AUTHOR=Khazi Mahammed Ilyas , Li Chenshuo , Liaqat Fakhra , Malec Przemyslaw , Li Jian , Fu Pengcheng 

TITLE=Acclimation and Characterization of Marine Cyanobacterial Strains Euryhalinema and Desertifilum for C-Phycocyanin Production

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bioengineering-and-biotechnology/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2021.752024

DOI=10.3389/fbioe.2021.752024

ISSN=2296-4185

ABSTRACT=<p>This study involves evaluation of two native cyanobacterial strains <italic>Euryhalinema</italic> and <italic>Desertifilum</italic> isolated from a mangrove pond in Haikou (China) for their possible phycocyanin (C-PC) production. Maximal growth rate with highest chlorophyll and C-PC accumulation were observed at 28°C and 60 μmol photons m<sup>−2</sup> s<sup>−1</sup> photon flux density for <italic>Euryhalinema</italic> sp., while for <italic>Desertifilum</italic> sp. at 32°C and 80 μmol photons m<sup>−2</sup> s<sup>−1</sup>. Nitrogen and iron concentration trails revealed that double strength concentration of sodium nitrate and ferric ammonium citrate in original BG11 media increased growth rate and accumulation of C-PC for both strains. Three different C-PC extraction methods were tested. The combined extraction protocol of freeze–thaw and ultrasonication markedly increased the C-PC extraction efficiency and attained the food grade purity (<italic>A</italic><sub>620</sub>/<italic>A</italic><sub>280</sub> ratio &gt;0.7), whereas a higher C-PC yield was found with Na-phosphate buffer. Furthermore, the clarified crude extract was used to purify C-PC by fractional ammonium sulfate [(NH₄)₂SO₄] precipitation, Sephadex G-25 gel filtration chromatography, and DEAE-sephadex ion exchange chromatography and attained analytical grade purity (<italic>A</italic><sub>620</sub>/<italic>A</italic><sub>280</sub> ratio &gt;3.9). Taken together, both strains showed their potential to be domesticated for valuable phycocyanin production.</p>