Cyanobacterial fatty acids: From biosynthesis to diverse applications

Blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, is a diverse category of prokaryotic photosynthetic organisms. The capacity to extract economically viable compounds from cyanobacteria drives continuous scientific research in this domain. The ability to synthesize fatty acids from cyanobacteria makes them a useful substitute for animal and plant-based sources in the synthesis of oils and fats. Their benefits over other sources include their rapid growth rate, higher biomass production and minimal consumption of land. Since these substances build up inside of the cells, effective procedures for their extraction, recovery, and purification are required. The primary procedures in lipid extraction utilizing cyanobacteria are cultivation, biomass collection, cell disruption and lipid transesterification. Fatty acids are essential components of the metabolic pathways that generate and convert the majority of lipid classes. This chapter outlines the metabolic pathway associated with fatty acid biosynthesis, along with various mechanical and chemical methods that can be employed to extract lipids from cyanobacteria. The composition of fatty acids primarily impacts their characteristics and practical use. This chapter also gives a general overview of the variety of fatty acid profiles found in cyanobacteria, including omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, as well as odd-chain, long-chain, short-chain, and medium-chain fatty acids and the different uses of cyanobacterial fatty acids in various industries, such as aquaculture, biofuel, food industry, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and more. In summary cyanobacterial fatty acids are essential in various fields, offering benefits for both ecosystems and emerging industries.