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Updated: Jul 3, 2026
07:51
A Multi-Omics Extraction Method for the In-Depth Analysis of Synchronized Cultures of the Green Alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Published on: August 8, 2019
Deciphering Melatonin-Driven Bioenergy Reprogramming Through Integrated Physiological and Metabolomic Analyses in
Savita Singh1, Avinash Singh1,2, Sakshi Singh3
1Department of Botany, R. N. Singh Memorial Laboratory, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India.
Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology
|July 2, 2026
Summary
Melatonin (MT) boosts microalgal biomass and lipid production for biofuels. It enhances antioxidant defenses and redirects carbon flux towards neutral lipid biosynthesis, improving biofuel feasibility.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Biochemistry
- Renewable Energy
Background:
- Microalgae are promising bioenergy resources but face challenges in biomass output and lipid accumulation.
- Melatonin (MT) is explored for its regulatory role in plant stress responses and metabolism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of melatonin (MT) in modulating carbon flux and redox homeostasis in D. salina for enhanced biofuel production.
- To understand MT's impact on biomass, lipid, and carbohydrate accumulation under a two-stage cultivation strategy.
Main Methods:
- Two-stage cultivation of D. salina with melatonin supplementation.
- Analysis of biomass, chlorophyll, lipid, carbohydrate, and protein content.
- Assays for antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, APX) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels.
- Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and untargeted high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS) based metabolomics.
Main Results:
- Melatonin (20 µM) enhanced biomass and chlorophyll a content in Stage I.
- Stage II (nitrogen starvation) with MT led to significant lipid (41.6%) and carbohydrate (17.52%) enrichment, with reduced protein content.
- MT elevated antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, APX) and maintained redox homeostasis by regulating ROS.
- FTIR confirmed neutral lipid enrichment, and metabolomics revealed upregulated fatty acid biosynthesis pathways, favoring saturated fatty acids.
Conclusions:
- Melatonin acts as a key regulator in D. salina, optimizing biomass and lipid accumulation for biofuel applications.
- MT coordinates a redox-metabolic network, enhancing antioxidant defense and redirecting carbon flux towards neutral lipid biosynthesis.
- This study offers mechanistic insights into MT-mediated biochemical engineering for improving the commercial viability of microalgal biofuels.
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