PRODUCTION OF EICOSAPENTAENOIC ACID BY THE FILAMENTOUS FUNGUS PYTHIUMIRREGULARE

Because of the diversity of their lipids and fatty acid biosynthetic p athways, lower fungi may find utilization as sources of omega-3 or oth er polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Production of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) by the filamentous fungus, Pythium irregulare, has been dem onstrated in 14-1 fermenters. Sweet whey permeate (lactose) was prefer red over glucose as a substrate for production of a high-EPA-content l ipid. Characterization of the lipid indicated that approximately 90% o f the EPA was contained in the neutral lipid fraction. A specific prod uctivity of 24.9 mg EPA/g dry biomass was achieved at 14 degrees C, at which temperature the lipid contained 25.2% EPA and 54.2% PUFA. This is the highest mycelial EPA content for a fungal lipid that has been r eported in the literature.