Lipids of oleaginous yeasts. Part I: Biochemistry of single cell oil production

Abstract In the first part of this review, the biochemistry of lipid accumulation in the oleaginous microorganisms is depicted. Lipid biosynthesis form sugars and related substrates is a secondary anabolic activity, conducted after essential nutrient (usually nitrogen) depletion in the medium. Due to this exhaustion, the carbon flow is directed towards the accumulation of intracellular citric acid that is used as acetyl‐CoA donor in the cytoplasm. Acetyl‐CoA generates cellular fatty acids and subsequently triacylglycerols. Lipid accumulation from hydrophobic substrates is a growth associated process, being independent from nitrogen exhaustion in the medium. Medium fatty acids are incorporated with various…