Abstract
Triglyceride (TAG) synthesis during nitrogen starvation and recovery was addressed using Coccomyxa subellipsoidea by analyzing acyl-chain composition and redistribution using a bioreactor-controlled time course. Galactolipids, phospholipids and TAGs were profiled using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS). TAG levels increased linearly through 10. days of N starvation to a final concentration of 12.6% dry weight (DW), while chloroplast membrane lipids decreased from 5% to 1.5% DW. The relative quantities of TAG molecular species, differing in acyl chain length and glycerol backbone position, remained unchanged from 3 to 10. days of N starvation. Six TAG species comprised approximately half the TAG pool. An average of 16.5% of the acyl chains had two or more double bonds consistent with their specific transfer from membrane lipids to TAGs during N starvation. The addition of nitrate following 10. days of N starvation resulted in a dramatic shift from chloroplast-derived to endoplasmic reticulum-derived galactolipids (from < 12% to > 40%). A model for TAG synthesis in C. subellipsoidea was developed based on the acquired data and known plant pathways and data presented.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 110-120 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Algal Research |
Volume | 10 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 1 2015 |
Keywords
- Acyl editing
- Algae
- Biofuels
- Coccomyxa subellipsoidea
- LC-MS/MS
- Triglyceride synthesis
- Triglycerides
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agronomy and Crop Science