Transcriptomic and fatty acid analyses of Neochloris aquatica grown under different nitrogen concentration.

In this study, we characterized the fatty acid production in Neochloris aquatica at transcriptomics and biochemical levels under limiting, normal, and excess nitrate concentrations in different growth phases. At the stationary phase, N. aquatica mainly produced saturated fatty acids such as stearic acid under the limiting nitrate concentration, which is suitable for biodiesel production. However, it produced polyunsaturated fatty acids such as α-linolenic acid under the excess nitrate concentration, which has nutritional values as food supplements. In addition, RNA-seq was employed to identify genes and pathways that were being affected in N. aquatica for three growth phases in the presence of the different nitrate amounts. Genes that are responsible for the production of saturated fatty acids were upregulated in the cells grown under a limiting nitrogen amount while genes that are responsible for the production of polyunsaturated fatty acid were upregulated in the cells grown under excess nitrogen amount. Further analysis showed more genes differentially expressed (DEGs) at the logarithmic phase in all conditions while a relatively steady trend was observed during the transition from the logarithmic phase to the stationary phase under limiting and excess nitrogen. Our results provide a foundation for identifying developmentally important genes and understanding the biological processes in the different growth phases of the N. aquatica in terms of biomass and lipid production.

Effects of different phosphorus concentrations on growth and biochemical composition of Desmodesmus communis (E.Hegewald) E.Hegewald.

The members of the family Scenedesmaceae has the most widely used microalgae species in algal biotechnology studies because of their fast growth rate, quality of nutrition content and lipid accumulation under nutrient-limiting conditions. However, the biochemical responses of the species under phosphorus (P) limiting conditions are still unknown. The growth and biochemical composition of Desmodesmus communis in response to different phosphorus concentrations were investigated in this research. Five different phosphorus conditions were used: control (BG11); excess treatments (50% P+, 75% P+) and limited treatments (50% P-, 75% P-The highest cell concentration was observed in 75% P+ (725.6 × 104 cells/mL), whereas the highest dry weight concentration (1.81 mg/L) was found in 50% P- medium. The highest total lipid (4.94%) accumulation was found in the 50% P + medium and the maximum protein (49.5%) content was detected in 50% P- medium. Fatty acid and amino acid compositions change according to P concentration. PUFAs concentrations are higher than SFAs and MUFAs. Therefore the microalgae biomass obtained from this study cannot be used for biodiesel production although it is more suitable for nutritional supplement productions.

Amino acid composition and crude protein values of some Cyanobacteria from Çanakkale (Turkey).

Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) form an important component of integrated nutrient managements in agriculture and are exploited in commercial biotechnological ventures. In this study, Rivularia bullata (Poir) Berkeley ex Bornet & Flahault, Nostocs pongiaeforme C. Agardh ex Bornet & Flahault were researched for their amino acid composition and crude protein values. R. bullata was collected from coastal zones of the Gulf of Saros and N. spongiaeforme from the Ayazma Stream. The levels of amino acids were measured in algae samples using EZ: fast kits (EZ: fast GC/FID Protein Hydrolysate Amino Acid Kit) by gas chromatography. The crude proteins of samples were determined by the Kjeldahl method and were calculated using a nitrogen conversion factor of 6.25. Thirty-two amino acids were investigated, for N. spongiaeforme eight free essential amino acids (EAA), eight free non-essential amino acids (NEAA) and eleven other amino acids (OAA); for R. bullata eight EAA, eight NEAA and eight OAA were detected. Aspartic acid is the major constituent for both species. The total protein percents were determined for N. spongiaeforme as % 19.83 and for R. bullata as % 6.15. When considering the increasing world population and reducing natural products; Cyanobacteria will benew feed sources for all living.

Seasonal concentrations of some heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Zn, and Cu) in Ulva rigida J. Agardh (Chlorophyta) from Dardanelles (Canakkale, Turkey).

In this study, changes in heavy metal accumulation in U. rigida J. Agardh taxon and seawater have been investigated with respect to different stations and seasons. For this purpose, the severity of heavy metal pollution in the Dardanelles has been presented through the determination of Cu, Pb, Zn, and Cd concentrations in U. rigida macroalgae and seawater taken seasonally from the stations located on six different regions on the strait. While the metal concentrations in alga specimens were found to be high in spring and winter in all stations; the metal concentrations in the seawater, particularly the Pb concentration, were found to be high in all seasons.