Isocitric acid production from rapeseed oil by Yarrowia lipolytica yeast.

Production of D S-threo-isocitric acid (ICA) by yeast meets serious difficulties since it is accompanied by a simultaneous production of citric acid (CA) in significant amounts that reduces the yield of desired product. In order to develop an effective process of ICA production, 60 yeast strains of different genera (Candida, Pichia, Saccharomyces, Torulopsis, and Yarrowia) were tested for their ability to produce ICA from rapeseed oil; as a result, wild-type strain Yarrowia lipolytica VKM Y-2373 and its mutant Y. lipolytica 704-UV4-A/NG50 were selected as promising ICA producers.

α-Ketoglutaric acid production by Yarrowia lipolytica and its regulation.

The yeast Yarrowia lipolytica VKM Y-2412 was selected as a prospective producer of α-ketoglutaric acid (KGA) from ethanol. The following peculiarities were found: (1) the intensive KGA production occurred only under the limitation of cell growth by thiamine and the excess of ethanol and nitrogen, (2) the production of KGA from ethanol required increased amount of zinc and iron ions, and (3) KGA production increased significantly with a high aeration at pH medium equal to 3.5.