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Cellular fatty acids derived from normal alkanes by Candida rugosa
Zeitschrift Fur Allgemeine Mikrobiologie
|January 1, 1980
Summary
Candida rugosa cells convert n-alkanes into significant amounts of cellular lipids, including fatty acids. Odd-chain alkanes specifically increase odd-chain fatty acid production in these yeast cells.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Microbiology
- Yeast Metabolism
Background:
- Understanding the metabolic pathways of yeast is crucial for biotechnological applications.
- Candida rugosa utilizes various carbon sources, including alkanes, for growth and lipid production.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the metabolic relationship between alkane substrates and cellular lipid products in Candida rugosa.
- To analyze the fatty acid profile and total lipid content of yeast grown on different n-alkanes.
Main Methods:
- Incubation of Candida rugosa cells with various n-alkanes in a mineral medium.
- Analysis of cellular lipid composition, focusing on fatty acid profiles and total lipid content.
- Comparison of lipid production from n-alkanes versus glucose.
Main Results:
- Major fatty acids produced were C18:2, C18:1, C16:1, and C16:0, regardless of alkane chain length.
- Yeast grown on odd-chain alkanes showed a high proportion (77-88%) of odd-chain fatty acids.
- Total lipid content in n-alkane grown cells (16.3-19.0%) was triple that of glucose-grown cells.
- Ergosterol production was twofold higher with n-hexadecane compared to glucose.
Conclusions:
- Candida rugosa efficiently converts n-alkanes into cellular lipids, with specific fatty acid profiles influenced by alkane chain length.
- n-alkanes are superior substrates to glucose for both total lipid and ergosterol production in C. rugosa.
- These findings highlight the potential of C. rugosa for lipid biosynthesis using alkane feedstocks.