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. 2020 Mar 20;15(3):e0229556.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229556. eCollection 2020.

A new synthetic medium for the optimization of docosahexaenoic acid production in Crypthecodinium cohnii

Pingping Song  1 , Alexander Kuryatov  2 , Paul H Axelsen  2
Affiliations

A new synthetic medium for the optimization of docosahexaenoic acid production in Crypthecodinium cohnii

Pingping Song et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

The heterotrophic microalgae Crypthecodinium cohnii was usually cultivated in complex medium containing glucose, yeast extract and sea salt. For the preparation of DHA with highest purity, a new defined medium without the yeast extract was developed. Different inoculated densities, C/N ratios, temperatures, culture volumes and glucose additions were investigated to optimize the algal growth rate and DHA production. The growth period in C. cohnii was shortened from 12-14 days to 7-8 days, the OD600 was enhanced from 2.0 to 3.0, the glucose consumption was accelerated and used up on day 3-4, and the DHA content in culture were increased from 10 to 45 nmoles/300 μl batch. It was found that C. cohnii had optimal growth and DHA accumulation in 25 °C, 0.2 inoculated density, 5-10 C/N ratio, 5:1 air/culture volume ratio. This is the first time DHA production using C.cohnii has been optimized in synthetic medium. This allows preparation of uniformly radiolabeled 13C- and 14C-DHA.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Growth rate and DHA production in different inoculated densities.
A. OD600; B, DHA content in culture, 1ml/batch.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Growth rate and DHA production in different glutamate concentrations.
A, OD600; B, glucose consumption; C, DHA content in culture, 300 μl/batch.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Growth rate and DHA production in different temperatures.
A, OD600; B, glucose consumption; C, DHA content in culture, 300 μl/batch.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Growth rate and DHA production at different air/culture ratios.
5 ml (9:1), 10 ml (4:1), 15 ml (2:1), and 20 ml (1.5:1) of medium in 50 ml tubes. A, OD600; B, glucose consumption; C, DHA content in culture, 300 μl/batch.
Fig 5
Fig 5. Growth rates and DHA productions with adding additional glucose.
A, OD600; B, glucose consumption; C, DHA content in culture, 300 μl/batch.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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