Light Induction of Seed Culture Accelerates Lutein Accumulation in Heterotrophic Fermentation of Chlorella protothecoides CS-41

Abstract

Microalgae are recognized as a promising and valuable source of lutein. However, the current two-stage method for lutein production has drawbacks, such as complex operations and a long cultivation time. Additionally, utilizing heterotrophic fermentation to cultivate microalgae for lutein production leads to low lutein content due to the absence of light. In this study, we proposed a novel cultivation method that involves light induction of the seed culture to enhance lutein production during the heterotrophic cultivation phase of Chlorella protothecoides CS-41. To gain comprehensive insights into the underlying mechanisms of this method, we conducted qualitative and quantitative analyses of specific metabolites related to central carbon metabolism. The results revealed that low-light induction of seeds exhibited higher carbon efficiency compared to cells continuously subjected to heterotrophic cultivation, which may explain the observed increase in biomass and lutein content in cultures. Cultures after low-light induction of seed exhibited significantly higher lutein content (2.71 mg/g), yield (66.49 mg/L) and productivity (8.59 mg/L/d) compared to those consistently cultivated under heterotrophic conditions (2.37 mg/g, 37.45 mg/L, 4.68 mg/L/d). This cultivation strategy effectively enhances lutein yields, reduces production costs and holds the potential for broader application in other algal species for pigment production.