Biosynthesis of lipid by Mortierella isabellina grown on hexadecanol

Mortierella isabellina was found to accumulate lipid with 2% hexadecanol an d 1% yeast extract as the growth substrates, The amount of lipid reached 64 . 5% of dry mycelia, and unsaturated acids accounted for 97. 05% of the tot al fatty acids, Mean while, 75% of hexadecanol in medium was converted to l ipid, The biosynthetic route from hexadecanol to linoleic acid was presumed as follows: Hexadecanol --> --> C-18 : 0(Steric acid) --> C-18 : 0(Oleic acid) --> C-18 : 2(Linoleic acid).