Arachidonic-acid production by species of Mortierella

Abstract

A growth-inhibiting, aspirin-containing medium was developed to select arachidonic-acid-(ARA)-producing Mortierella species and to determine the fatty-acid content of 87 Mortierella strains. ARA was detected in 66 strains from 33 species and its production may prove useful for systematic studies on Mortierella spp. The ARA content of the 66 producing strains tested ranged from 4% to 55% of total lipids. Most of the ARA-producing strains of Mortierella (59 strains) grown on potato/glucose/agar synthesized <20% ARA. Four strains produced between 20% and 25% ARA and three produced >40%. An inverse relationship was observed between ARA and oleic-acid contents.

Implications for the use of Mortierella fungi in the industrial production of essential fatty acids

“…This catabolism is triggered in order to allow for further mould growth (Murphy, 1991). With regards to fungi of the Mortierella genus, studies have shown that temperature, pH, agitation, age of the mould and the composition of the growth media are all important factors in affecting mycelial growth and the fatty acid compositions of these moulds (Bajpai et al, 1991;Eroshin et al, 1996;Funtikova & Mysyakina, 1997;Hansson & Dostalek, 1988;Jareonkitmongkol et al, 1992a;Jareonkitmongkol et al, 1993;Jareonkitmongkol et al, 1992b;Kavadia et al, 2001;Kawashima et al, 2000;Kendrick & Ratledge, 1992Lindberg & Molin, 1993;Nakahara et al, 1992;Sajbidor et al, 1992;Shimizu et al, 1989a;Shimizu et al, 1988;Shimizu et al, 1989b;Shimizu et al, 1989c;Shinmen et al, 1989;Stredankska & Sajbidor, 1993;Totani et al, 1992;Yamada et al, 1992).…”

“…Species belonging to the fungal genus Mortierella have attracted notable attention within this research area due to their potential as lipid producers. The EFAs that have received the most attention with regards to Mortierella research are ARA, EPA, GLA, and DHGLA (Bajpai, Bajpai, & Ward, 1991;Eroshin et al, 1996;Funtikova & Mysyakina, 1997;Hansson & Dostalek, 1988;Jareonkitmongkol, Kawashima, Shirasaka, Shimizu, & Yamada, 1992a;Jareonkitmongkol, Sakuradani, & Shimizu, 1993;Jareonkitmongkol, Shimizu, & Yamada, 1992b;Kavadia et al, 2001;Kawashima, Akimoto, Higashiyami, Fujikawa, & Shimizu, 2000;Kendrick & Ratledge, 1992Lai, Slugen, & Sajbidor, 1998;Leman, 1997;Lindberg & Molin, 1993;Nakahara, Yokochi, Kamisaka, & Suzuki, 1992;Sajbidor, Kozelouhova, & Certik, 1992;Shimizu, Akimoto, Kawashima, Shinmen, & Yamada, 1989a;Shimizu, Kawashima, Shinmen, Akimoto, & Yamada, 1988;Shimizu, Kawashima, Akimoto, Shinmen, & Yamada, 1989b;Shimizu, Kawashima, Akimoto, Shinmen, & Yamada, 1989c;Shinmen, Shimizu, Akimoto, Kawashima, & Yamada, 1989;Stredankska & Sajbidor, 1993;Stredanska, Slugen, StedÕansky, & Grego, 1993;Totani, Someya, & Oba, 1992;Yamada et al, 1992). Research has also shown that the relative amounts of these EFAs can vary dramatically both between and within the Mortierella species.…”

The Effect of pH and Temperature on Arachidonic Acid Production by Glycerol-Grown Mortierella alpina NRRL-A-10995

“…The study was carried out with the previously selected strain, M. alpina NRRL-A-10995, which was obtained from the ARS Culture Collection, United States [34,35].…”

Isolation and identification of native lower fungi for polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) production in Thailand, and the effect of carbon and nitrogen sources on growth and production

“…For 7 days of growth, the yields of biomass and ARA were 25 and 1.4 gl -1 , respectively. Eroshin et al (1996) developed a medium containing aspirin to select ARA producing strain of Mortierella sp., and obtained three isolates producing up to 40% of ARA in total lipid content. Production of ARA in photoautotrophic algae, such as Porphyridium cruentum and Parietochloris incise, appeared to be optimal under conditions of slow growth in nitrogen free or nitrogenstarved conditions (Ward and Singh, 2005).…”