Abstract
Because of the diversity of their lipids and fatty acid biosynthetic pathways, lower fungi may find utilization as sources of omega-3 or other polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Production of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) by the filamentous fungus, Pythium irregulare, has been demonstrated in 14-1 fermentors. Sweet whey permeate (lactose) was preferred over glucose as a substrate for production of a high-EPA-content lipid. Characterization of the lipid indicated that approximately 90% of the EPA was contained in the neutral lipid fraction. A specific productivity of 24.9 mg EPA/g dry biomass was achieved at 14°C, at which temperature the lipid contained 25.5% EPA and 54.2% PUFA. This is the highest mycelial EPA content for a fungal lipid that has been reported in the literature.
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Correspondence to: D. J. O'Brien
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O'Brien, D.J., Kurantz, M.J. & Kwoczak, R. Production of eicosapentaenoic acid by the filamentous fungus Pythium irregulare . Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 40, 211–214 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00170368
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00170368