• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.61-70
• /
• 2020

A eukaryotic microalga was isolated from seawater in Janghang Harbor, Korea and its morphological, molecular, and physiological characteristics were investigated. Due to its simple morphology, no distinctive characters were found by morphological observation, such as light microscope or scanning/transmission electron microscopy (S/TEM). However, molecular phylogenetic evidence inferred from the concatenated small subunit (SSU) 18S rRNA and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence data indicated that the isolate belonged to the newly described Micractinium singularis. Furthermore, it was clustered with Antarctic Micractinium strains and it also showed a psychrotolerant property, surviving at temperatures as low as 5℃. However, its optimal growth temperatures range from 15℃ to 25℃, indicating that this microalga is a mesophile. Additionally, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis showed that the isolate was rich in nutritionally important omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, and high-performance liquid chromatography analysis (HPLC) revealed that the high-value antioxidant lutein was biosynthesized as an accessory pigment by this microalga, with glucose as the major monosaccharide. Therefore, in this study, a Korean marine M. singularis species was discovered, characterized, and described. It was subsequently added to the national culture collections.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.50 no.1
• /
• pp.16-28
• /
• 2017

In an aquatic environment, toxicity of metals to organisms depends on external factors (type of metal, exposure concentration and duration, environmental parameters, and water quality) and intracellular processes(metal-binding sites and detoxification). Toxicity of copper(Cu) on the marine microalga Tetraselmis suecica was investigated in this study. Dose-dependent (Cu concentration dependent) inhibition of growth and cell division, as well as, variation of intra- and extra-cellular Cu, Fe and Zn content was observed. T. suecica was sensitive to Cu; the 96 h $EC_{50}$ (concentration to inhibit growth-rate by 50%) of growth rate (${\mu}$) ($21.73{\mu}M\;L^{-1}$), cell division $day^{-1}$ ($18.39{\mu}M\;L^{-1}$), and cells $mL^{-1}$ ($13.25{\mu}M\;L^{-1}$) demonstrate the toxicity of Cu on this microalga. High intra-($19.86Pg\;cell^{-1}$) and extra-cellular($54.73Pg\;cell^{-1}$) Cu concentrations were recorded, on exposure to 24.3 and $72.9{\mu}M\;L^{-1}$ of Cu.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.39-44
• /
• 2016

The microalgae have been studied for a source of biodiesel production. It is important to select the microalgae, which grows rapidly in local environmental conditions such as temperature range and ingredient of local seawater. The aim of this study was isolating microalga, which has rapid growth rate and high FAME contents in wide temperature ranges, for microalgal offshore cultivation in Korea, one of the country with four distinct seasons. Firstly, we had isolated a green microalga, Tetraselmis sp. KCTC12236BP, which has faster growth rate in low temperature (5 and $10^{\circ}C$) than Tetraselmis suecica and Dunaliella tertiolecta LB999 from Young Heung Island, Incheon, Korea. This microalga was cultivated in outdoor circulated tank photobioreactor (CT-PBR). As a result, this microalga could grow in wide temperature ranges (6 to $29^{\circ}C$), outdoors. After that, the biomass was recovered, and 13.2 g biodiesel could be acquired from 110 g dry biomass. These results indicate that the isolated microalga, Tetraselmis sp. KCTC12236BP is proper to biodiesel production using outdoor cultivation in Korea for all seasons.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.216-221
• /
• 2020

A eukaryotic marine microalga was isolated from Jungmun Saekdal Beach, Jeju Island, Korea and an integrated approach, including molecular phylogeny and morphology, was used to determine its taxonomical status. Molecular phylogenetic evidence inferred from the small subunit (SSU) 18S rRNA sequence and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) secondary structure analysis clearly showed that the isolate belonged to the recently described species, Jaagichlorella roystonensis. Distinctive morphological keys of the species were also observed by light microscopy and scanning/transmission electron microscopy(S/TEM). In this study, a Korean marine J. roystonensis species was described for the first time and was subsequently added to the national culture collections in Korea.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.34-39
• /
• 2006

