Aurantiochytrium sp. T66 Genome sequencing and assembly

Thraustochytrids are unicellular marine eukaryotic protists and some strains accumulate high levels of the polyunsaturated fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Thraustochytrids also produce carotenoids, such as astaxanthin and beta-carotene. DHA and carotenoids are important feed and food ingredients. The physiology and DHA production potentials of Aurantiochytrium sp. strain T66 has been characterized in the laboratories of SINTEF Materials and Chemistry and Department of Biotechnology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NTNU. The genome sequence of this strain will be useful for unravelling important metabolic pathways, as well as a basis for RNA sequencing and transcriptome analyses.