P95: Investigation of the effect that temperature has on lipid accumulation in the oleaginous microorganism Rhodotorula glutinis

Oleaginous microorganisms are noted for producing large amounts of triacylglycerol (TAG), a metabolic by-product that is synthesized when the organisms are cultivated on media that contains high sugar content and low nitrogen. These TAGs, once extracted, can be transesterified into biodiesel.   Temperature can play a major role in the growth and development of microorganisms and can also affect the ability of the organism to produce certain metabolic by-products.  Our previous work has shown that the oleaginous yeast R. glutinis can survive in the municipal wastewater as well as produce lipids when the water was supplemented with 60g/L of glucose.  Depending on the location and processes used in wastewater treatment facilities, the temperature of the water in the facility can fluctuate.   In this study our goal was to determine the optimum temperature at which the organism R. glutinis can produce lipids.  R. glutinis was inoculated into a generic nutrient media supplemented with 60g/L of glucose. Bligh and Dyer technique was used to extract lipids from cells.   Results thus far indicate that temperature does play a role in lipid accumulation in the organism R. glutinis.