Monday, April 19, 2010
4-25

Study of the accumulation of lipids in Yarrowia lipolytica using different carbon sources

R. R. Scoralick1, H. V. L. Neto2, A. A. C. Oliveira1, Priscilla F.F. Amaral2, and Fernando L.P. Pessoa3. (1) Biochemical Engineering Department, Escola de Química - UFRJ, CT, Bl. E, Cidade Universitária, 21949-900, Rio de Janeiro, 21949-900, Brazil, (2) Biochemical Engineering Department, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CT, Bl. E, Cidade Universitária, 21949-900, Rio de Janeiro, 21949-900, Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, 21949-900, Brazil, (3) Chemical Engineering Department, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CT, Bl. E, Cidade Universitária, 21949-900, Rio de janeiro, Brazil

In the study of the regulation of lipid accumulation ,yeasts and other microorganisms may have a key role in researches,now, appearing as a new challenge for biotechnology. The oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica is one of the most extensively studied “nonconventional” yeasts. This yeast is able to accumulate large amounts of lipids. Several technologies including different fermentation configurations have been applied for single-cell oil production by strains of Y.lipolytica grown on various agro-industrial by-products or wastes. Potential applications of these processes are targeting the production of reserve lipids with a specific structure and composition.

Better understanding of Y.lipolytica metabolism and functions will permit to achieve better control and productivity for each biotechnological application, since engineering a microorganism’s metabolism in such a way that enables it to produce oils with specific composition that can be used as biofuels, including nonspecific oils destined for use as renewable starting materials for the synthesis of biodiesel, or can be destined to the fine chemistry.

Production of biodiesel is more promising by enzymatic transesterification of lipids (triglycerides) in oils and fats.

One of the adversities in production of biodiesel is its co-product glycerol, formed in the proportion of 3mols of biodiesel to 1mol of glycerol, which is not characteristic biodegrability. In order to optimize and increase the production it is proposed the utilization of this glycerol as carbon source for the accumulation of lipids, allowing more  generation of biodiesel through via enzymatic for the use of lipase produced by Yarrowia lipolytica.

This work has as final function the study of the mentioned yeast for the accumulation of lipids from distinct carbon sources (glucose and glycerol) to procreate biodiesel.


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