Chemistry and Physics Faculty Articles
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2018
Publication Title
Frontiers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Keywords
Microalgae, FTIR microscopy, Infrared spectroscopy, Neochloris minuta, Algal lipids, Algal starch, Algal protein
ISSN
2575-1387
Volume
2
Issue/No.
2
First Page
1
Last Page
8
Abstract
Microalgae are fast growing organisms that can be used as feedstock for the production of biofuels. The metabolism of microalgae can be manipulated by exposing them to different environmental conditions for favoring the accumulation of lipids, carbohydrates or proteins. For example, a change in growth conditions can cause the accumulation of large amounts of lipids, representing an opportunity for biodiesel production. Monitoring changes in the composition of microalgal cells is therefore important in assessing new growth conditions. However, at present, most techniques are time consuming, invasive and expensive. Here we have used FTIR microscopy to quantify lipid, protein, and starch accumulation in Neochloris minuta cells grown in the presence and absence of nitrogen. Under nitrogen deprivation the cellular lipid composition increases by a factor of 2.4, the cellular protein concentration decreases by ~60% while the starch concentration is unaltered. These estimates of biochemical composition were derived using a variety of analytical methods, and form the basis for establishing to what extent FTIR microscopy can be used as a probe of cellular biochemical composition. We find that the distribution of materials in Neochloris minuta cells estimated directly from the FTIR spectra compare favorably with that estimated using these other analytical methods. FTIR spectroscopy is shown to be a versatile and easy-to-use tool for estimating distributions of biological materials in microalgal cells.
Additional Comments
Nova Southeastern University grant #: PFRDG 335400
NSUWorks Citation
Hastings, G., Thomas, J., Witt, K., Giarikos, D., & Razeghifard, R. (2018). Starch, Lipid, and Protein Accumulation in Nutrient-Stressed Microalgal Cells Studied Using Fourier Transform Infrared Microscopy. Frontiers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, 2, (2), 1 - 8. Retrieved from https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cnso_chemphys_facarticles/199
Included in
Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology Commons, Other Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons
Comments
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