Astaxanthin

Evaluation of factors promoting astaxanthin production by a unicellular green alga, Haematococcus pluvialis, with fractional factorial design.

Choi YE, Yun YS, Park JM.

Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, San 31, Hyoja-dong, Pohang, Korea 790-784.

Factors affecting the astaxanthin production by a unicellular green alga, Haematococcus pluvialis UTEX 16, were evaluated with sequential fractional factorial design. To simulate an actual production mode, a two-stage process was adapted for astaxanthin production: the alga was first cultivated under vegetative growth conditions, and then astaxanthin production was induced by applying various induction methods. A high dose of irradiation was most effective for the production of astaxanthin both in weight (mg/g) and in cellular (pg/cell) contents. A combination of nitrogen deficiency and acetate addition also significantly increased the astaxanthin content of cells on a dry weight basis. Meanwhile, the acetate addition alone increased only the cellular content of astaxanthin. Although the addition of ferrous ion alone had a negative effect on the weight content of astaxanthin, simultaneous addition of ferrous ion and acetate was effective for increasing the cellular content of astaxanthin.

PMID: 12467447 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]