Flow cytometric determination of lipid content in a marine dinoflagellate, Crypthecodinium cohnii

Abstract

Since flow cytometry allows rapid,simultaneous and quantitative measurementsrelated to cell morphology andphysiologicy, the lipid-specificfluorescent dye, Nile Red, was employed forthe in vivo lipid quantification of Crypthecodinium cohnii, a heterotrophicmarine dinoflagellate rich inpolyunsaturated long chain fatty acids. Thefluorescence signal was linearly correlatedwith the neutral and polar lipid content asdetermined by gravimetric techniques. Asignificant correlation of NR signal wasalso observed between the polar to neutrallipid ratio and docohexaenoic acid percell. The results demonstrate a method forrapid lipid quantification that can be usedin the selection, isolation and culturecontrol of C. cohnii clones with highlipid and DHA content.