Optimization of Polyhydroxybutyrate Production by Amazonian Microalga <i>Stigeoclonium</i> sp. B23
Murilo Moraes Mourão,
Diana Gomes Gradíssimo,
Agenor Valadares Santos,
Maria Paula Cruz Schneider,
Silvia Maria Mathes Faustino,
Vitor Vasconcelos,
Luciana Pereira Xavier
Affiliations
Murilo Moraes Mourão
Laboratory of Biotechnology of Enzymes and Biotransformations, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, 01 Augusto Corrêa Street, 66075-110 Belém, Pará, Brazil
Diana Gomes Gradíssimo
Laboratory of Biotechnology of Enzymes and Biotransformations, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, 01 Augusto Corrêa Street, 66075-110 Belém, Pará, Brazil
Agenor Valadares Santos
Laboratory of Biotechnology of Enzymes and Biotransformations, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, 01 Augusto Corrêa Street, 66075-110 Belém, Pará, Brazil
Maria Paula Cruz Schneider
Genomics and Systems Biology Center, Federal University of Pará, 01 Augusto Corrêa Street, 66075-110 Belém, Pará, Brazil
Silvia Maria Mathes Faustino
Laboratory of Algae Cultivation and Bioprospecting, Pharmacy Coordination, Federal University of Amapá, Marco Zero do Equador Campus, Juscelino Kubitschek Highway, Km 2, 68903-419 Macapá, Amapá, Brazil
Vitor Vasconcelos
Interdisciplinary Center of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, General Norton de Matos Av., 4450-208 Porto, Portugal
Luciana Pereira Xavier
Laboratory of Biotechnology of Enzymes and Biotransformations, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, 01 Augusto Corrêa Street, 66075-110 Belém, Pará, Brazil
The present work established the optimization and production of biodegradable thermoplastic polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) from Amazonian microalga Stigeoclonium sp. B23. The optimization was performed in eight different growth media conditions of Stigeoclonium sp. B23, supplemented with sodium acetate and sodium bicarbonate and total deprivation of sodium nitrate. B23 was stained with Nile Red, and PHB was extracted and quantified by correlating the amount of fluorescence and biopolymer concentration through spectrofluorimetry and spectrophotometry, respectively. Our results detected the production of PHB in Stigeoclonium sp. B23 and in all modified media. Treatment with increased acetate and bicarbonate and without nitrate gave the highest concentration of PHB, while the treatment with only acetate gave the lowest among supplemented media. Our results showed a great potential of Stigeoclonium sp. B23, the first Amazonian microalga reported on PHB production. The microalga was isolated from a poorly explored and investigated region and proved to be productive when compared to other cyanobacterial and bacterial species. Additionally, microalga biomass changes due to the nutritional conditions and, reversely, biopolymer is well-synthetized. This great potential could lead to the pursuit of new Amazonian microalgae species in the search for alternative polyesters.
