Production of oils and fats by oleaginous microorganisms with an emphasis given to the potential of the nonconventional yeast Yarrowia lipolytica

Abstract

Recently, there has been a great upsurge of interest in studies related to several aspects of microbial lipid production, which is one of the top topics in relevant research fields due to the high demand of these fatty materials in food, medical, oleochemical and biofuel industries. Lipid accumulation by the so-called "oleaginous microorganisms" can generate more than 20% w/w of oil in dry biomass and is governed by a plethora of parameters, such as medium pH, incubation temperature, nutrient limitation and C/N (carbon/nitrogen) ratio, which drastically affect the lipid production bioprocess. Until now, considerable work has been undertaken to find the cheapest substrate to enable lipid fermentation by oleaginous microorganisms. This review principally details information regarding microbial lipids, suitable production conditions and focuses attention on using the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica to achieve these objectives. Lipid production by this yeast is discussed and the necessary conditions and suitable substrates are reviewed.

Isolation, identification and screening of yeasts towards their ability to assimilate biodiesel‐derived crude glycerol: microbial production of polyols, endopolysaccharides and lipid

“…Eventually, a SCO presenting indeed very high concentrations of the FA C18:1 ( ω ‐9) (i.e. concentrations >70% w/w of total FAs) and presenting excellent composition as regards its potential transformation into second generation biodiesel or as a fatty material amenable for its employment for various lubricant applications (Papanikolaou and Aggelis ; Patel et al ; Uprety et al ; Athenaki et al ; Carsanba et al ; Tsakraklides et al ) was synthesized.…”

“…Crude Gly, derived from several origins and containing variable concentrations and types of impurities, has been employed as a substrate to obtain several added‐value microbial products. For instance, fermentation of Gly for microbial lipid (called also single‐cell oil; SCO) production has been considered as an important option (Bellou et al ; Athenaki et al ; Carsanba et al ). SCO produced can thereafter potentially be subjected to trans‐esterification, and microbial‐based biodiesel can be synthesized, closing therefore the loop of biodiesel production process through design and application of an ecologically friendly and ‘clean’ Gly valorization scheme (Yang et al ; Uprety et al , b; Athenaki et al ; Carsanba et al ).…”

“…For instance, fermentation of Gly for microbial lipid (called also single‐cell oil; SCO) production has been considered as an important option (Bellou et al ; Athenaki et al ; Carsanba et al ). SCO produced can thereafter potentially be subjected to trans‐esterification, and microbial‐based biodiesel can be synthesized, closing therefore the loop of biodiesel production process through design and application of an ecologically friendly and ‘clean’ Gly valorization scheme (Yang et al ; Uprety et al , b; Athenaki et al ; Carsanba et al ). Industrial Gly has been used as the sole carbon and energy source from various yeast and fungal in order for SCO to be produced (Chatzifragkou et al ; Dedyukhina et al ; Carota et al ; Carsanba et al ).…”

“…SCO produced can thereafter potentially be subjected to trans‐esterification, and microbial‐based biodiesel can be synthesized, closing therefore the loop of biodiesel production process through design and application of an ecologically friendly and ‘clean’ Gly valorization scheme (Yang et al ; Uprety et al , b; Athenaki et al ; Carsanba et al ). Industrial Gly has been used as the sole carbon and energy source from various yeast and fungal in order for SCO to be produced (Chatzifragkou et al ; Dedyukhina et al ; Carota et al ; Carsanba et al ). Likewise, Gly has been converted into polyols (mostly mannitol, erythritol and arabitol (Ara)) by strains of the species Yarrowia lipolytica (Tomaszewska et al ; Mirończuk et al ; Rakicka et al , b, ; Papanikolaou et al ) and, in scarce studies, into (mostly) Ara by osmophilic yeast species such as the ones of the genus Debaryomyces (Koganti et al ; Koganti and Ju ).…”

An Overview of Potential Oleaginous Microorganisms and Their Role in Biodiesel and Omega-3 Fatty Acid-Based Industries

“…Extracellular lipases secreted by the oleaginous yeast help to improve the assimilation of the hydrophobic substrates by degrading it into free fatty acids and assimilated into the yeast cells by active transporters or by simple diffusion depending on the concentration gradient [206,207]. The hydrophobic substrates are utilized for the growth of microorganisms or for storage in the form of lipid droplets, where the lipid composition can be similar to substrate, or they can change the lipid composition [208,209]. The hydrophobic materials utilized as feedstock for biomass and lipid production by oleaginous yeast can be free fatty acids obtained from an industrial waste stream, waste cooking oils, effluents from dairyand butter-producing industries and waste fish oils [206][207][208][209][210][211].…”