Accumulation of a cocoa-butter-like lipid by Yarrowia lipolytica cultivated on agro-industrial residues

Curr Microbiol. 2003 Feb;46(2):124-30. doi: 10.1007/s00284-002-3833-3.

Abstract

Yarrowia lipolytica was cultivated on mixtures of saturated free fatty acids (an industrial derivative of animal fat called stearin), technical glycerol (the main by-product of bio-diesel production facilities), and glucose. The utilization of technical glycerol and stearin as co-substrates resulted in higher lipid synthesis and increased citric acid production than the combination of glucose and stearin. The lipids produced contained significant amounts of stearic acid (50-70%, wt/wt) and lower ones of palmitic (15-20%, wt/wt), oleic (7-20%, wt/wt), and linoleic (2-7%, wt/wt) acid. Single-cell oil having a composition similar to cocoa-butter up to 3.4 g/L was produced, whereas in some cases relatively increased citric acid quantities (up to 14 g/L) were excreted into the growth medium. The microorganism presented a high specificity for lauric, myristic, and palmitic acid, while a discrimination for the stearic acid was observed. As a conclusion, microbial metabolism could be directed by using mixtures of inexpensive saturated fats, glycerol, and glucose as co-substrates, in order to accumulate lipids with predetermined composition, e.g., cocoa-butter equivalents.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Citric Acid / metabolism
  • Culture Media
  • Dietary Fats / metabolism
  • Fatty Acids / metabolism
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Glycerol / metabolism
  • Lipid Metabolism*
  • Stearic Acids / metabolism
  • Yarrowia / growth & development*
  • Yarrowia / metabolism

Substances

  • Culture Media
  • Dietary Fats
  • Fatty Acids
  • Stearic Acids
  • Citric Acid
  • stearic acid
  • cocoa butter
  • Glucose
  • Glycerol