Bioprocess engineering to produce essential polyunsaturated fatty acids from Thraustochytrium sp.

Abstract

In recent studies, thraustochytrid has emerged as a sustainable substitute to fish oil or polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) sources: docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Due to growing health concerns, there is increasing demand for food and health applications of PUFA for several diseases, aquaculture feeds, and dietary products. Thraustochytrium sp. found a sustainable source for considerable PUFA and SFA production and to meet omega PUFA demand globally. This study aims to increase PUFA yield by the maximum possible glucose carbon with an appropriate nitrogen ratio (10:1). The maximum biomass and lipid obtained from 40 g/L glucose, were 7.47 ± 0.3 g/L and 4.63 g/L (60.84 ± 1.4%), respectively. However, maximum relative lipid, DHA and DPA yields were from 30 g/L glucose i.e, 67.6 ± 1.9 % and 963.58 ± 24 and 693.10 ± 24 mg/L respectively with complete glucose assimilation. Thus, this could be a potential source of commercial DPA and DHA producers under the biorefinery scheme.