GAMMA-LINOLENIC ACID IN ZYGOMYCETOUS FUNGI - SYZYGITES MEGALOCARPUS

The fatty acids of over 150 species and isolates of zygomycetous fungi were analyzed, and it was found that gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) compo sed 35 to 62% of the total fatty acids in several species, i.e., Circe nella simplex, Mucor indicus, Syzygites megalocarpus (ATCC 18025), and Zygorhynchus moellierie A (UAMH 1556). Further study of S. megalocarp us showed that the total lipid content of the mycelium could be increa sed from 9.8% of the dry biomass to 20 to 25% when grown in a medium w ith a high carbon/nitrogen ratio. Under these conditions, the CLA cont ent of the triacyglycerols increased during culture development even d uring the stationary phase, but remained relatively constant in the ph ospholipid fraction. Nonsaponifiable lipid represented 4% of the total lipid, and the major sterol among 14 others detected was ergosterol a t 52% of the total. Phospholipids composed 7% of the total lipid with phosphatidylethanol-amine and phosphatidylcholine representing 53 and 39% of the total, respectively.