Research Information System
in: Advances in Biology, Charles D. Grant, Editor, NOVA Science Publishers Inc. , New York, pp.75-102, 2024
Microalgae have become the most popular research area in recent years due to their potential in environmental, fuel, food, food supplement and health/cosmetic industries. Microalgaes- unicellular biofactories- have exclusive photosynthetic capacity than terrestrial plants and can adapt to changing conditions. These environmental conditions such as temperature, pH, light, nutrients, gases and organic/inorganic pollutants affect biomass, lipid content and lipid metabolism of microalgae directly or indirectly. Microalgal lipids and their derivatives can be found in many forms for example waxes, terpenoids, fatty acids and phospholipids. In particular, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) a type of fatty acid are predominantly researched due to their biofuel production potential. Besides of these, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), one of many omega-3 acids and pigments like astaxanthin and B-carotene are also of critical importance due to their effects on health benefits.