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Photobiology and Lipid Metabolism in Algae

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Book cover The Science of Algal Fuels

Part of the book series: Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology ((COLE,volume 25))

Abstract

Light has several effects on the physiology, morphology, and cellular composition of algae. Here, we review the photobiology of microalgae and the effects of light on lipid metabolism. Algae have generally a very flexible metabolism and large differences in photobiology depending on the species and the physiological state of the photosynthetic organism.

Using the linear Z-scheme of photosynthesis, acetyl CoA production through glycolysis, and the fatty acid cycle in the plastids, we calculated the theoretical minimum photon cost of lipid synthesis. The photon cost of synthesizing a palmitic acid chain (16:0) is 187 photons, which is energetic conversion efficiency of ∼30 % when using red photons only. This calculation does not, however, take into account any loss processes or production of other compounds required for cell growth. Taking the apparent loss processes into account reduces the highest conversion efficiency from light to lipids to ∼9 %.

Light effect on lipid metabolism can be divided into photon flux density effects and effects of light-dark cycling. The effect of light on lipid composition is highly species specific. Additionally, the physiological state of the algae is determining the amount and what type of lipids are abundant. During exponential growth, organic carbon is used for growth, and normally algae only start to accumulate storage products such as lipids during stress situations (e.g., lack of nitrogen) that limit vegetative growth. Lipids associated with the photosynthetic membranes will increase at low light due to photoacclimation. During stationary growth phase, higher photon flux will in many cases increase the proportion of saturated fat, and increasing light period may have the same effect. For those species that use lipids as the main storage product, this is likely related to increased production of saturated fatty acids stored as triacylglycerols (TAGs).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Research Centre, Finnish Environment Institute, 140, 00251, Helsinki, Finland

    Kristian Spilling & Jukka Seppälä

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  1. Kristian Spilling
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  2. Jukka Seppälä
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Correspondence to Kristian Spilling .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratory, Clark Drive 222, Panacea, 32346, Florida, USA

    Richard Gordon

  2. University of Jerusalem, Mevo Hadas 20, Efrat, 90435, Israel

    Joseph Seckbach

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Spilling, K., Seppälä, J. (2012). Photobiology and Lipid Metabolism in Algae. In: Gordon, R., Seckbach, J. (eds) The Science of Algal Fuels. Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology, vol 25. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5110-1_21

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