Production of lipid biofuel and chemicals from lignocellulose using oleaginous yeasts

Oleaginous yeasts such as Lipomyces starkeyi and Rhodotorula glutinis can convert carbohydrates into fatty acids at the highest known specific rates and the fatty acid content can exceed half of the total biomass in the cell. Carbohydrates derived from lignocellulose are regarded as the main resource for generating future biofuels. Refining of pentose sugars to high value products must be improved to make lignocellulosic fuel production economical and resource efficient. We are developing a yeast-based system to convert the polysaccharides of pretreated lignocellulose, especially hemicellulose to fatty acids and high value chemicals such as carotenoids. We have optimized analytical methods and cultivation conditions. Considerable differences in the fatty acid composition of different yeast species were found. Unraveling the physiological basis of e.g. forming differing amounts of unsaturated fatty acids such as linolenic acid will provide a basis for optimizing the synthesis of essential fatty acids by yeasts, useful both in fuel and food formulations.