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http://dx.doi.org/10.5352/JLS.2016.26.4.460

Characterization of a Korean Domestic Cyanobacterium Limnothrix sp. KNUA012 for Biofuel Feedstock  

Hong, Ji Won (Advanced Bio-resource Research Center, Kyungpook National University)
Jo, Seung-Woo (Department of Energy Science, Kyungpook National University)
Kim, Oh Hong (Advanced Bio-resource Research Center, Kyungpook National University)
Jeong, Mi Rang (School of Life Sciences, BK21 Plus KNU Creative BioResearch Group, Kyungpook National University)
Kim, Hyeon (Advanced Bio-resource Research Center, Kyungpook National University)
Park, Kyung Mok (Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Dongshin University)
Lee, Kyoung In (Biotechnology Industrialization Center, Dongshin University)
Yoon, Ho-Sung (Advanced Bio-resource Research Center, Kyungpook National University)
Publication Information
Journal of Life Science / v.26, no.4, 2016 , pp. 460-467 More about this Journal
Abstract
A filamentous cyanobacterium, Limnothrix sp. KNUA012, was axenically isolated from a freshwater bloom sample in Lake Hapcheon, Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea. Its morphological and molecular characteristics led to identification of the isolate as a member of the genus Limnothrix. Maximal growth was attained when the culture was incubated at 25℃. Analysis of its lipid composition revealed that strain KNUA012 could autotrophically synthesize alkanes, such as pentadecane (C15H32) and heptadecane (C17H36), which can be directly used as fuel without requiring a transesterification step. Two genes involved in alkane biosynthesis－an acyl-acyl carrier protein reductase and an aldehyde decarbonylase－were present in this cyanobacterium. Some common algal biodiesel constituents－myristoleic acid (C14:1), palmitic acid (C16:0), and palmitoleic acid (C16:1)－were produced by strain KNUA012 as its major fatty acids. A proximate analysis showed that the volatile matter content was 86.0% and an ultimate analysis indicated that the higher heating value was 19.8 MJ kg−1. The isolate also autotrophically produced 21.4 mg g−1 phycocyanin－a high-value antioxidant compound. Therefore, Limnothrix sp. KNUA012 appears to show promise for application in cost-effective production of microalga-based biofuels and biomass feedstock over crop plants.
Keywords
Alkane-producing genes; biofuel; cyanobacteria; phycocyanin; potential feedstock;
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