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Frequency-dependent modulation of functional single cell oils in Rhodotorula sp. and Aspergillus flavus under
Hadeel El-Shall1, Afaf A Gliwan2, Mamdouh M Shawki3
1Environmental Biotechnology Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), Alexandria, Egypt. hadeel.elshall28@gmail.com.
Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts
|April 3, 2026
Summary
Alternating current electrostimulation frequency controllably modifies microbial lipids in yeast and fungi. This method enhances single cell oil (SCO) production and fatty acid profiles for sustainable biomaterials and biofuels.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology and Synthetic Biology
- Microbial Physiology and Metabolism
- Biomaterials Science
Background:
- Microbial lipid metabolism is crucial for producing functional biomaterials.
- Non-invasive physical stimuli offer sustainable modulation of microbial lipids.
- Oleaginous microorganisms like yeast and fungi are key lipid producers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the frequency-dependent effects of alternating current (AC) electrostimulation on microbial lipid production.
- To analyze the impact of AC electrostimulation on fatty acid composition and cellular ultrastructure in Rhodotorula sp. and Aspergillus flavus.
- To establish AC frequency as a tunable parameter for optimizing single cell oil (SCO) yield and quality.
Main Methods:
- Exposure of microbial cultures (Rhodotorula sp., Aspergillus flavus) to AC frequencies (100 Hz to 1 MHz) under nitrogen-limited conditions.
- Assessment of lipid yield via gravimetric analysis.
- Analysis of fatty acid composition using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.
- Evaluation of ultrastructural changes using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM).
Main Results:
- Low-frequency AC (100 Hz-1 kHz) significantly increased lipid accumulation (up to 2.7-fold) and enriched oleic acid (a monounsaturated fatty acid, MUFA).
- Mid-frequency AC (10-100 kHz) showed transient effects on MUFA accumulation and unsaturation.
- High-frequency AC (1 MHz) promoted polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) enrichment, particularly linoleic acid (ω-6), linked to oxidative stress.
- TEM revealed frequency-specific cellular adaptations, including enlarged lipid droplets and autophagic activity.
Conclusions:
- AC frequency serves as a tunable 'metabolic switch' to enhance both quantity and quality of microbial lipids.
- This electrostimulation strategy holds significant potential for scalable production of biofunctional lipids.
- Applications include biofuels, nutraceuticals, biomedical uses, and advanced biomaterials, aligning with UN SDGs.
