Fig. 2

a Expression levels of GK and G3PDs in M. alpina growing with glucose or glycerol as carbon source. M. alpina was cultured in a 7.5 L fermenter and sampled at various time points prior to and after nitrogen exhaustion (sample A: −12 h, B: −2 h, E: −30 min, K: +1 h, L: +12 h and M: +48 h), and transcript levels were analyzed by RT-qPCR. Filled symbols represent the fold change of expression of GK and G3PDs prior to and after the onset of lipogenesis (time point E) in M. alpina growing with glucose. Empty symbols represent the fold change in transcript levels of GK and G3PDs in M. alpina growing with glycerol compared to that growing with glucose at the same time points. b Fatty acid content of M. alpina cultured with glucose or glycerol as sole carbon source. M. alpina was cultured in a 500 mL shaking flask containing Kendrick medium with glucose (filled bar) or glycerol (empty bar) for 168 h. Three independent experiments were performed, and the error bars represent standard deviations. *p < 0.05 compared to wild type