Effects of Mg2+, Fe3+, Mn2+ and Cu2+ Ions on Lipid Accumulation by Cunninghamella bainieri 2A1

• Main Authors: Vidyah, Manikan, Othman, Omar, Aidil, Abdul Hamid, Mohd Sahaid, Kalil, Abdul Jalil, Abdul Kader
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2015
• Subjects: Cunninghamella; Metal Ions; Response Surface Methodology; Single Cell Oil
• Online Access: http://ddms.usim.edu.my/handle/123456789/8125
• Institution: Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia

Cunninghamella bainieri 2A1 is an oleaginous fungus whose lipid accumulation profile is significantly influenced by metal ion concentrations in growth medium. Mg2+, Fe3+, Mn2+ and Cu2+ were found to be the important elements affecting lipid accumulation in this fungus. This study employs a statistical method (Response Surface Methodology -RSM) to study the combined effects of Mg2+, Fe3+, Mn2+ and Cu2+ on lipid accumulation of C. baineri 2A1. Cultivation was carried out in 250 mL Erlenmeyer flasks containing 100 mL nitrogen limited medium at 30 degrees C and 250 rpm agitation for 120 h. A thirty-run central composite design experiment was employed to identify and optimize the significant factors. In addition to Mg2(+) and Fe3(+) which were shown to have significant effects on lipid accumulation, the interactions between Mg2+ and Cu2+, as well as the effect of Cu2+ in quadratic terms were also found to have significant effect on the process (p< 0.05). The highest amount of lipid obtained in this study was 39% g/g biomass with optimal levels of Mg2+, Fe3+ and Cu2+ at 5.00, 0.017 and 0.0005 g/L, respectively, while Mn2+ was omitted. A 32% increment in lipid yield was recorded, where the lipid content increased to 38%, compared to initial yield of 29% g/g biomass prior to optimization. In conclusion, Mg2+ and Fe3+ have significant positive effect on the lipid accumulation of this fungus, whereas Mn2+ and Cu2+ exert negative effects in combination.