Evaluation of diverse biochemical stimulants to enhance growth, lipid and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) production of aurantiochytrium Sp. ATCC PRA-276

Authors: Hussaini, Syed; Sarker, Majher; Yosief, Hailemichael; Yadav, Madhav

Submitted to: Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/3/2021
Publication Date: 8/6/2021
Citation: Hussaini, S.R., Sarker, M.I., Yosief, H.O., Yadav, M.P. 2021. Evaluation of diverse biochemical stimulants to enhance growth, lipid and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) production of aurantiochytrium Sp. ATCC PRA-276. Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcab.2021.102122.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcab.2021.102122

Interpretive Summary: The significance of beneficial food ingredients has increased throughout last decade. Among them, DHA (i.e., beneficial fatty acid) proved to be helpful in treating numerous diseases, such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, type-II diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, breast and colon cancer thrombosis, and Alzheimer's disease. At present, the commercial source of DHA is extracted from marine fish, but it has numerous disadvantages for example typical fishy odor and unpleasant taste, low quantity of DHA contents etc. Hence, a substitute DHA resource for fish oil was investigated. DHA obtained from microorganism (i.e., Aurantiochytrium) has been regarded as safe (GRAS) and non-toxic in nature and has more oxidative stability over fish oils. Owing to aforementioned benefits of microbial oil over fish oils, numerous strategies have been adopted, to enhance the DHA contents of Aurantiochytrium sp. and to make it industrially practicable. In the current investigation, the effectiveness of five different chemicals; 2-phenylacetic acid (PAA), humic acid (HA), spermidine (SPD), 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), and ferric chlorides (FC), as potential stimulant in augmenting the growth, lipid and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) production of Aurantiochytrium sp. ATCC PRA-276 were investigated. Result suggests that biochemical stimulants such as, PAA, HA and FC showed a most significant impact on biomass and DHA productivities. The highest biomass and DHA productivities was observed with the supplementation of PAA and FC achieving 76% and 67% and 86% and 66%, compared to the control, respectively. Consequently, the use of different biochemical stimulants possibly is a promising alternative to enhance the growth and DHA production from the Aurantiochytrium sp. which in return reduces the overall production cost for DHA and elevates its economic-feasibility for industrial-scale production.

Technical Abstract: In the current investigation, the efficacy of five different chemicals; 2-phenylacetic acid (PAA), humic acid (HA), spermidine (SPD), 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), and ferric chlorides (FC), as potential stimulant in augmenting the growth/biomass, lipid and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) production of Aurantiochytrium sp. ATCC PRA-276 was elucidated. After 120 h of cultivation, the individual supplementation of 2-phenylacetic acid, humic acid, and ferric chlorides, elevates the biomass, total lipid and DHA production of Aurantiochytrium PRA-276 by 32%–76%, 23%-34%, and 53%–86% in comparison to the control, respectively. The highest biomass and DHA productivities were observed with the supplementation of PAA and FC achieving 76% and 67% and 86% and 66%, compared to the control, respectively. While only a marginal increment on biomass and DHA contents of Aurantiochytrium sp. ATCC PRA-276 was observed with the supplementation of 1-MCP. This study signifies the potential employment of biochemical inducers/stimulants for improved growth and DHA productivities of Aurantiochytrium sp as well as elevating its economic-feasibility for industrial-scale production.