In this study, in order to directly and efficiently convert inulin into a single-cell oil (SCO), an <i>INU1</i> gene encoding inulinase from<b><i></i></b> <i>Kluyveromyces marxianus</i> was integrated into the genomic DNA and actively expressed in an SCO producer <i>Aureobasidium</i> <i>melanogenum</i> P10. The transformant API41 obtained produced 28.5 U/mL of inulinase and its wild-type strain P10 yielded only 8.62 U/mL. Most (97.5%) of the inulinase produced by the transformant API41 was secreted into the culture. During a 10-L fermentation, 66.2% (w/w) lipid in the yeast cells of the transformant API41 and 14.38 g/L of cell dry weight were attained from inulin of 80.0 g/L within 120 h, high inulinase activity (23.7 U/mL) was also produced within 72 h, and the added inulin was actively hydrolyzed. This confirmed that the genetically engineered yeast of <i>A. melanogenum</i> P10 is suitable for direct production of lipids from inulin. The lipids produced could be used as feedstocks for biodiesel production.
Using Microfluidic Devices to Measure Lifespan and Cellular Phenotypes in Single Budding Yeast Cells
