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Single cell oils produced by oleaginous microorganisms have attracted increasing interests as a petroleum alternative energy. Marine eukaryotes, thraustochytrids were heterotrophic, and can grow rapidly and accumulate large amount of lipids containing functional fatty acids, such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in their cells body. In this investigation, thraustochytrids isolated from marine environment were cultured in the medium containing an industrial waste and an unused resource, distillery lees (Shochu kasu) to produce biofuel or functional fatty acids by microorganisms. Sixty-nine thraustochytrids and Schizochytrium aggregatum ATCC 28209 were screened for cellulase production, and the activities were detected using sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as a substrate. Based on the screening test, strain TM02Bc identified to Schizochytrium sp. was selected for the Shochu kasu degradation test and compared with S. aggregatum ATCC 28209 previously known as a cellulase-producing thraustochytrid. Strains TM02Bc and ATCC 28209 were cultured in artificial seawater containing Shochu kasu for 15 days. The two strains could degrade Schochu kasu, especially that from sweet potato Shochu (Imo Shochu). Cellulase (CMCase) and protease activities were detected in culture supernatant of both strains, and the ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) significantly increased as a result of incubation of Shochu kasu with two strains. This preliminary study indicated that strain TM02Bc was a potent candidate for Shochu kasu treatment and fatty acid production.

Heterotrophic marine protists known as thraustochytrids can synthesize polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The biosynthetic pathways of PUFAs in thraustochytrids are poorly understood, however. In this study, we attempted to reveal the enzymes involved in DHA synthesis in thraustochytrids. Nine thraustochytrid strains representing 3 genera (Aurantiochytrium, Schizochytrium, and Thraustochytrium) were used for PCR-based detection of the genes encoding Δ5-elongase and Δ4-desaturase and for fatty acid analysis. The degenerate primers were designed to amplify the Δ5-elongase and Δ4-desaturase genes, and the partial sequences of the enzymes were obtained from the genera Thraustochytrium and Schizochytrium. These fragments were identical to those of known Δ5-elongase and Δ4-desaturase. Neither Δ5-elongase nor Δ4-desaturase was detected in the strains belonging to the genus Aurantiochytrium, however, suggesting that this group likely synthesizes DHA not via the elongation/desaturation pathway but via an alternate pathway such as the polyketide synthase pathway. The fatty acid profiles of thraustochytrids were consistent with the presence of genes involved in PUFA biosynthesis in thraustochytrid genera. Thus, our findings suggest that two biosynthetic pathways for PUFAs exist in these organisms.

To examine the effect of cold shock treatment on the fatty acid composition of Aurantiochytrium limacinum strain mh0186, a marine thraustochytrid, we cultivated this strain at 28°C for 72 h with shaking and stored the obtained biomass at 10°C for 72 h. A growth experiment was carried out for comparison, wherein strain mh0186 was grown at 10 and 15°C for 72 h with shaking, and it was found that the unsaturation of fatty acids was accelerated relative to that at 28°C. In the cold shock experiment, the total lipid content significantly increased during storage at 10°C for 72 h. Overall, the percentage of unsaturated fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid was almost stable while that of n-6 docosapentaenoic acid decreased slightly, but significantly, relative to that in the growth experiment.

The effects of carbon sources, seawater concentration and seawater component in a culture medium were investigated to optimize culture conditions for growth by a marine thraustochytrid Aurantiochytrium limacinum strain mh0186. Strain mh0186 could utilize D-glucose, D-fructose and D-mannose as carbon sources. Seawater concentrations between 12.5 - 200% were required for good growth, and a single omission of magnesium sulfate from the seawater reduced the growth of the cells. Jar fermentor trials were carried out for the purpose of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) production by strain mh0186. The total fatty acid content of the cell was 466.5 mg/g dry cells, and biomass and DHA yield were estimated as 23.1 g/L and 4.3 g/L, respectively, at 26 h. The daily production of DHA by the strain was 4.0 g/L/d, suggesting that the higher DHA production rate of our strain mh0186 should be appropriate for industrial production of DHA.