Effects of long chain fatty acid synthesis and associated gene expression in microalga Tetraselmis sp.

ABSTRACT: With the depletion of global fish stocks, caused by high demand and effective fishing techniques, alternative sources for long chain omega-3 fatty acids are required for human nutrition and aquaculture feeds. Recent research has focused on land-based cultivation of microalgae, the primary producers of omega-3 fatty acids in the marine food web. The effect of salinity on fatty acids and related gene expression was studied in the model marine microalga, Tetraselmis sp. M8. Correlations were found for specific fatty acid biosynthesis and gene expression according to salinity and the growth phase. Low salinity was found to increase the conversion of C18:4 stearidonic acid (SDA) to C20:4 eicosatetraenoic acid (ETA), correlating with increased transcript abundance of the Δ-6-elongase-encoding ge

SUBMITTER: Adarme-Vega TC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4071582 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature