Draft genome analysis, poly-phasic study and lipid biosynthesis pathway of Scenedesmus sp. SVMIICT1

A comprehensive polyphasic evaluation of a microalgal isolate Scenedesmus sp. SVMIICT1 through morphological, biochemical, photosynthetic characterization, next-generation sequencing and lipid pathway analysis was reported. The strain was cultivated photo-autotrophically, where the maximum photosynthetic yield (F_V/F_M) of 0.75 was observed on the 4^th day with optimal PSII photochemical efficiency. Enhanced electron transport rate (ETR(I)) with inhibitor 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU) resulted in cyclic electron flow. A fair share of carbohydrate content (36 µg/mg) was ascribed to the presence of pyrenoid towards higher CO₂ sequestration pursuant to carbon concentrating mechanism (CCM). Denovo sequencing of the genome was assembled, annotated for the prediction of gene and protein. KEGG automatic annotation server (KAAS) analysis depicted the presence of genes accompanying the biosynthesis of the glycerophospholipid pathway. Fatty acid profile represented a higher fraction of palmitic acid (C16:0; 41.6%) followed by alpha-linolenic acid (C18:3; 44.5%).