Polysaccharide-producing microalgae

In this study, we report a method for the screening and detection of polysaccharide-producing microalgae, which tolerate atmospheres with high CO 2 concentrations and high temperatures. 

We screened 273 microalgae in total, as shown in Table 2. Twenty six samples of polysaccharide-producing microalgae were selected and were... 

Table 2. Results of screening for polysaccharide-producing microalgae.

Figure 2. Growth curves of polysaccharide-producing microalgae...

The red microalga Porphyridium aerugineum is a source of blue color. This species is different from other red microalgae in that it lacks red phycoerythrin and its phycocyanin is C-phycocyanin rather than the R-phycocyanin that accompanies phycoerythrin found in many red algae and in other Porphyridium species. However, the biochemicals produced by P. aerugineum are similar to those of other red microalgae, e.g., sulfated polysaccharides, carotenoids, and lipids. An alternative source of C-phycocyanin is Spirulina platensis. ... 

Diatoms are unicellular, photosynthetic microalgae that are abundant in the world s oceans and fresh waters. It is estimated that several tens of thousands of different species exist sizes typically range from ca 5 to 400 pm, and most contain an outer wall of amorphous hydrated silica. These outer walls (named frustules ) are intricately shaped and fenestrated in species-specific (genetically inherited) patterns5,6. The intricacy of these structures in many cases exceeds our present capability for nanoscale structural control. In this respect, the diatoms resemble another group of armored unicellular microalgae, the coccolithophorids, that produce intricately structured shells of calcium carbonate. The silica wall of each diatom is formed in sections by polycondensation of silicic acid or as-yet unidentified derivatives (see below) within a membrane-enclosed silica deposition vesicle 1,7,8. In this vesicle, the silica is coated with specific proteins that act like a coat of varnish to protect the silica from dissolution (see below). The silica is then extruded through the cell membrane and cell wall (lipid- and polysaccharide-based boundary layers, respectively) to the periphery of the cell. 

It is important to develop technologies to convert photosynthesized organic products into useful substances such as fuels, feed, manure, materials for plastics and concrete, and fine chemicals which have a high added value. We have screened microalgae which produce polysaccharides. 

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