STIMULATION OF ACCUMULATION OF LIPID BODIES IN CHLAMYDOMONAS REINHARDTII CELLS

Abstract

In the absence of nitrogen (-N) in the cultural medium, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, like other microalgae, accumulate storage lipids in the form of triacylglycerols. The nitrogen deficite inhibits growth of algae, thus, different methods stimulate algae growth are used to increase the overall yield of lipids. We studied the effect of methanol – an additional source of carbon nutrition, on the accumulation of lipids in C. reinhardtii cells under nitrogen starvation and oxidative stress induced by the addition of H₂O₂. The intracellular lipid content was estimated by fluorescence of Nile red (NR) under the confocal scanning microscope and quantified by help of the spectrofluorimeter QuantaMaster (USA). An addition of 50 mM methanol did not affect the dynamics of accumulation of lipids in the C. reinhardtii cells. Lipid accumulation decreased after supplement of the -N media with 100 µM H₂O₂. The lipid content in C. reinhardtii cells was increased in comparison with -N control when a combination of 50 mM methanol and 100 µM H₂O₂ was added.