Change of Fatty Acid Composition of Chlorella Ellipsoidea During Its Cell Cycle

The lipids extracted from Chlorella cells at different developmental stages were separated by chromatography on silicic acid into “nonpolar” (chloroform-eluate) and “polar” (methanol-eluate) lipid fractions. The lipids were also subjected to florisil chromatography to fractionate neutral glycerides and free fatty acids. Gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of these fractions has revealed a marked difference in their fatty acid compositions which were found to undergo characteristic changes during the course of algal cell cycle. It was found that the fatty acids in the “nonpolar” lipid (fat) fraction are synthesized during the growth phase in the light and consumed during the process of cellular division.