Microalgae single cell oil

Abstract Microalgae are often considered unique due to their diverse growth requirements, leading to their capability to produce miscellaneous useful products such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and other bioactive molecules. Microalgal-lipids, also known as microalgae-single cell oil (MSCO), have attracted considerable interest worldwide, due to their extensive potential applications in the renewable energy, biopharmaceutical, and nutraceutical industries. Most autotrophic and mixotrophic microalgae are often studied as potential fuel stocks owing to their high photosynthetic efficiency and ability to produce an excellent source of neutral lipids. In addition, some microalgae are capable of producing long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) such as DHA, DPA, and EPA, as they use not only the conventional Fatty Acid Synthase (FAS) pathway but also a unique fatty acid biosynthesis mechanism known as polyketyl synthase (PKS) which is commonly absent in most oleaginous microbes. Although MSCO is a feasible source for bioenergy and biopharmaceuticals in general, some limitations and challenges remain, which must be overcome to upgrade the technology from pilot-phase to industrial level. The present review comprehensively discuss the background, cultivation systems, regulatory mechanism in fatty acids biosynthesis, its useful products, and the challenges for commercial-level applications.