Production of high yields of arachidonic acid in a fed-batch system by Mortierella alpina ATCC 32222

Of six strains of Mortierella tested, Mortierella alpina ATCC 32222 produced the highest yields of arachidonic acid. Supplementation of soy flour (1% w/v) and vegetable oils (1% v/v) significantly increased the biomass, lipid content and arachidonic acid level. Replacement of NaNO₃ with corn steep liquor (1% w/v) also improved arachidonic acid production. A fed-batch culture system at 25 °C, producing a high biomass (52.4 g/l) and arachidonic acid content (9.1 g/l) in 8␣days, was developed. A fed-batch system at low temperature (15 °C) gave even higher arachidonic acid levels (11.1 g/l) in 11 days. Received: 28 October 1996 / Received revision: 3 March 1997 / Accepted: 7 March 1997     

Nutritional stress effects under different nitrogen sources on the genes in microalga Isochrysis zhangjiangensis and the assistance of Alteromonas macleodii in releasing the stress of amino acid deficiency

The expressions of nine nitrogen assimilation‐associated genes, NRT2, NAR1, NIA2, NIR, GLN2, GLSF, GSN1, GDH, and AAT2, in the microalga Isochrysis zhangjiangensis were investigated to unveil the effects of limitations of various nitrogen sources (NaNO₃, NH₄Cl, NaNO₂, and an amino acid mixture) on the microalgae. The results demonstrated that the NRT2, NAR1, GLN2, GSN1, and AAT2 genes were highly expressed in lipid‐rich microalgae under inorganic nitrogen‐deficient conditions and they decreased after nitrogen resupply. Significant increases in the expressions of NAR1, GLN2, and GLSF were found in nitrate‐depleted microalgae, whereas significant increases in the expressions of NRT2, NAR1, GLN2, and GSN1 were found in nitrite‐depleted microalgae. Significant increases in the expressions of only NRT2 and GSN1 were found in ammonium‐depleted microalgae (P < 0.05). Except for the NRT2, other genes were expressed at lower levels under amino acid‐deficient conditions compared with amino acid‐sufficient controls. The expression of the NIA2 gene decreased in nitrogen‐depleted microalgae regardless of the initial nitrogen source. However, the results of fatty acid analyses showed that the features of fatty acid profiles followed a similar mode, in which the percentage compositions of C16:0 and C18:1Δ⁹ increased in nitrogen‐depleted cells and that of C16:1Δ⁹, C18:3Δ^9,12,15, C18:4Δ^6,9,12,15, and C18:5Δ^3,6,9,12,15 decreased, regardless of the type of nitrogen source applied. It was also found that the epiphytic bacterium Alteromonas macleodii played a particularly important role in releasing microalgae from the stress of amino acid deficiency. These findings also provide a foundation for regulating microalgal lipid production through manipulation of the nitrogen assimilation‐associated genes.     

INORGANIC NITROGEN NUTRITION OF THE SEEDLINGS OF THE ORCHID,CATTLEYA

When grown in vitro in a medium containing NH₄NO₃ as the sole source of nitrogen, seeds ro the orchid, Cattleya (C. labiata ‘Wonder’ X C. labiata ‘Treasure'), germinated readily and proceeded to form small plantlets. Development of the embryos was accompanied by an increase in their total nitrogen and a decline in the percent dry weight. Growth responses of the seedlings in other ammonium salts like (NH₄)₂SO₄, (NH₄)₂HPO₄, NH₄Cl, ammonium acetate and ammonium oxalate were similar to that in NH₄NO₃. However, when grown in a medium containing NaNO₃, development of the seedlings was drastically inhibited; KNO₃, Ca(NO₃)₂, KNO₂ and NaNO₂ also were poor nitrogen sources. Attempts to grow the seedlings in NaNO₃ by changing the pH or by addition of kinetin, molybdenum or ascorbic acid as supplements were completely unsuccessful. When seedlings growing in NH₄NO₃ for varying periods were transferred to NaNO₃, it was found that those plants allowed to grow for 60 or more days in NH₄NO₃ could resume normal growth thereafter in NaNO₃. Determination of the nitrate reductase activity in seedlings of different ages grown in NaNO₃, after NH₄NO₃, showed that the ability of the seedlings to assimilate inorganic nitrogen was paralleled by the appearance of the enzyme.     

