolated species economical and sustainable.

Keywords: Aurantiochytrium; FAME; Thraustochytrium.; carotenoids; lipids; thraustochytrids.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acyltransferases / metabolism
  • Biodegradation, Environmental*
  • Biomass
  • Carotenoids / metabolism
  • Chytridiomycota* / growth & development
  • Chytridiomycota* / isolation & purification
  • Chytridiomycota* / metabolism
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / biosynthesis
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / biosynthesis
  • Lipids / biosynthesis*
  • Nutrients / metabolism
  • Polysaccharides / biosynthesis
  • Rhodotorula* / growth & development
  • Rhodotorula* / isolation & purification
  • Rhodotorula* / metabolism
  • Seawater / microbiology
  • Wastewater / microbiology
  • Water Pollutants / metabolism*
  • Wetlands

Substances

  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
  • Lipids
  • Polysaccharides
  • Waste Water
  • Water Pollutants
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids
  • Carotenoids
  • Acyltransferases
  • fatty acid modifying enzyme