Value-Added Products from Microalgae - Biotechnological Applications of Microalgae - page 143

centrifugation, the hard cell walls are broken and then extraction of the carotenoid
occurs (Dufossé et al., 2005).

10.2.1.3 Foresight
Carotenoid production has established itself as the most successful area of micro-
algal biotechnology; and with the increasing market demands for these natural
pigments, the future of microalgal carotenoid production appears promising (Del
Campo et al., 2007). The ability of microalgae to be genetically modified opens
doors for enhancing specific carotenoid production through metabolic engineering.
However, this approach might not be welcomed by the food and aquaculture indus-
tries due to the controversy surrounding genetically modified products. The market
demand for carotenoids is expected to increase even further with the discovery
that carotenoids exhibit tumor-suppressing activity (Schmidt-Dannert et al., 2000).
Carotenoid exploitation is restricted to only a few algal species; more algal strains
have yet to be screened.

10.2.2 p hyCobiliproteins
Phycobiliproteins are photosynthetic accessory pigments produced by microalgae.
These pigments are responsible for improving the efficiency of light energy utilization
(Pulz and Gross, 2004). Phycobiliproteins are deeply colored (red or blue), water-
soluble complex proteins and have a broad spectrum of potential applications as
natural coloring agents in the food and feed, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industries.
Among the cyanobacteria and red algae, there are four main classes of phycobilipro-
teins that are synthesized (Table 10.4): allophycocyanin (APC, bluish-green), phycocy-
anin (PC, blue), phycoerythrin (PE, purple), and phycoerythrocyanin (PEC, orange).

TABLE 10.4
Phycobiliprotein Content in Various Algal Strains

Nature of
Pigment

% Yield
(dry weight)

Species

Cyanobacteria
Anabaena sp. Phycocyanin 8.3

Nostoc sp. Phycocyanin 20

Phormidium valderianum Phycocyanin 20

Spirulina fusiformis C-Phycocyanin 46

Spirulina platensis
( syn A. platensis)

C-Phycocyanin 9.6

Allophycocyanin 9.5

Red Algae
Rhodosorus marinus

Phycoerythrin 8

Porphyridium cruentum B-Phycoerythrin 32.7

R-Phycocyanin 11.9