Ammonium,nitrate, and urea play different roles for lipid accumulation in the nervonic acid—producing microalgae <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mychonastes afer</Emphasis> HSO-3-1

Producing valuable coproducts from oleaginous microalgae is an option to reduce the total cost of biofuel production. Here, the influence of nitrogen sources on biomass yield and lipid accumulation of a newly identified oleaginous green microalgal strain, Mychonastes afer HSO-3-1, was evaluated. Carbon assimilation and the following lipid biosynthesis of M. afer were inhibited to some extent under weak acidic conditions (6 < pH < 7) and any of the tested nitrogen source. The highest lipid productivity of 50.7 mg L^?1 day^?1 was achieved with a 17.6 mM nitrogen supplement in the form of urea. The cell polar lipid content was significantly higher than triacylglycerol (TAG), and saturated palmitic acid (C16:0) occupied a dominant position in the fatty acid profiles while culturing M. afer in acidic medium with NH₄ ⁺ as the nitrogen source. Under neutral conditions, the lipid productivities of M. afer cultivated in media containing 17.6 mM of NaNO₃, NH₄Cl, and NH₄NO₃ were 76.2, 77.5, and 79.0 mg L^?1 day^?1, respectively. The greatest TAG content (58.56%) of total lipids was obtained when NaNO₃ was used as the nitrogen source. There was no significant difference in the fatty acid composition of M. afer cells when they were cultivated in neutral media supplemented with NaNO₃, urea, NH₄Cl, and NH₄NO₃. Therefore, NH₄ ⁺ was not a suitable nitrogen source for M. afer cultivation due to the additional labor, working procedures, and alkali required to adjust the medium pH. Considering that using urea as nitrogen source could reduce the cost of nutrient salts substantially and urea can be taken up and utilized by most microalgae, it is a preferred nitrogen source. The major properties of biodiesel derived from M. afer HSO-3-1 met biodiesel quality, and nervonic acid concentrations remained at approximately 3.0% of total fatty acids.     

Effect of the nitrogen source on the biosynthesis, composition, and structure of the exopolysaccharides ofAureobasidium pullulans (de Bary) Arnaud

The effect of the nitrogen source and the C/N ratio of the growth medium on the biosynthesis, composition, and structure of the exopolysaccharides (EPSs) ofAureobasidium pullulans (de Bary) Arnaud var.aubasidani Yurlova var. nov. andA. pullulans var.pullulans was studied.A. pullulans var.pullulans andA. pullulans var.aubasidani strains synthesized the maximum amounts of EPSs in the presence of, respectively, a reduced nitrogen source ((NH₄)₂SO₄) and an oxidized nitrogen source (NaNO₃) in the medium. The data presented confirm the validity of using the chemical composition and structure of the major cetavlon-precipitated fraction ofA. pullulans EPSs for the characterization of intraspecies taxa.     

Increase in Nitrate Reductase Activity with Ammonium Chloride in Bacillus licheniformis by Shaking Culture

In shaking culture, nitrate reductase activity in the cell-free extracts of Bacillus licheniformis increased with the addition of NH₄Cl to the medium containing NaNO₃ as a single nitrogen source, where amounts of nitrogen sources were sufficient for cell growth. This increase of nitrate reductase activity therefore suggests that the activity is not for nitrate assimilation but for other physiological functions containing a dissimilatory nitrate reduction.     

Penta- and disaccharide lipid formation by Nocardia corynebacteroides grown on n-alkanes

Summary Nocardia corynebacteroides SM1 synthesized di- and pentasaccharide lipids when grown on n-alkanes, especially under nitrogen limitation. Optimum conditions for their formation were pH 6.4–6.8, NaNO₃ as nitrogen source and yeast extract supplementation of the nutrient. A study of the time course of whole glycolipid production was carried out in a 20-l bioreactor. After extraction of the culture broth with organic solvents three main components could be isolated. Both ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic and elemental analysis studies led to the identification of one novel pentasaccharide lipid and two trehalose corynomycolates. The oligosaccharide lipid showed significant surface and interfacial active properties.This paper is dedicated to Prof. Dr. Fritz Wagner, Technical University of Braunschweig, on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Improvement of lipid production in the marine strains Alexandrium minutum and Heterosigma akashiwo by utilizing abiotic parameters

