[Lipid metabolism of yeasts in relation to their ecology]

Lipid metabolism of epiphyte and soil yeasts was found to be different depending on their ecology. The activity of lipase and lecithinase of epiphyte cultures is higher than that of soil cultures. The highest concentration of lipids was accumulated by soil yeasts, especially the Lipomyces genus. Lipids isolated from the yeast are hydrolysed by its lipase at a higher rate than olive oil, the common substrate for lipase. Lipid accumulation is detected during later stages of cultural growth when the activity of lipase decreases. No fatty acids with the number of carbon atoms below 14 and over 20 were found in cultures of the Candida genus. Fatty acids with a long chain (C22, C24, C26) are encountered more often in cultures belonging to the Rhodotorula genus cf. Lipomyces and Cryptococcus.