Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Bioenergy Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #289574
Title: Phylogeny-guided screening of yeast strains for lipid production

Author
item Dien, Bruce
item Slininger, Patricia - Pat
item Kurtzman, Cletus
item Evangelista, Roque
item Moser, Bryan
item Saha, Badal
item Cotta, Michael
item BALAN, V - Michigan State University
item JIN, M - Michigan State University
item SOUSA, L - Michigan State University
item DALE, B - Michigan State University

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/29/2013
Publication Date: 5/2/2013
Citation: Dien, B.S., Slininger, P.J., Kurtzman, C.P., Evangelista, R.L., Moser, B.R., Saha, B.C., Cotta, M.A., Balan, V., Jin, M., Sousa, L.D., Dale, B.E. 2013. Phylogeny-guided screening of yeast strains for lipid production [abstract]. Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology. Poster 8-10.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Oleaginous yeast accumulates greater than 20% of their biomass as triacylglycerol in response to nutritional starvation in the presence of excess carbon source. As such, these yeasts have been suggested as a biocatalyst for converting sugars derived from cellulosic feedstocks into biodiesel. Several yeast strains belonging to various oleaginous species were selected from the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Culture Collection (NCAUR, Peoria, IL) and were screened for lipid production. The oleaginous yeast strains were screened in baffled flask cultures using a complex glucose and/or xylose-based medium with a high C:N ratio. Screening was facilitated by adapting a chemical assay that allows for in situ lipid measurement, avoiding the need for extraction. Two strains, from an initial screen of 12, were found to store over 50% of their biomass as lipids. One of these was selected for further study based upon lipid yield and productivity. The strain was able to readily convert xylose and glucose/xylose mixtures simultaneously to lipids at yields near the practical maximum of circa 0.2 g/g sugar. Related isolates available from the ARS culture collection are now being screened for superior oil-producing ability based upon relatedness using a phylogenetic tree for guidance.