Problem statement: The aim of this study was to find the empirical model that describes the growth kinetics of Dunaliella salina, with low production cost and to estimate parameters of this model. Approach: In this study the strain of D. salina UTEX 200 was cultivated in seawater (0.5 M NaCl) at room temperature with agitation of 150 rpm and luminous intensity of 60 mmols.m-2.s-1. The synthetic...

This short communication reports a pioneering research of using bacteria for simultaneous algal cell disruption and cell wall/membrane utilization. Microalgae are regarded as one of the most promising feedstock that can potentially address the twin challenges of energy security and environmental protection due to their fast growth rate, high lipid content and CO2 biofixation capabilities. Howev...

Article history: Received on: 21/05/2016 Revised on: 23/06/2016 Accepted on: 14/07/2016 Available online: 30/08/2016 In the present study, the effects of hypo-osmotic and hyper-osmotic shock on β-carotene and glycerol production by a native strain of Dunaliella salina isolated from Maharlu Salt Lake, Fars province, Iran, were investigated. The amount of β-carotene and glycerol at 1 h, 2 h, 8 h ...

The effect of Ca(2+) channel blockers on cytosolic Ca(2+) levels and the role of Ca(2+) in glycerol metabolism of Dunaliella salina under hypoosmotic or hyperosmotic stress were investigated using the confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). Results showed that intracellular Ca(2+) concentration increased rapidly when extracellular salinity suddenly decreased or increased, but the increase co...

We used an ITS2 primary and secondary structure and Compensatory Base Changes (CBCs) analyses on new French and Spanish Dunallela salina strains to investigate their phylogenetic position and taxonomic status within the genus Dunaliella. Our analyses show a great diversity within D. salina (with only some clades not statistically supported) and reveal considerable genetic diversity and structur...

Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is a molecular chaperone highly conserved across the species from prokaryotes to eukaryotes. Hsp90 is essential for cell viability under all growth conditions and is proposed to act as a hub of the signaling network and protein homeostasis of the eukaryotic cells. By interacting with various client proteins, Hsp90 is involved in diverse physiological processes such...

The effect of sulfur limitation on the partitioning of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur was investigated in Dunaliella salina. D. salina was able to adapt to 6 microM sulfate; under these conditions, the cells showed reduced growth and photosynthetic rates. Whereas intracellular sulfate was depleted, phosphate, nitrate, and ammonium increased. Amino acids showed a general increase, and alanine beca...

In studies of the outstanding salt tolerance of the unicellular green alga Dunaliella salina, we isolated a cDNA for a salt-inducible mRNA encoding a protein homologous to plant beta-ketoacyl-coenzyme A (CoA) synthases (Kcs). These microsomal enzymes catalyze the condensation of malonyl-CoA with acyl-CoA, the first and rate-limiting step in fatty acid elongation. Kcs activity, localized to a D....