Evaluating glucose and xylose as cosubstrates for lipid accumulation and c-linolenic acid biosynthesis of Thamnidium elegans

Zikou, E., Chatzifragkou, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9255-7871, Koutinas, A. A. and Papanikolaou, S. (2013) Evaluating glucose and xylose as cosubstrates for lipid accumulation and c-linolenic acid biosynthesis of Thamnidium elegans. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 114 (4). pp. 1020-1032. ISSN 1365-2672 doi: 10.1111/jam.12116

Abstract/Summary

Aims: To study the biotechnological production of lipids containing rich amounts of the medically and nutritionally important c-linolenic acid (GLA), during cultivation of the Zygomycetes Thamnidium elegans, on mixtures of glucose and xylose, abundant sugars of lignocellulosic biomass. Methods and Results: Glucose and xylose were utilized as carbon sources, solely or in mixtures, under nitrogen-limited conditions, in batch-flask or bioreactor cultures. On glucose, T. elegans produced 31.9 g/L of biomass containing 15.0 g/L lipid with significantly high GLA content (1014 mg/L). Xylose was proved to be an adequate substrate for growth and lipid production. Additionally, xylitol secretion occurred when xylose was utilized as carbon source, solely or in mixtures with glucose. Batch-bioreactor trials on glucose yielded satisfactory lipid production, with rapid substrate consumption rates. Analysis of intracellular lipids showed that the highest GLA content was observed in early stationary growth phase, while the phospholipid fraction was the most unsaturated fraction of T. elegans. Conclusions: Thamnidium elegans represents a promising fungus for the successful valorization of sugar-based lignocellulosic residues into microbial lipids of high nutritional and pharmaceutical interest.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/55052
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy > Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences > Food Research Group
Publisher	Society for Applied Microbiology
Download/View statistics	View download statistics for this item