INCREASE OF THE CONTENT OF POLYUNSATURATED FATTY-ACIDS IN PORPHYRIDIUM-CRUENTUM BY LOW-TEMPERATURE STRESS AND ACETATE SUPPLY

The influence of a cold stress and the addition of the acetate, which plays an essential role in the intermediary metabolism, on the synthesis of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in Porphyridium cruentum Rhodophyceae was investigated. The results obtained demonstrate that under temperature stress an increased synthesis of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids on a dry mass basis is achieved, whereas a decline was observed concerning the biomass yield. In contrast, the addition of acetate has a stimulating effect on fatty acid biosynthesis as well as on biomass production. A shift of the fatty acid spectrum in favour of higher unsaturated fatty acids was obtained only under temperature stress.