Activating de novo triacylglycerol synthesis in oleaginous yeast for improved bio-diesel quality

Abstract

The economic production of yeast biofuels requires several strategies, such as multiomics techniques to gain insights into lipid biosynthesis pathway. Hence, metabolomic studies for amelioration of triacylglycerol (TAG) accumulation in oleaginous yeast strain to reveal potential targets in fatty acid synthesis pathway should be explored. The aim of this research experiment was to boost TAG agglomeration in novel isolated oleaginous yeast Cryptococcus psychrotolerans IITRFD using sodium bicarbonate as supplement for biodiesel production. Enhanced biomass productivity (83.5 ± 0.32 mg/L/h) and lipid productivity (56.8 ± 0.34 mg/L/h) have been estimated as compared to yeast nitrogen base media (YNB) used as control. Also, the bicarbonate supplementation (25 mM) leads to decrease in phospholipids (23.6 %) while increase in TAG amount (75.4 %) signifying that it redirects the phospholipids synthesis pathway in the direction of de novo TAG pathway. The fatty acid profile obtained revealed rise in monounsaturated fatty acid content and decrease in polyunsaturated fatty acid content demonstrating better oxidative stability (19 h) and cold flow behaviour (- 12 °C) of biodiesel produced. This novel strategy of utilizing bicarbonate as a triggering system may possibly revamp the commercial use of C. psychrotolerans IITRFD for high quality biodiesel production. This is the first study to augment TAG accumulation in this oleaginous yeast using sodium bicarbonate with improved fuel properties.