EFFECT OF EXOGENOUS LIPIDS ON FATTY-ACID METABOLISM AND ACCUMULATION IN FUNGAL CELLS

It was found that lipids of Phytophthora fungi and zygomycetes may inc lude fatty acids directly incorporated or formed from exogenous lipids . In the presence of exogenous lipids, the yield of cellular fatty aci ds in Phytophthora fungi increased due to the activation of growth. Th e relative content of linoleic acid in the zygomycete Cunninghamella j aponica increased threefold in both total fatty acids and fungal bioma ss. Palmitic acid formed by oxidation of exogenous n-hexadecane was ei ther accumulated by cells (C. japonica) or converted into eicosapolyen oic acids, as was observed in Mortierella alpina. In antibiotic-produc ing fungi, growth on media containing exogenous lipids resulted in an increase in the nonsaturation degree of cellular lipids and the appear ance of polyenoic C-20 acids. These lipids were successfully tested in some technological processes.