Comparative metabolic profiling of the lipid-producing green microalga Chlorella reveals that nitrogen and carbon metabolic pathways contribute to lipid metabolism.

ABSTRACT: Microalgae are a promising feedstock for biofuel production. Microalgal metabolic pathways are heavily influenced by environmental factors. For instance, lipid metabolism can be induced by nitrogen-limiting conditions. However, the underlying mechanisms of lipid biosynthesis are unclear. In this study, we analyzed the global metabolic profiles of three genetically closely related Chlorella strains (C1, C2, and C3) with significant differences in lipid productivity to identify the contributions of key metabolic pathways to lipid metabolism. We found that nitrogen obtained from amino acid catabolism was assimilated via the glutamate-glutamine pathway and then stored as amino acids and intermediate molecules (particularly proline, alanine, arginine, succinate, and gamma-aminobutyrate)

SUBMITTER: Chen H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5471736 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature