PRODUCTION OF EICOSAPENTAENOIC ACID BY THE FILAMENTOUS FUNGUS PYTHIUM IRREGULARE

Because of the diversity of their lipids and fatty acid biosynthetic pathways, lower fungi may find utilization as sources of omega-3 or other polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Production of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) by the filamentous fungus, Pythium irregulare, has been demonstrated in 14-1 fermenters. Sweet whey permeate (lactose) was preferred over glucose as a substrate for production of a high-EPA-content lipid. Characterization of the lipid indicated that approximately 90% of the EPA was contained in the neutral lipid fraction. A specific productivity of 24.9 mg EPA/g dry biomass was achieved at 14 degrees C, at which temperature the lipid contained 25.2% EPA and 54.2% PUFA. This is the highest mycelial EPA content for a fungal lipid that has been reported in the literature.