A method of producing lipids, containing the steps of: culturing an alga in which expression of a gene encoding a protein containing a thioredoxin domain and a thioredoxin reductase domain is enhanced, and producing fatty acids or lipids containing the same as components.

Disclosed is a method for microalgal cultivation. The method includes cultivating a microalgal species in a medium in an autotrophic mode for a predetermined first time period where light is supplied and supplying an organic carbon source to the medium to cultivate the microalgal species in a heterotrophic mode for a predetermined second time period where the supply of light is stopped.

The invention concerns a strain of Schizochytrium mangrovei, filed on 22 Nov. 2012 with the CNCM as number I-4702, having the ability to produce a high quantity of docosahexaenoic acid (or DHA) and palmitic acid, the methods for producing the corresponding biomass containing said lipid compounds of interest, and the biomass containing the products and compositions prepared from this strain.

Provided is a Schizochytrium limacinum strain, a building method therefor and an application thereof. The strain disclosed is classified and named as Schizochytrium sp. HX-RS, and the preservation number is CCTCC NO: M2017046. An acyltransferase functional domain originating from Shewanella PKS enzyme is adopted instead of an acyltransferase functional domain originating from Schizochytrium sp. PKS enzyme, and the strain is obtained by performing flat panel screening and acclimation screening with a high rotation seed and a low temperature.

Methods are provided to select strains of photosynthetic microorganisms for enhanced photosynthetic efficiency or biomass accumulation. Strains are mutagenized, and then grown under high light in a turbidostat. Microorganisms created by this process are also described, as well as methods of using such isolated microorganisms for biomass production.

A method for producing a microbial oil includes steps of: genetically modifying a labyrinthulid by disrupting and/or silencing a gene, or by transforming another gene in addition to the disruption and/or gene silencing of the gene, and culturing the labyrinthulid, such that a fatty acid composition accumulated in the labyrinthulid comprises an increased EPA content; and collecting the microbial oil having the increased EPA content from the labyrinthulid. The labyrinthulid before the modification is selected from (A) a labyrinthulid belonging to the genus Parietichytrium or genus Schizochytrium and having very weak or no activity of producing PUFAs via a PUFA-PKS pathway; and (B) a labyrinthulid belonging to the genus Thraustochytrium in which a host PUFA-PKS gene is disrupted or silenced to a very weak level. The increased EPA content is preferably not less than 11.5% of a total fatty acid composition.

The invention relates to a matrix-mediated algal cell culture system comprising a porous matrix, a microalgal cell culture comprising cells immobilised on the porous matrix, and a vector including a nucleic acid sequence encoding a heterologous polypeptide of interest, wherein immobilisation of microalgal cells on the porous matrix results in the formation of interstitial spaces between the microalgal cells to allow for increased contact of the microalgal cells with the vector compared with a culture of microalgal cells which are not immobilised on a porous matrix, thereby allowing for more efficient transfection of the microalgal cells with the vector. The invention also relates to methods of screening single species of microalgae and mixed ecology samples for the ability to be transfected using the algal cell culture system, and to methods for the production of heterologous polypeptides using the matrix-mediated cell culture system.

An expression system and method for producing a cannabinoid in algae are provided. The method includes expressing in an algae cell an enzyme for converting hexanoic acid to hexanoyl-CoA, enzymes for converting hexanoyl-CoA to olivetolic acid (OA), an enzyme for converting olivetolic acid (OA) to cannabigerolic acid (CbGA) and an enzyme for converting cannabigerolic acid (CbGA) to a cannabinoid.

Provided herein are fermentation methods that improve the nutritional value and physical properties of microbial oil. Specifically, provided is a method of producing oil with increased omega-7 fatty acids. The method comprises culturing oil-producing microorganisms in a fermentation medium with less than 0.3 mg/L zinc, wherein the culturing produces an oil comprising fatty acids, wherein the oil comprises increased omega-7 fatty acids compared to a control oil. Optionally, the oil is isolated from the microorganisms of the culture.

Provided herein are eukaryotic microorganisms having a simple lipid profile comprising long chain fatty acids (LCFAs). Also provided are compositions and cultures comprising the eukaryotic microorganisms as well as methods of using the eukaryotic microorganisms.