Lipid biosynthesis and abiotic stress resilience in photosynthetic organisms
This application describes consortium between fungi and algae, where the algae are incorporated within hyphae of the fungi. The consortium is robust. The fungi and algae can symbiotically provide nutrients to each other, and are tolerant of environmental stresses.
1. A method comprising incorporating at least one Nannochloropsis algae cell into hyphae of at least one Mortierella elongata fungus by incubating under nutrient deprivation condition at least one Mortierella elongata fungus and at least one Nannochloropsis algae cell, to thereby form a consortium of the at least one fungus and the at least one algae cell.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one Mortierella elongata fungus and at least one Nannochloropsis algae cell are incubated together for one or more days, one or more weeks, one or months, one or more years, or indefinitely.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one Mortierella elongata fungus and at least one Nannochloropsis algae cell are incubated at a density of Mortierella elongata fungus cells or tissues, and a Nannochloropsis algae cell density sufficient for the fungus and the algae come into contact.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein more Mortierella elongata fungus cells or tissues by mass than Nannochloropsis algae cells by mass is incubated together.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein more Nannochloropsis algae cells by number than Mortierella elongata fungal cells or tissue pieces by number is incubated.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fungus and the algae cells are incubated at a ratio of from about 10:1 by mass Nannochloropsis algal cells to Mortierella elongata fungal tissue mass to about 1:1 by mass algal cells to fungal tissue mass.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein one or more Mortierella elongata fungal species and one or more Nannochloropsis algae species are incubated in a culture medium that contains some carbohydrate or some sugar.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the carbohydrate or sugar is present in an amount of about 1 g/liter to about 20 g/liter.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the consortium of the at least one Mortierella elongata fungus and the at least one Nannochloropsis algae cell is incubated in a minimal medium.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the consortium synthesizes one or more lipid, carbohydrate, or protein.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the consortium comprises a lipid content greater than 40% by weight of the consortium.
12. The method of claim 1 , comprising incubating a Mortierella elongata AG77 fungus with one or more Nannochloropsis oceanica CCMP1779 cell until the Nannochloropsis oceanica CCMP1779 are incorporated within hyphae of the Mortierella elongata AG77.