Microalgal biofactories: a promising approach towards sustainable omega-3 fatty acid production

Omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) provide significant health benefits and this has led to an increased consumption as dietary supplements. Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA are found in animals, transgenic plants, fungi and many microorganisms but are typic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Microbial cell factories 2012-07, Vol.11 (1), p.96-96, Article 96
Main Authors: Adarme-Vega, T Catalina, Lim, David K Y, Timmins, Matthew, Vernen, Felicitas, Li, Yan, Schenk, Peer M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Algae
Animals
Aquatic Organisms - metabolism
Biodiesel fuels
Biomass energy
DHA
Dietary supplements
Dietary Supplements - analysis
Docosahexaenoic acid
Eicosapentaenoic acid
EPA
Fatty acids
Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - biosynthesis
Feeds
Fish oils
Food Chain
Food chains
Genetic engineering
Genetically modified plants
Health aspects
Health insurance
Humans
Lipids
Metabolic Engineering
Microalgae
Microalgae - genetics
Microalgae - metabolism
Microbial colonies
Microbiological chemistry
Omega-3 fatty acids
Physiological aspects
Polyunsaturated fatty acids
Review
Unsaturated fatty acids
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Summary:Omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) provide significant health benefits and this has led to an increased consumption as dietary supplements. Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA are found in animals, transgenic plants, fungi and many microorganisms but are typically extracted from fatty fish, putting additional pressures on global fish stocks. As primary producers, many marine microalgae are rich in EPA (C20:5) and DHA (C22:6) and present a promising source of omega-3 fatty acids. Several heterotrophic microalgae have been used as biofactories for omega-3 fatty acids commercially, but a strong interest in autotrophic microalgae has emerged in recent years as microalgae are being developed as biofuel crops. This paper provides an overview of microalgal biotechnology and production platforms for the development of omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. It refers to implications in current biotechnological uses of microalgae as aquaculture feed and future biofuel crops and explores potential applications of metabolic engineering and selective breeding to accumulate large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids in autotrophic microalgae.
ISSN:1475-2859
1475-2859
DOI:10.1186/1475-2859-11-96