Production of 13C-Labeled Docosahexaenoic Acid by a Thraustochytrid

A 13C-labeled docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) highly enriched with 13C atoms was prepared using the DHA-producing Thraustochytrid, Schizochytrium sp. strain N1-27. Following 115h-cultivation with sodium acetate-1, 2-13C2 as the sole labeled carbon source, 2.53g/L total lipids were obtained from the cells. The 13C-labeled DHA ethyl ester was prepared from total lipids and fractionated to almost 100% purity with 53% recovery on HPLC. The 13C atom ratio was estimated at more than 97% from GC-MS. The productivity of labeled DHA was 0.29g/L. Other 13C-labeled fatty acids such as docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), eicosapentaenoic acid, and palmitic acid, were obtained as by-products. The present Thraustochytrid is thus shown useful for producing labeled DHA and DPA.