Table 1 The most prominent and promising oleaginous yeast species and their key characteristics
From: The history, state of the art and future prospects for oleaginous yeast research
Yeast species | Popularity (% of oleaginous yeasts cultured)a | Max. lipid productivity (g L−1 h−1)b | Max. scale (L)c | Exemplary fatty acid composition (% w/w) | Major strengths | Weaknesses | Refs. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
16:0 | 16:1 | 18:0 | 18:1 | 18:2 | |||||||
Yarrowia lipolytica | 13.2 (7.9 + 5.3) | 1.20 (GE) | 5000 | 10.6 | 8.9 | 10.1 | 63.4 | 5.2 | Genetic tractability; affinity towards hydrophobic substrate; co-product: citric acid | Limited substrate spectrum | |
Rhodotorula toruloides | 13.0 (10.9 + 2.1) | 1.48 | 1000 | 20.0 | 0.6 | 14.6 | 46.9 | 13.1 | High yields; valuable co-product: carotenoids | Low inhibitor tolerance | |
Cutaneo-trichosporon oleaginosus | 11.6 (11.0 + 0.6) | 1.00 | 250,000 | 18.9 | 0.2 | 24.8 | 45.7 | 4.6 | Wide substrate spectrum (incl. lactose); high inhibitor tolerance; fast growth | – | |
Lipomyces starkeyi | 7.8 (7.5 + 0.3) | 1.60 | 21 (est.) | 33.3 | 2.8 | 4.8 | 52.0 | 3.6 | Co-fermentation of substrates | – | |
Rhodotorula glutinis | 5.4 (5.1 + 0.3) | 0.86 | 210 (est.) | 15.4 | 7.2 | 9.1 | 63.5 | 1.8 | Bio-control ability; valuable co-product: carotenoids | – | |
Rhodotorula mucilaginosa | 4.1 (3.7 + 0.4) | 0.33 | 12 | 19.6 | 0.8 | 6.1 | 41.8 | 27.0 | Co-products: xylitol, carotenoids | – | |
Trichosporon cutaneum | 2.8 (2.6 + 0.2) | 0.17 | 14 | 30.0 | – | 13.0 | 46.0 | 11.0 | Wide substrate spectrum (incl. lactose); high inhibitor tolerance | Dimorphism | |
Metschnikowia pulcherrima | 1.4 (1.2 + 0.2) | 0.35 (EV) | 500 | 38.5 | 2.5 | 4.6 | 47.6 | – | Bio-control ability; valuable co-product: 2-phenylethanol; lipid accumulation on nutrient-rich feedstock; high inhibitor tolerance | Slow growth | |