FATTY-ACID COMPOSITIONS OF LIPIDS IN THE MYCELIA OF ASPERGILLUS FUNGI

The fatty acid compositions of lipids in the mycelia of nine species of Aspergillus fungi were examined by capillary column gas chromatographic analysis. The predominant fatty acids of the lipids in Aspergillus fungi were 15:0, 16:0, 17:0, 18:0, 18:1 (n-9), 18:2 (n-6), 18:3 (n-3) and 24:0. All the samples contained high levels of 18:1 (n-9) and 18:2 (n-6), and the total amounts of these two fatty acids comprised 64 approximately 80% of the total fatty acids. The fatty acid compositions of the lipids in Aspergillus fungi were similar to those of vegetable oils such as soybean, peanut and cottonseed oils.