[Influence of carbon source on lipid biosynthesis by Candida gluilliermondii]

The biosynthesis of lipids by Candida guilliermondii was studied during the growth of the yeast on carbon substrates which resulted in different pathways of lipid biosynthesis. The highest content of lipids was found during the growth on octadecane. The quantitative ratio between fractions of neutral lipids and phospholipids depended on the carbon substrate whereas the quanlitative composition of the fractions remained the same. The fatty acid composition of lipid fractions was studied, and possible pathways of their biosynthesis are discussed. Apparently, the assimilated hydrocarbon is oxidized to acetyl residues in certain structures of the yeast cells while, in other structures, the hydrocarbon substrate undergoes only monoterminal oxidation yielding an aliphatic alcohol and an acid which are directly used in large amounts for the synthesis of wax and triglycerides.