Two different strains of microalgae, one raphidophyte and one dinoflagellate, were tested under different abiotic conditions with the goal of enhancing lipid production. Whereas aeration was crucial for biomass production, nitrogen deficiency and temperature were found to be the main abiotic parameters inducing the high-level cellular accumulation of neutral lipids. Net neutral lipid production and especially triacylglycerol (TAG) per cell were higher in microalgae (>200% in Alexandrium minutum, and 30% in Heterosigma akashiwo) under treatment conditions (25°C; 330 μM NaNO₃) than under control conditions (20°C; 880 μM NaNO₃). For both algal species, oil production (free fatty acids plus TAG fraction) was also higher under treatment conditions (57 mg L⁻¹ in A. minutum and 323 mg L⁻¹ in H. akashiwo). Despite the increased production and accumulation of lipids in microalgae, the different conditions did not significantly change the fatty acids profiles of the species analyzed. These profiles consisted of saturated fatty acids (SAFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in significant proportions. However, during the stationary phase, the concentrations per cell of some PUFAs, especially arachidonic acid (C20:4n6), were higher in treated than in control algae. These results suggest that the adjustment of abiotic parameters is a suitable and one of the cheapest alternatives to obtain sufficient quantities of microalgal biomass, with high oil content and minimal changes in the fatty acid profile of the strains under consideration.     

不同氮源及其浓度对标志链带藻合成淀粉和油脂的影响北大核心CSCD

【目的】以标志链带藻(Desmodesmus insignis)为实验材料,研究不同氮源及其浓度对该藻生长、总脂和淀粉(碳水化合物)含量的影响,为该藻在生物能源方面的应用提供一定的理论依据。【方法】以硝酸钠、碳酸氢铵或尿素为氮源,5个氮浓度(3、6、9、12和18 mmol/L)的BG-11培养基培养标志链带藻,采用干重法测定生物质浓度、重量法测定总脂、苯酚-硫酸法测定、总碳水化合物和淀粉的含量。【结果】标志链带藻在3种氮源下均能很好的生长。最高油脂含量出现在3 mmol/L硝酸钠实验组,达到32.61%(d.w)。当18 mmol/L碳酸氢铵作为氮源时,总碳水化合物与淀粉的含量以及产率都达到最高,分别为56.54%(d.w)和55.33%(d.w)、0.24和0.23 g/(L·d)。以尿素为氮源时,其生物质浓度和各组分含量与其它氮源实验组差别不大,均有利于该藻的生长及各生化组分含量的积累。【结论】以该藻种生产生物能源的成本等综合考虑,以18 mmol/L碳酸氢铵和尿素为氮源培养标志链带藻最优。     

The effect of source,concentration and time of application of nitrogen on the growth,nodulation and nitrogen fixation ofLotus pedunculatus andTrifolium repens

Summary Studies under growth cabinet conditions investigated the effect of source and concentration of nitrogen and timing of nitrogen application on the growth and nitrogen fixation byLotus pedunculatus cv. Maku andTrifolium repens cv. S184. KNO₃, NaNO₃ and NH₄NO₃ were added at transplanting at the following rates: 3.33, 7.78 and 13.33 mg N/plant. KNO₃ was added at 3.33 and 7.78 mg N/plant at 0, 6, 12, 18, 24 or 30 days after transplanting.Lotus shoot weight increased with all increasing nitrogen sources but clover only responded to KNO₃ and NaNO₃. The root weight of both species increased with increasing KNO₃ and NH₄NO₃. The percentage increase in lotus and clover shoot growth was greater than that of root growth when KNO₃ was added within a week of transplanting. Increases in growth by both species resulted from added nitrogen except with lotus when NaNO₃ was applied where increased nitrogen fixation also contributed to increased growth.Weight and number of effective nodules on both species were increased with 3.33 mg N per plant as KNO₃ but nitrogen fixation was not affected. Addition of 13.33 mg N as NaNO₃ reduced weight and number of effective nodules in both species and also nitrogen fixation by lotus.KNO₃ increased growth and nodulation of both species when applied within one week after transplanting. Nodulated lotus plants responded to KNO₃ by increasing growth but not nodulation.KNO₃ appeared to affect infection and development of nodules on lotus and may affect the growth of existing nodules on clover.     

