LAUSR

Abstract An oleaginous osmoheterotroph, thraustochytrid, is gaining attention due to its ability to produce high-value bioactive. In this study, the fast-growing thraustochytrid strain ICTFD5 was isolated, identified, and characterized for metabolites such as fatty acid profile, sterol profile, extracellular enzyme, biomass, and lipid production. The qualitative enzyme analysis of strain showed cellulase and lipase activity. The strain identified as Aurantiochytrium sp., and produced biomass (24.91 ± 0.5 g/L) accumulating high lipid (61.09% of dry cell weight) with simple fatty acid composition dominant with docosahexaenoic acid (45.24%) and palmitic acid (34.68%) in glucose-yeast extract medium at 25 °C for 96 h. The GCMS analysis showed cholecalciferol and ergosterol as vitamin D precursors and other sterols such as brassicasterol, lathosterol, ergosterol, chondrillasterol. Aurantiochytrium sp. ICTFD5 can be a potential commercial strain as a source of high-value nutraceutical omega 3 oil with DHA and vitamin d -cholecalciferol.