SYNTHESIS OF THE LIPID COMPLEX CONTAINING GAMMA-LINOLENIC ACID AND CAROTENOIDS BY A MUCOROUS FUNGUS UNDER VARIOUS CULTIVATION CONDITIONS

As much as 350 mg % of carotenoids was found in lipids of the fungus M ucor lusitanicus INMI - a gamma-linolenic acid producer. The influence of microelements (Mo, Mn, Cu, Zn) on the processes of gamma-linolenic acid and carotenoid synthesis was studied. Copper and zinc sulfates w ere shown to increase their content in the lipids. Upon simultaneous a ction of factors (light, microelements, vitamins B-1, B-6, and biotin) , the gamma-linolenic acid production (g/l) and carotenoid content in the lipids increased more than 2 times. Adding an oxidant KMnO4 to the culture liquid resulted in an increase of the carotenoid content in t he lipids by a factor of 1.7.