Schizochytrium
| Schizochytrium | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Clade: | Diaphoretickes |
| Clade: | SAR |
| Clade: | Stramenopiles |
| Phylum: | Bigyra |
| Class: | Labyrinthulea |
| Order: | Thraustochytrida |
| Family: | Thraustochytriidae |
| Genus: | Schizochytrium S. Goldst. & Belsky emend. T. Booth & C. E. Mill. [1] |
| Species | |
Schizochytrium is a
Lifecycle
Several stages occur in its lifecycle. The feeding form has a stiff, rounded body with cellular extensions used in feeding. Cells can transform into mobile flagellated cells with stiff tripartite hairs typical of the Stramenopiles. Cells can also grow and divide to form a cluster of cells which may become a sorus that produces biflagellated zoospores.
Relation to humans
Certain species produce large amounts of
In 2016, juvenile Nile tilapia were given a feed containing dried Schizochytrium in place of fish oil. When compared to a control group raised on regular feed, they exhibited higher weight gain and better feed conversion, and their flesh was higher in omega-3 fatty acids.[6][7] A 2020 study showed similar results and combined the feed with Nannochloropsis oculata for an entirely fish-free feed.[8][9]
DHA synthesis in Schizochytrium
DHA synthesis in Schizochytrium does not involve membrane-bound desaturases or fatty acid elongation enzymes such as those described for other eukaryotes.[10][11] Instead it is thought that DHA synthesis in Schizochytrium occurs via a Polyketide synthase (PKS)-based pathway, although the primary structures of the Polyketide synthases do not conform to any known class of PKS proteins.[10][12] Homology between Shewanella and Schizochytrium PKS genes suggests that the genes involved in this pathway underwent lateral gene transfer.[10]
References
- S2CID 86418053.
- ^ a b "Schizochytrium". www.uniprot.org.
- .
- PMID 14995120.
- ^ Whoriskey, Peter (5 June 2017). "How millions of cartons of 'organic' milk contain an oil brewed in industrial vats of algae". The Washington Post. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ Coxworth, Ben (June 6, 2016). "Scientists take the fish out of fish food". www.gizmag.com. Retrieved 2016-06-08.
- PMID 27258552.
- ^ "Research breakthrough achieves fish-free aquaculture feed that raises key standards". phys.org. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
- .
- ^ S2CID 9125016.
- PMID 22368282.
- PMID 18755227.
