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 elec...

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Published inApplied sciences Vol. 11; no. 8; p. 3348
Main Authors Fitriana, Hana-Nur, Lee, Soo-Youn, Choi, Sun-A, Lee, Ji-Ye, Kim, Bo-Lam, Lee, Jin-Suk, Oh, You-Kwan
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Basel MDPI AG 01.04.2021
Subjects
Algae
Anodizing
Antioxidants
Astaxanthin
Biosynthesis
Carbon
Cell culture
Cell division
Cysts
Electric potential
Electric strength
electric treatment
Electrodes
Environmental stress
Experiments
Fatty acids
Haematococcus pluvialis
Lysis
microalgae
Oxidation
Stimulation
stress
Voltage
United States > US
Japan
Germany
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Summary: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.
ISSN:2076-3417
2076-3417
DOI:10.3390/app11083348