Molecular biology and microalgal biotechnology have the potential to play a major role in improving the production efficiency of a vast variety of products including functional foods, industrial chemicals, compounds with therapeutic applications and bioremediation solutions from a virtually untapped source. Microalgae are a source of natural products and have been recently studied for biotechnological applications. Efficient genetic transformation systems in microalgae are necessary to enhance their potential to be used for human health. A microalga such as Chlarella is a eukaryotic organism sharing its metabolic pathways with higher plants. This microalga is capable of expressing, glycosylating, and correctly processing proteins which normally undergo post-translational modification. Moreover, it can be cultured inexpensively because it requires only limited amount of sunlight and carbon dioxide as energy sources. Because of these advantages, Chlarella may be of great potential interest in biotechnology as a good candidate for bioreactor in the production of pharmaceutical and industrial compounds for human functional foods. Here, we briefly discuss recent progress in microalgal transgenesis that has utilized molecular biology to produce functional proteins and bioactive compounds.

• Proceedings of the Korean Aquaculture Society Conference
• /
• 2006.05a
• /
• pp.149-150
• /
• 2006

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.6 no.3
• /
• pp.122-125
• /
• 2000

Allenic and epoxy carotenoid, fucoxanthin (1) was isolated from the marine bacillariophycean microalga Hantzschia marina and the structure was assigned on the basis of comprehensive spectroscopic analyses. Fucoxanthin was detected only from diatom among three families (green algae, diatom and blue-green algae) of the marine microalgae tested. Fucoxanthin showed free radical scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and peroxynitrite $(ONOO^-)$ with $IC_{50}$ values of $32\;{\mu}M\;and\;60\;{\mu}M$, respectively.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.21 no.11
• /
• pp.1138-1140
• /
• 2000

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.25 no.5
• /
• pp.568-576
• /
• 2015

The marine microalga Pavlova viridis can grow fast and has the ability to accumulate essential nutrients for culturing marine animals, such as EPA and DHA, and it has been used as food for raring larval fish and prawn. The symbiotic relationship between the flagellate microalga Pavlova viridis and its associated bacteria was investigated. An axenic culture of P. viridis was obtained by repeated treatment of the microalga with an antibiotic cocktail. The axenic status was confirmed after sub-culturing three times in a sterile f/2 medium without an antibiotic. The axenic alga was then co-inoculated with five bacteria, arbitrarily designated as I1–I5, isolated from the alga to test the growth promotion of the algae. All bacterial strains promoted the growth of P. viridis, and bacterial isolate I3 was the most effective among the five bacteria tested. The cell number of P. viridis in the co-culture with I3 was significantly higher than that of the control culture. A sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene isolated from I3 revealed a 97% nucleotide sequence similarity to that of Citrobacter sp. The growth of strain I3 was also significantly enhanced by co-culturing with P. viridis, indicating a symbiotic relationship between the microalga and its associated bacterium. The association between the microalga and bacterium was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.22-29
• /
• 2017

A unicellular green alga was axenically isolated from the Port of Jeongja, Ulsan, Korea. Morphological, molecular, and biochemical analyses revealed that the isolate belonged to Heterochlorella luteoviridis. This is the first report of this species in Korea. The microalgal strain was named as H. luteoviridis MM0014 and its growth, lipid composition, and biomass properties were investigated. The strain thrived over a wide range of temperatures ($5-30^{\circ}C$) and withstood up to 0.5 M NaCl. The results of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis showed that the isolate was rich in nutritionally important polyunsaturated fatty acids. Its major fatty acids were linoleic acid (35.6%) and ${\alpha}$-linolenic acid (16.2%). Thus, this indigenous marine microalga is a potential alternative source of ${\omega}3$ and ${\omega}6$ polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are currently obtained from fish and plant oils. Ultimate analysis indicated that the gross calorific value was $19.7MJ\;kg^{-1}$. In addition, the biomass may serve as an excellent animal feed because of its high protein content (51.5%). Therefore, H. luteoviridis MM0014 shows promise for applications in the production of microalgae-based biochemicals and biomass feedstock.