Lipid accumulation by Coelastrella multistriata (Scenedesmaceae, Sphaeropleales) during nitrogen and phosphorus starvation

A novel freshwater strain of Coelastrella multistriata MZ–Ch23 was discovered in Tula region, Russia. The identification is based on morphological features, phylogenetic analysis of SSU rDNA gene and ITS1–5.8S rDNA–ITS2 region and predicted secondary structure of the ITS2. Phylogenetic analysis places the novel strain in the “core” Coelastrella clade within the Chlorophyceae. This is the first record of Coelastrella multistriata in the algal flora of Russia. Cultivation experiments were carried out to evaluate growth dynamics of the newly identified strain and the impact of nitrogen and/or phosphorus depletion on the fatty acid profiles and lipid productivity. On the fully supplemented Bold’s basal medium and under phosphorus-depleted conditions as well, the fatty acid profiles were dominated by α-linolenic acid (29.4–38.1% of total fatty acids). Depletion of either nitrogen or both nitrogen and phosphorus was associated with increased content of oleic acid (32.9–33.7%) and linoleic acid (11.9%). Prolongation of the growth to two months (instead of 25 days) resulted in increased content and diversity of very long-chain fatty acids including saturated species. The total very long-chain fatty acid content of 9.99% achieved in these experiments was 1.9–12.3-fold higher than in stress experiments. The highest variation was observed for oleic acid (3.4–33.7%). The novel strain showed the ability to accumulate lipids in amounts up to 639.8 mg L(−1) under nitrogen and phosphorus starvation, which exceeds the previously obtained values for most Coelastrella strains. Thus, the newly identified MZ–Ch23 strain can be considered as a potential producer of omega-3 fatty acids on fully supplemented Bold’s basal medium or as a source of biomass with high content of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids after nitrogen and phosphorus starvation.