carotenoid over-accumulation
in unicellular green alage

Carotenoids are 40-carbon isoprenoids that are integral and essential components of the photosynthetic membranes in all plants. Carotenoids that function within the photosynthetic machinery are commonly referred to as primary carotenoids, because they are essential. In contrast, secondary carotenoids are defined functionally as those carotenoids that are not required for photosynthesis and are not localized in the thylakoid membranes of the chloroplast.

Dunaliella specimen.
Click to enlarge.

Unicellular green algae of the genus Dunaliella and Haematococcus over-accumulate secondary carotenoids such as ß-carotene or the ketocarotenoid astaxanthin in lipid vesicles in the chloroplast stroma or in the cytosol upon environmental stress (cartenogenesis). Such environmental stress conditions are for example high salt concentrations, high irradiance or nitrogen deficiency. This laboratory is interested in the molecular mechanisms that regulate secondary carotenoid over-accumulation in unicellular green algae.

Proposed model for regulation of secondary carotenoid accumulation in unicellular green algae.

publications

1. Jin ES, Polle JEW, Lee HK, and Chang M (2003) Xanthophylls in microalgae: From biosynthesis to biotechnological mass production and application. J Microbiol Biotechnol, 13(2): 165-174

view full article as .pdf

collaboration

Dr. EonSeon Jin
Microbiology Laboratory
Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute (KORDI)
Ansan 425-170

http://www.kordi.re.kr