Submerged culture conidial germination and conidiation of the bioherbicideColletotrichum truncatum are influenced by the amino acid composition of the medium

Summary Submerged culture experiments were conducted to determine the optimal nitrogen source for rapidly producing conidia of the bioherbicide,Colletotrichum truncatum. Germination ofC. truncatum conidial inocula in submerged culture occurred most rapidly (>95% in 6 h) in media provided with a complete complement of amino acids. When (NH₄)₂SO₄, urea, or individual amino acids were provided as the sole nitrogen source, conidial germination was less than 20% after 6 h incubation. Conidia production was delayed inC. truncatum cultures grown in media with urea or individual amino acids as nitrogen sources compared to cultures supplied with Casamino acids or complete synthetic amino acid nitrogen sources. The use of methionine, lysine, tryptophan, isoleucine, leucine or cysteine as a sole nitrogen source severely inhibitedC. truncatum conidia production. Media with synthetic amino acid mixtures less these inhibitory amino acids produced significantly higher conidia yields compared to media with amino acid mixtures containing these amino acids. When various amounts of each individual inhibitory amino acid were added to media which contained amino acid mixtures, cysteine and methionine were shown to be most effective in reducing conidiation. An optimal nitrogen source forC. truncatum conidiation in submerged culture should contain a complete mixture of amino acids with low levels of cysteine, methionine, leucine, isoleucine, lysine and tryptophan for rapid conidiation and optimal conidia yield.The mention of firm names or trade products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the US Department of Agriculture over other firms or similar products not mentioned.     

Utilization of Inorganic Nitrogen Compounds by Sphaerotilus natans Growing in a Continuous-Flow Apparatus

Sphaerotilus natans was grown, attached, in a continuous-flow apparatus with inorganic nitrogen compounds (NH₄Cl, NaNO₂, or NaNO₃) as the only sources of nitrogen. The growth rate with NH₄⁺-containing medium did not differ from that with media containing glutamate or Casitone as the nitrogen source.     

Growth and β-Glucan 10C3K Production by a Mutant of Alcaligenes faecalis var. myxogenes in Defined Medium

A defined medium was developed in which Alcaligenes faecalis var. myxogenes 10C3 mutant K produced a large quantity of β-glucan 10C3K. The medium contained 4% glucose together with 0.1% citrate, succinate or fumarate as the carbon source, 0.15% (NH₄)₂HPO₄ as the nitrogen source and mineral salts. When NaNH₄HPO₄, KNO₃ or urea was used at a concentration of 0.03% nitrogen as the sole nitrogen source, salts of organic acid were not needed in addition to glucose.

In culture medium containing phosphate buffer (M/15, pH 6.5~8.0) large amounts of polysaccharide were formed and its yield from the 4% glucose added was about 50%. Thus, it was shown that polysaccharide production is enhanced greatly if a suitable pH for polysaccharide production is maintained during incubation.     

An inexpensive medium for production of arachidonic acid by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mortierella alpina</Emphasis>

The production of arachidonic acid was studied in the fungus Mortierella alpina using an inexpensive medium. Glucose derived from maize starch hydrolysate was the sole carbon source and defatted soybean meal and sodium nitrate were the nitrogen sources. Optimal arachidonic acid yield (1.47 g l^-1) was observed at a glucose concentration of 100 g l^-1. Various treatments of defatted soybean meal to extract soluble nitrogen nutrients were evaluated. Alkali extract was the most effective for arachidonic acid production. A mixture of soybean alkali-extract protein and sodium nitrate was an excellent nitrogen source for fungal growth, lipid accumulation, and arachidonic acid production. A maximum yield of 1.87 g arachidonic acid l^-1 was obtained with a soybean protein concentration of 4.6 g l^-1 and a sodium nitrate concentration of 2.3 g l^-1. Electronic Publication     

Regulation of nitrogen-fixation by different nitrogen sources in the marine non-heterocystous cyanobacterium Trichodesmium sp. NIBB1067

