Moss cell cultures as sources of arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acids

AbstractLipid classes from tissue cultures of the moss Leptobryum pyriforme (Hedw.) Wils. were analyzed. In the total lipid fraction, this species contained 20% arachidonic acid and about 7% eicosapentaenoic acid. The distribution of these fatty acids showed a preference for the phospholipid fraction. In particular, the phosphatidylethanolamine fraction was enriched in arachidonic acid. The arachidonic acid content of Leptobryum could be altered by transferring the cultures to different culture conditions. Mosses show high organic mass production in tissue cultures in relatively simple media. The great potential of using mosses as sources for the production of polyunsaturated fatty acids is evident