Lecture: Triacylglycerol and Carotenoid Synthesis in Microalgae: Pathways and Biotechnological Implications 

Lecturer: Assistant Prof. Yantao LI, Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, University of Maryland, USA

Time: 9:00 am, Jun 19, 2015 

Location: Meeting Room 205 of Administration Building 

Introduction of Lecturer 

Yantao Li is an Assistant Professor at Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, University of Maryland, where he leads the Algal Biology and Biotechnology Lab. Li got his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Nanjing University and the University of Hong Kong, respectively. 

Li’s Research Group: http://imet.umces.edu/yli/ 

Research Focuses: 

Li’s research interest is in the area of algal biology and biotechnology. The goal is to understand lipid synthesis, turnover, and lipid body biogenesis in microalgae, to rationally engineer algae for biofuel and high-value products such as carotenoids, and to biochemically convert algal feedstock into biofuels.  

Lipid synthesis, turnover, and lipid body biogenesis: They use the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and the marine oleaginous microalga Nannochloropsis oceanica as model systems. Our goal is to advance basic knowledge on photosynthetic carbon allocation and lipid metabolism in microalgae, particularly the molecular mechanisms regulating triacylglycerol synthesis and lipid body biogenesis. They address these mechanisms using systems biology and molecular biology approaches.  

Engineering algae for biofuel and carotenoid production: The low biomass and lipid productivity obtained from native algal strains is a major challenge for algae-based products. To overcome this problem, they have developed tools and strategies to genetically engineer algal mutant strains with improved oil production. They have also physiologically and genetically manipulated selected algal strains (Haematococcus and Chlorella) for astaxanthin production, a high-value carotenoid widely used in aquaculture and nutraceutical industry at >$2,500 per kg. Promising algal strains are tested in advanced bioreactors using an integrated approach for carbon capture and biofuel/carotenoid production.  

Biochemical conversion of algal feedstock into biofuels: Chemical extraction and conversion of algal biomass into biofuels is energy and cost intensive. They propose biochemical conversion of algae biomass to generate lipid-based fuels and fermentation-based fuels through lipase and lyase-based processes. Biochemical conversion will bring the ability to eliminate the multiple-step, energy-intensive chemical extraction and transesterification processes.