Isolation and characterization of a methanol utilizing yeast with high cell yield

Abstract

A yeast (Pichia pastoris strain CMB 10) growing on methanol as sole carbon and energy source was isolated. The high growth rate (0.235·h−1 at pH 5) and high cell yield (0.41 g cell per g methanol at pH 3.5) of this strain are of interest for production of single cell protein (SCP). Other advantages of the strain are: low maintenance coefficient (m=9.5 mg·g−1·h−1), high affinity for methanol (Ks=100 mg·l−1), possibility of non aseptic culture at low pH (pH 3.5), equilibrated amino acid profile and flocculating properties.