Production of biodiesel from microalgae is dependent on the microalgal lipid content and free fatty acid composition. Both lipid and free fatty acid are regulated by nutrient sources. In this study, newly developed mutant Chlamydomonas reinhardtii with higher lipid content was investigated for the effect of nutrient limitation. Nitrogen NO3 - and phosphate PO4 3- were limited for nutrient starvation during the cultivation. Under nutrient starvation, total lipid content level was increased to 27~33% and C16:0 fatty acid content constituted over 31~43% of total fatty acid. Interestingly, we also found that the expression of fatty acid desaturase (FAD7) was decreased when nutrients were starved.