Microalgae Sterol Inhibitors for Triglyceride Accumulation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for accumulating triacylglycerols in microalgae, such as nitrogen starvation, face limitations, particularly in nitrogen-rich media, as they can hinder cell growth and are not efficient for industrial-scale biofuel production due to growth retardation and low biomass yield.

Innovation Solution

Inhibiting sterol metabolism in microalgae using specific inhibitors, such as Ethinylestradiol and Mevastatin, to redirect carbon flux towards triacylglycerol accumulation, thereby overcoming the limitations of conventional nutrient starvation approaches.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If nitrogen starvation is used to accumulate triacylglycerols in microalgae, then oil content per cell increases, but cell growth is inhibited and biomass yield decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoil content per cellVSAvoidbiomass yield

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the nitrogen starvation stress condition from the system and replaces it with a sterol metabolism inhibitor. This removes the harmful growth inhibition while preserving the beneficial triglyceride accumulation effect, as the inhibitor specifically targets sterol pathways without causing general nutrient stress.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The sterol metabolism inhibitor acts as an intermediary substance that mediates between cell growth and triglyceride accumulation. It selectively blocks sterol biosynthesis pathways, redirecting carbon flux toward triglycerides without causing the broad metabolic disruption that occurs during nitrogen starvation, thus allowing continued growth alongside oil accumulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If conventional nutrient starvation approaches are used, then triglyceride accumulation is achieved, but the method is not efficient for industrial-scale production due to low biomass yield

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetriglyceride accumulationVSAvoidindustrial-scale efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the metabolic parameter being targeted from general nutrient availability (nitrogen starvation) to a specific enzymatic pathway (sterol metabolism). This precise parameter change allows triglyceride accumulation to occur without the detrimental effects of overall nutrient stress, making the process suitable for industrial scaling where high biomass yields are required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If sterol metabolism is inhibited to redirect carbon flux towards triacylglycerol accumulation, then oil content increases by up to 400%, but cell growth may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoil content per cellVSAvoidcell growth stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sterol metabolism inhibitor serves as a selective intermediary that targets specific sterol biosynthesis enzymes without disrupting general cellular metabolism. This specificity allows carbon flux to be redirected toward triglycerides while maintaining cell growth stability, as essential growth pathways remain unaffected.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses compounds that copy or mimic the structure of natural sterol pathway intermediates or regulators, allowing them to bind to and inhibit specific enzymes in the sterol pathway. This structural copying enables selective inhibition of sterol metabolism while leaving other metabolic pathways intact, preserving cell growth.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method effectively increases triacylglycerol accumulation in microalgae, enhancing oil content per cell by up to 400% without growth inhibition, making it suitable for industrial-scale biofuel production and other applications like pharmaceutical and cosmetic compositions.

Implementation Method 1

Inhibiting sterol metabolism in microalgae using specific inhibitors, such as Ethinylestradiol and Mevastatin, to redirect carbon flux towards triacylglycerol accumulation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMetabolic pathway inhibition:

Data Source

PatentUS10844411B2Inhibitors of sterol metabolism for their use to accumulate triglycerides in microalgae, and methods thereof

Publication Date: 2020.11.24 COMMISSARIAT A LENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for accumulating triacylglycerols in microalgae by inhibiting the sterol metabolism, by incubating the microalgae with an inhibitor of sterol metabolism. The invention also relates to a method for producing fatty acids, biofuels, pharmaceutical or cosmetic compositions, and also food supplements, comprising a triacylglycerols accumulation step in microalgae according to the invention. Finally, the invention concerns the use of an inhibitor of sterol metabolism to accumulate triglycerides in microorganisms, and preferably microalgae.