In vivo conversion of triacylglycerol to docosahexaenoic acid-containing phospholipids in a thraustochytrid-like microorganism, strain 12B

Abstract

The thraustochytrid-like microorganism, strain 12B, cultivated in peptone, yeast extract, and 8% (w/v) glucose in 50% (v/v) seawater, accumulated docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-rich triacylglycerol (TAG) at 67% of total lipid. When these TAG-accumulated cells were cultivated in glucose-deficient medium, dry cell weight (3 mg per ml culture) increased approximately 3-fold relative to baseline but the TAG/total lipid decreased to 5%. At the same time, the amount of phospholipid (5 mg) per whole culture also increased 3-fold. Hence, phospholipid/total lipid increased from 13% to 67%. High levels of DHA (more than 50% of total) were maintained in phosphatidylcholine.