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Cyanobacterial fatty acids: From biosynthesis to diverse applications
Akhila Punchakara1, Sharon Sunny1, Akhil Agrawal1
1Energy and Environment Research Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer, Rajasthan, India.
Advances in Applied Microbiology
|June 20, 2025
Summary
Cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, offer a sustainable source for fatty acid production, providing an alternative to traditional oils. Research explores their extraction and diverse applications across industries.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Microbiology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Cyanobacteria are prokaryotic photosynthetic organisms with potential for producing valuable compounds.
- Extracting economically viable compounds, particularly fatty acids, from cyanobacteria is a growing area of research.
- Cyanobacteria offer advantages over other sources, including rapid growth, high biomass yield, and reduced land use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline the metabolic pathways of fatty acid biosynthesis in cyanobacteria.
- To detail mechanical and chemical methods for lipid extraction from cyanobacteria.
- To provide an overview of cyanobacterial fatty acid profiles and their diverse industrial applications.
Main Methods:
- Cultivation of cyanobacteria biomass.
- Biomass collection and cell disruption techniques.
- Lipid extraction and transesterification processes.
Main Results:
- Cyanobacteria synthesize a variety of fatty acids, including omega-3 and omega-6, odd-chain, long-chain, short-chain, and medium-chain fatty acids.
- Effective extraction, recovery, and purification procedures are crucial for utilizing intracellular lipids.
- The composition of fatty acids significantly influences their characteristics and utility.
Conclusions:
- Cyanobacterial fatty acids are essential components with broad applications in aquaculture, biofuels, food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.
- These compounds offer benefits for both ecosystems and emerging industries.
- Cyanobacteria represent a promising sustainable resource for fatty acid production.
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