Production of arachidonic acid by a hydrocarbon-utilizing strain of Penicillium cyaneum

Summary Penicillium cyaneum, isolated from an, oil-field, was grown in batch culture on media containing glucose or kerosene alone, or both glucose and kerosene. Arachidonic acid was produced in highest yield (7.5%; 200 g per g dry weight of organisms) in media containing glucose and kerosene or kerosene alone. No effect on the arachidonic acid yield was observed when either yeast extract or sodium nitrate was used as the nitrogen source. Higher yields of intracellular fatty acids and arachidonic acid were obtained at 27°C than at 32°C.