Methods for production of highly unsaturated fatty acids by marine microorganisms, including the heterotrophic marine dinoflagellate Crypthecodinium , using low levels of chloride ion are disclosed. Specifically, methods of increasing production of highly unsaturated fatty acids by marine microorganisms while growing in low chloride media by manipulating sodium ion and potassium ion levels. The invention also relates to methods of production of highly unsaturated fatty acids by marine organisms at low pH levels, and includes methods for generation of low pH tolerant strains.

Claims

15 · 1 independent · depth 2

15 granted claims

›1.independentA method of producing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), comprising:nculturing a heterotrophic microalga in a culture medium, wherein the culture medium comp…+14

›2.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the concentration of chloride ions is less than or equal to 2 g/L.d2

›3.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the concentration of chloride ions is less than or equal to 1 g/L.d2

›4.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the concentration of chloride ions is less than or equal to 0.3 g/L.d2

›5.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the concentration of sodium ions is 1.5 g/L to 5 g/L.d2

›6.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the pH is 4.5.d2

›7.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein a source of potassium comprises potassium sulfate.d2

›8.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the microalga produces at least 0.10 g DHA per 109 cells.d2

›9.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the microalga produces at least 0.20 g DHA per 109 cells.d2

›10.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the ratio of sodium ions to potassium ions is less than or equal to 15:1.d2

›11.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the ratio of sodium ions to potassium ions is less than or equal to 4:1.d2

›12.↳ 1The method of claim 1, further comprising recovering DHA from the DHA-containing lipid.d2

›13.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the microalga is of the class Dinophyceae.d2

›14.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the microalga is of the genus Crypthecodinium.d2

›15.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the microalga is of the species Crypthecodinium cohnii.d2

Classifications

10 codes

IPC · International Patent Classification

Section A — Human necessities

A23D9/02
A23L1/30

Section C — Chemistry; metallurgy

C12P7/64
C12N1/12
C11B1/00

USPC · US Patent Classification

435/134435/257.1426/601426/417426/648

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Pendency

0.5 y

173 days filing → grant

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after a restriction

Responses

1 RCE

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Examiner

Rosanne Kosson

art unit 1657 · TC 1600

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Citations: 80 back · 0 forward

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Priority chain

2 priority documents

Priority

2 Oct 2003

earliest claimed

›Priority documents — 2

Type	Document	Date
provisional	US 60508505	2 Oct 2003
related publication	US 20130158280 A1	20 Jun 2013

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