Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting (FACS)-Based Characterization of Microalgae

Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) that is often interchangeably termed as flow cytometry allows for rapid multiparametric analysis of the physical characteristics of individual particles or cells as they flow in a fluid stream one by one through a fixed laser beam. FACS also implies physical sorting of particles with selected optical properties out of the flow stream and collecting them for subsequent studies. Unicellular microalgae of freshwater and seawater habitats represent a very convenient object for FACS analysis. The current chapter summarizes major achievements of FACS in the study of morpho-functional peculiarities and taxonomic affiliation of microalgae representing eukaryotic organisms. Life cycle analysis of green microalgae using a combination of key life cycle parameters such as cell size/volume, DNA and chlorophyll content distributions is also considered here

Keywords: FACS, Fluorescence, Forward light scatter, Life cycle, Side light scatter, Unicellular microalgae.