The effect of various nitrogen sources on the synthesis and activity of nitrogenase was studied in the marine, non-heterocystous cyanobacterium Trichodesmium sp. NIBB1067 grown under defined culture conditions. Cells grown with N₂ as the sole inorganic nitrogen source showed light-dependent nitrogenase activity (acetylene reduction). Nitrogenase activity in cells grown on N₂ was not suppressed after 7 h incubation with 2 mM NaNO₃ or 0.02 mM NH₄Cl. However, after 3 h of exposure to 0.5 mM of urea, nitrogenase was inactivated. Cells grown in medium containing 2 mM NaNO₃, 0.5 mM urea or 0.02 mM NH₄Cl completely lacked the ability to reduce acetylene. Western immunoblots tested with polyclonal antisera against the Fe-protein and the Mo–Fe protein, revealed the following: (1) both the Fe-protein and the Mo–Fe protein were synthesized in cells grown with N₂ as well as in cells grown with NaNO₃ or low concentration of NH₄Cl; (2) two bands (apparent molecular mass of 38 000 and 40 000) which cross-reacted with the antiserum to the Fe-protein, were found in nitrogen-fixing cells; (3) only one protein band, corresponding to the high molecular mass form of the Fe-protein, was found in cells grown with NaNO₃ or low concentration of NH₄Cl; (4) neither the Fe-protein nor the Mo–Fe protein was found in cells grown with urea; (5) the apparent molecular mass of the Fe-protein of Trichodesmium sp. NIBB1067 was about 5000 dalton higher than that of the heterocystous cyanobacterium, Anabaena cylindrica IAM-M1.     

Acid phosphatases excreted by Humicola lutea 120-5 in casein-containing medium

The fungus Humicola lutea 120-5 cultivated in casein-containing media, in the presence or absence of inorganic phosphate (P_i), excretes three different molecular forms of acid phosphatase (with M_r values of approximately 140, 70 and 35 kDa). The enzyme forms were isolated and purified 30–100-fold by a procedure involving two steps of ion-exchange chromatography and Sephadex G-200 gel chromatography. It was found that the fungus excretes only one of the phosphatases with the highest M_r (140 kDa) during growth on medium with inorganic nitrogen source (NaNO₃). This form (designed AcPh I) was assumed to be a constitutive, since it showed resistance to high P_i-concentrations (10 mM) and its biosynthesis was not affected by the type of nitrogen source (casein or NaNO₃). The other two forms (AcPh II-70 and AcPh III-35 kDa) were competitively inhibited by P_i (K _i = 0.5 and 0.2 mM, respectively) and were induced by casein. The K _m values of AcPh I and AcPh II were estimated as 1.3 mM, while AcPh III showed a higher affinity for p-nitrophenylphosphate (pNPP) with K _m of 0.5 mM. The AcPh I–III fractions demonstrated a pH optimum in the range of 4.5–4.8 and an optimal temperature of 55 °C using pNPP as a substrate. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Nitrite utilization by Chaetoceros muelleri under elevated CO2 concentration

Chaetoceros muelleri (Lemn.) was cultured with nitrite (NO₂⁻) or nitrate (NO₃⁻) as the sole nitrogen source and aerated with air or with CO₂-enriched air. Cells of C. muelleri excreted into the medium nitrite produced by reduction of nitrate when grown with 100 μM NaNO₃ as nitrogen source. Accordingly, NO₂⁻ concentration reached 10.4 μM after 95 h at the low CO₂ condition (aerated with air); while the maximum NO₂⁻ concentration was only around 2.0 μM at the high CO₂ condition (aerated with 5% CO₂ in air), furthermore, after 30 h it decreased to no more than 1.0 μM. NO₂⁻ was almost assimilated in 80 h when C. muelleri was cultured at the high CO₂ condition with 100 μM NaNO₂ as sole nitrogen source. At the high CO₂ condition, after 3 h the activity of nitrite reductase was as much as 50% higher than that at the low CO₂ condition. It was indicated that enriched CO₂ concentration could inhibit nitrite excretion and enhance nitrite assimilation by cells. Therefore, aeration with enriched CO₂ might be an effective way to control nitrite content in aquaculture systems.     

