DEVELOPMENT OF A FAST, REPRODUCIBLE AND EFFECTIVE METHOD FOR THE EXTRACTION AND QUANTIFICATION OF PROTEINS OF MICROALGAE

The best method that was developed to extract protein from Chlorella w as by sonic disruption of the cells for 3 cycles of 1 min. at 70W on i ce in the presence of 1% (w/v) SDS. The best method to quantify the am ount of protein in algal extracts is the staining method with the dye bicinchoninic acid. The developed method is reliable for the tested fr eshwater micro-alga Chlorella, is also acceptable for the fresh-water micro-alga Chlamydomonas, but is not reliable for the marine micro-alg ae Dunaliella, Rhodomonas and Synechococcus. The extraction method was the most critical factor for determination of proteins in micro-algae and needs to be optimized for each algal species.