OPTIMIZATION OF CONDITIONS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF EICOSAPENTAENOIC ACID BY MORTIERELLA

This research characterized the optimum growth conditions of Mortierel la for accumulation of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Eight strains of M ortierella, NRRL 5513, 2761, 1757, 6337, 2493 and ATCC 24786, 16271, 1 6266, were evaluated for their ability to produce EPA. Temperature, te mperature shifting, media, and media supplementation (carbon/nitrogen sources, growth factors and antibiotic supplementation) were studied t o determine their effect on mycelial mass and EPA accumulation. M. elo ngata ATCC 16271 was the most effective strain for EPA production when grown at 18C, in yeast malt broth, pH 5.1, and harvested after 7 days , yielding 66 mg EPA/g dry mycelial cells. In another experiment, temp erature shifting (2 days at 24C, to 5 days at 12C) increased the yield of EPA about eight times to 32 mg EPA/g dry mycelial cells from 4 mg EPA/g dry mycelial cells for nontemperature shifted cultures. This res earch describes methodologies that resulted in EPA content higher than any previously reported.