Potential of new isolates of Dunaliella salina

The halotolerant microalga Dunaliella salina has been widely studied for natural 10 β-carotene production. This work shows biochemical characterization of three newly isolated 11 Dunaliella salina strains DF15, DF17 and DF40 compared with D. salina CCAP 19/30 (confirmed to 12 be D. tertiolecta) and D. salina UTEX 2538 (also known as D. bardawil). Although all three new strains 13 have been genetically characterized as Dunaliella salina strains, their ability to accumulate 14 carotenoids and their capacity for photoprotection against high light stress are different. DF15 and 15 UTEX 2538 reveal great potential for producing large amount of β-carotene and maintained a high 16 rate of photosynthesis under light of high intensity; however, DF17, DF40 and CCAP 19/30 showed 17 increasing photoinhibition with increasing light intensity, and reduced contents of carotenoids, in 18 particular β-carotene, suggesting that the capacity of photoprotection is dependent on the cellular 19 content of carotenoids, in particular β-carotene. Strong positive correlations were found between 20 the cellular content of each of all-trans β-carotene, 9-cis β-carotene, all-trans α-carotene and 21 zeaxanthin but not lutein in the D. salina strains. Lutein was strongly correlated with respiration in 22 photosynthetic cells and strongly related to photosynthesis, chlorophyll and respiration, 23 suggesting an important and not hitherto identified role for lutein in co-ordinated control of the 24 cellular functions of photosynthesis and respiration in response to changes in light conditions, 25 which is broadly conserved in Dunaliella strains. Statistical analysis based on biochemical data 26 revealed a different grouping strategy from the genetic classification of the strains. The significance 27 of these data for strain selection for commercial carotenoid production is discussed. 28