Selective changes in fatty acid composition of phosphatidylserine in rat erythrocyte membrane induced by nitrate

The relationship between nitrate which is formed from inhaled nitrogen dioxide, a common air pollutant, and changes in fatty acid metabolism of phosphatidylserine in rat erythrocytes has been examined. When erythrocytes were incubated at 37°C for 60 min with fatty acid, the incorporation rate of [1-¹⁴C]arachidonic acid and [9,10-³H]palmitic acid into phosphatidylserine was 15% (80 pmol/h per μmol lipid phosphorus) and 20% (12 pmol/h per μmol lipid phosphorus) of those into phosphatidylethanolamine, respectively. By the addition of 1.0 mM sodium nitrate or 0.5 μM ionophore A23187 to the incubation mixture, the rate of incorporation of both arachidonic acid and palmitic acid into phosphatidylethanolamine was stimulated 1.45-fold. On the other hand, the incorporation of palmitic acid into phosphatidylserine was little affected, while that of arachidonic acid was stimulated 1.35-fold. An increase in arachidonic acid of phosphatidylserine was also found by the addition of nitrate or ionophore A23187. This increase was dependent on the concentration of extracellular calcium and observed by the addition of other chaotropic anions in the order SCN >CIO₄^? > NO₃^?. It seems likely, therefore, that nitrate causes changes in erythrocyte membranes to facilitate calcium uptake. Increasing the concentration of intracellular calcium may cause stimulation of acyl-CoA:lysophospholipid acyltransferase and/or endogenous phospholipase A₂.     

Regulation of differentiation of the dimorphic fungusPaecilomyces viridis by nitrogen sources,antibiotics and metabolic inhibitors

The effect of nitrogen and carbon sources, vitamins, antibiotics and metabolic inhibitors on growth and differentiation ofPaecilomyces viridis was investigated. Sodium nitrate,l-asparagine,l-proline and peptone were found to be suitable nitrogen sources for mycelial growth (M) in a synthetic medium with glucose.Paecilomyces viridis could also grow slowly in a synthetic medium containing benzylpenicillin or bacitracin as the only nitrogen sources and very slowly even in a medium with polymyxin as the nitrogen source. Ammonium salts, area,l-arginine,d, l-aspartic acid andl,-serine were found to support intensive sporulation. Partially yeast-like growth (Y) was facilitated by NaNO₂, (NH₄)₂SO₄, NH₄NO₃, urea,d, l-alanine,l-arginine,d, l-aspartic acid,l-cysteine,l-glutamic acid andl-serine. Partially yeastlike growth could be observed in a medium with peptone and at an initial pH of 2. The following compounds appear as suitable carbon sources for mycelial growth:d-glucose,d-galactose,d-mannose, maltose, sucrose, chitin andd-mannitol. No changes in morphology could be detected on any of the 25 used carbon sources in a synthetic medium with NaNO₃. Yeast-like growth was induced by the antibiotics azalomycin F, cyanein (brefeldin A), griseofulvin and monorden (radicicol). After removal of the antibiotics, mycelial growth was restored. Sporulation was stimulated by chloramphenicol, 2-deoxy-d-glucose, furancarboxylic acid and stipitatic acid. Deformation of phialides was observed after treatment with actinomycin D, amphotericin B, boromycin, citrinin, cycloheximide, cytochalasin D, fungicidin and scopathricin. Microcyclic conidiation or growth of phialides directly from conidia were induced by cycloheximide, desertomycin, ethidium bromide and 5-fluorouracil.     

Effect of temperature and glucose supply on the production of polyunsaturated fatty acids by the fungus Mortierella alpina CBS 343.66 in fermentor cultures

The fungus Mortierella alpina CBS 343.66 was grown in a fermentor at different pH, temperatures and supplies of carbon source (glucose) in order to optimize the culture conditions for rapid biomass and lipid production with a high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially arachidonic acid (AA). Good growth and lipid production with 31% AA was obtained at pH 6.5 and 25°C. A temperature decrease to 18°C gave a significantly higher degree of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Eicosapentaenoic acid was not detected at 25°C, but was formed at 18°C at about 10%. The AA concentration but was similar for 18°C about 10%. The AA concentration was similar for 18°C and 25°C (around 30%): 18°C allowed relatively good growth and had a beneficial effect on the fungus morphology, i.e. pellets were formed. Best lipid production and a AA content of up to 33% was achieved at an excess of glucose (carbon source) and a deficit of ammonium chloride (nitrogen source). The percentage of AA of the total fatty acid composition was constant as ong as glucose was present. At glucose exhaustion, the proportion of AA increased to 57%. The increase in AA corresponded to a decrease in palmitic acid, stearic acid and oleic acid. Correspondence to: G. Molin