Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids from Algae

The n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) are well studied bioactive molecules with important health benefits. These have gained tremendous importance and the global demand of these-PUFAs have risen during last decade. As humans other animals do not carry the require genes necessary for the formation of n-3 fatty acids these must be obtained from other natural sources. The current natural source of n-3 PUFAs is fatty fishes which accumulate these fatty acids in their oil due to its alga rich diet. In recent past excessive harvesting of sea fishes for its health benefits have rendered fisheries to be unsustainable making it important to explore alternate sustainable n-3 PUFA sources. Eukaryotic algae are a very diverse group of organisms capable of producing various bioactive compounds. Lipid analyses of various algae have shown the presence of n-3PUFAs especially EPA and DHA. Various genera of algae such as Nannochloropsis, Schizochytrium, Isochrysis and Phaeodactylum have received due attention for their ability to produce n-3 LC-PUFAs. Isolation and characterization of various desaturases, elongases and other genes involved in n-3 PUFA biosynthesis has been a major target to understand lipid biosynthesis in algae. Marine microalgae are rapidly gaining identity as the alternate natural source for industrial production of EPA and DHA.