Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Starch, Lipid, And Protein Accumulation In Nutrient-Stressed Microalgal Cells Studied Using Fourier Transform Infrared Microscopy, Gary Hastings, Jodian Thomas, Keillor Witt, Dimitri Giarikos, Reza Razeghifard

Chemistry and Physics Faculty Articles

Microalgae are fast growing organisms that can be used as feedstock for the production of biofuels. The metabolism of microalgae can be manipulated by exposing them to different environmental conditions for favoring the accumulation of lipids, carbohydrates or proteins. For example, a change in growth conditions can cause the accumulation of large amounts of lipids, representing an opportunity for biodiesel production. Monitoring changes in the composition of microalgal cells is therefore important in assessing new growth conditions. However, at present, most techniques are time consuming, invasive and expensive. Here we have used FTIR microscopy to quantify lipid, protein, and starch …