Heterotrophic growth of thraustochytrids has potential in co-producing a feedstock for biodiesel and long-chain (LC, ≥C 20) omega-3 oils. Biodiscovery of thraustochytrids from Tasmania (temperate) and Queensland (tropical), Australia, covered a biogeographic range of habitats including fresh, brackish, and marine waters. A total of 36 thraustochytrid strains were isolated and separated into eight chemotaxonomic groups (A-H) based on fatty acid (FA) and sterol composition which clustered closely with four different genera obtained by 18S rDNA molecular identification. Differences in the relative proportions (%FA) of long-chain C 20, C 22, omega-3, and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), docosapentaenoic acid, arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and saturated FA, as well as the presence of odd-chain PUFA (OC-PUFA) were the major factors influencing the separation of these groups. OC-PUFA were detected in temperate strains of groups A, B, and C (Schizochytrium and Thraustochytrium). Group D (Ulkenia) had high omega-3 LC-PUFA (53% total fatty acids (TFA)) and EPA up to 11.2% TFA. Strains from groups E and F (Aurantiochytrium) contained DHA levels of 50-61% TFA after 7 days of growth in basal medium at 20°C. Groups G and H (Aurantiochytrium) strains had high levels of 15:0 (20-30% TFA) and the sum of saturated FA was in the range of 32-51%. β,β-Carotene, canthaxanthin, and astaxanthin were identified in selected strains. Phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic groupings demonstrated similar patterns for the majority of strains. Our results demonstrate the potential of these new Australian thraustochytrids for the production of biodiesel in addition to omega-3 LC-PUFA-rich oils. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	Thraustochytrid, biodiesel, polyunsaturated fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid
Research Division:	Biological Sciences
Research Group:	Industrial biotechnology
Research Field:	Bioprocessing, bioproduction and bioproducts
Objective Division:	Energy
Objective Group:	Renewable energy
Objective Field:	Biofuel energy
UTAS Author:	Lee Chang, KJ (Mr Kim Lee Chang)
UTAS Author:	Koutoulis, A (Professor Anthony Koutoulis)
ID Code:	82767
Year Published:	2012
Web of Science® Times Cited:	71
Deposited By:	Plant Science
Deposited On:	2013-02-18
Last Modified:	2017-11-03
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