EICOSAPENTAENOIC ACID (EPA) PRODUCTION BY MORTIERELLA-ALPINA ATCC-32222

Mortierella alpina ATCC 32222 grew well at 11-degrees-C, as well as at 25-degrees-C in a liquid medium containing glucose or linseed oil and yeast extract. High Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) yield was obtained at 11-degrees-C. M. alpina cells did not produce EPA at 25-degrees-C in the absence of linseed oil, whereas at 11-degrees-C, EPA accumulation was noted in the absence of linseed oil. When grown at 11-degrees-C for 10 d in a medium containing 2% linseed oil as carbon source, the mycelium yielded 435 mg/L EPA (20 mg EPA/g dry mycelia) with 5.1% in lipid fraction. By gradually increasing the concentration of linseed oil to 4%, yield of biomass and EPA were increased to 43 g/L and 596 mg/L, respectively.