Pollen baiting facilitates the isolation of marine thraustochytrids with potential in omega-3 and biodiesel production

• Published in: Journal of industrial microbiology & biotechnology Vol. 40; no. 11; pp. 1231 - 1240
• Main Authors: Gupta, Adarsha, Wilkens, Serena, Adcock, Jacqui L, Puri, Munish, Barrow, Colin J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.11.2013; Springer Berlin Heidelberg; Springer; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Antibiotics; Antifungal agents; baiting; Biochemistry; biodiesel; Biodiesel fuels; Bioenergy/Biofuels/Biochemicals; Biofuel production; Biofuels - supply & distribution; Bioinformatics; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Carbon - metabolism; Carotenoids; docosahexaenoic acid; Docosahexaenoic Acids - analysis; Docosahexaenoic Acids - biosynthesis; Energy; fatty acid composition; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids - analysis; Fatty Acids - chemistry; Fatty Acids - metabolism; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - analysis; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - biosynthesis; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungi; Genetic Engineering; Grain; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Inorganic Chemistry; isolation techniques; Life Sciences; Lipids; Methods; Microbiology; Microorganisms; Microscopy; omega-3 fatty acids; Penicillin; Phylogeny; Pinus; Pinus radiata; Pollen; Pollen - physiology; Ribonucleic acid; ribosomal RNA; RNA; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S - genetics; Schizochytrium; Seawater; Sediments; Stramenopiles - classification; Stramenopiles - genetics; Stramenopiles - isolation & purification; Stramenopiles - metabolism; Studies; Thraustochytrium; Ulkenia; Victoria; Victoria; Australia; Direct plating; Pollen grain; 18S rRNA; Isolation; PUFAs; sp; Biodiesel; Grains; Schizochytrium sp; Polyunsaturated fatty acid; Biofuel; Marine environment; Thraustochytrium sp; Ribosomal RNA; Production; Pollen
• ISSN: 1367-5435; 1476-5535
• DOI: 10.1007/s10295-013-1324-0

Marine heterotrophic microbes are capable of accumulating large amounts of lipids, omega-3 fatty acids, carotenoids, and have potential for biodiesel production. Pollen baiting using Pinus radiata pollen grain along with direct plating techniques were used in this study as techniques for the isolation of oil-producing marine thraustochytrid species from Queenscliff, Victoria, Australia. Thirteen isolates were obtained using either direct plating or using pine pollen, with pine pollen acting as a specific substrate for the surface attachment of thraustochytrids. The isolates obtained from the pollen baiting technique showed a wide range of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) accumulation, from 11 to 41 % of total fatty acid content (TFA). Direct plating isolates showed a moderate range of DHA accumulation, from 19 to 25 % of TFA. Seven isolates were identified on the basis of 18S rRNA sequencing technique as Thraustochytrium species, Schizochytrium species, and Ulkenia species. Although both methods appear to result in the isolation of similar strains, pollen baiting proved to be a simpler method for the isolation of these relatively slow-growing organisms.