Chlorolobion lunulatum and Rhabdoderma lineare: investigating protein and lipid composition, and feasibility of production with focus on food industry

• Grant number: 22/15494-8
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - PIPE
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Botany - Applied Botany
• Principal Investigator: Ingritt Caroline Moreira
• Grantee: Ingritt Caroline Moreira
• Company: 50.211.381 INOVA SIMPLES (I.S.)
• CNAE: Cultivo de plantas de lavoura permanente não especificadas anteriormente ; Aqüicultura em água doce ; Pesquisa e desenvolvimento experimental em ciências físicas e naturais
• City: São Carlos
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/03538-6 - Rhabdoderma lineare: biomass production for genetic sequencing, amino acid profile and CHN in partner laboratories, BP.TT; 24/01378-1 - Investigating proteins, lipids and total carbohydrates and photosynthetic pigments find in Chlorolobion lunulatum, BP.TT; 23/14658-0 - Chlorolobion lunulatum: evaluation of cell growth, biochemical manipulation, biomass production and biochemical composition in 2 L cultures, BP.TT; 23/14298-3 - Chlorolobion lunulatum and Rhabdoderma lineare: investigating protein and lipid composition, and feasibility of production with focus on food industry, BP.BIOTA.PIPE

Abstract

Microalgae and cyanobacteria exhibit economic and biotechnological relevance, being widely commercialized as functional food and nutritional supplement for humans and animals. This proposal implies on investigation of this biotechnological potential considering a strain of green microalgae - Chlorolobion lunulatum, and a strain of cyanobacteria - Rhabdoderma lineare. We justified the choice of organisms based on potential that the photosynthetic species demonstrated in previous studies at the Partner Research Institution - Algae Biotechnology Laboratory, UFSCar. A detailed biochemical characterization of these strains will be carried out, which is fundamental for selection of the most promising strain and thus explore in depth its potential for the production of biomass and bioproducts. At the end of exponential growth phase, amino acid and fatty acid profiles will be defined, as well as total carbohydrates, proteins and lipids, total carotenoids, chlorophyll a and phycocyanin (in cyanobacteria) will be quantified. Defined the strain based on parameters described above, cultivation scale will be increased to 200 liters (agricultural greenhouse), which represents great challenge due to the new conditions, for example light intensity. Finally, a study of the economic viability of production on a large scale of 200 liters will be carried out. The large scale production of vegan protein from R. lineare or C. lunulatum proposed in this project presents a differential due to the presence of higher amounts of bioproducts, for example, 80% of the biomass of R. lineare corresponds to proteins, a higher value to that found in commercialized Spirulina platensis (40 to 60% protein). C. lunulatum stands out in oil production during exponential growth, corresponds to about 40 to 50% of dry biomass. Success of the proposal is expected because both strains are highly promising, and the group involved is made up of experienced researchers in microalgae physiology, with international renown. There are no patents or other intellectual property mechanisms that could interfere with the proposed project and, therefore, the company's freedom of operation will not be affected. On the contrary, this proposal may indeed generate a process patent. Considering that the present proposal explores an industrial/commercial area with great technological and innovative potential, it is expected that the company to be constituted, in order to move forward with the project, will develop a product with high positive impact on national and world market, on society and on environment in relation to the consumption of alternative sources of proteins, carbohydrates, fats and other biomolecules. (AU)