Method for producing g(g)-linolenic acids from a ciliate culture by adding suitable precursor molecules to said culture medium

• US 20040180414A1
• Filed: 05/13/2004
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nutrinova Nutrition Specialties & Food Ingredients GmbH (Celanese Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nutrinova Nutrition Specialties & Food Ingredients GmbH (Celanese Corporation)
• Inventors: Plote, Joern, Putten, Anton van V, Kiy, Thomas, Leske, Alexander, Fabritius, Dirk, Konig, Tanja
• Granted Patent: US 7,081,356 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/134
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/105 Protozoal isolates
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/6427 Polyunsaturated fatty acids [PUFA], i.e. having two or more double bonds in their backbone
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/6472 containing polyunsaturated fatty acid [PUFA] residues, i.e. having two or more double bonds in their backbone
• CPC Class Codes: C12R 2001/90 Protozoa ; Processes using protozoa

Abstract

The intention relates to a method for the fermentative production of lipids/fatty acids having high concentrations of omega-6 fatty acids (PUFA, polyunsaturated fatty acids), especially γ-linolenic acids (GLA) in ciliates. Said lipids/fatty acids can be used in human/animal food, and in the pharmaceutical field.

Claims

1. A process for producing omega-6-fatty acids, in particular γ

-linolenic acid, by fermentation, characterized in that ciliates are cultured in a culture medium to which γ

-linolenic acid precursor molecules are added and in which the γ

-linolenic acid is isolated from the ciliates after the culture is terminated.

2. The process as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that γ

-linolenic acid precursor molecules and acetate are added to the culture medium.

3. The process as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that Tetrahymena sp. is used.

4. The process as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that Tetrahymena thermophila is used.

5. The process as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that Tetrahymena pyriformis is used.

6. The process as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that Tetrahymena rostrata is used.

7. The process as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the acetate is added 20-40 hours, particularly preferably 25-35 hours, after the start of the culture.

8. The process as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the acetate is added in two stages, the first addition being formed 20-39 hours after the start of the culture and a second addition being performed 40-70 hours after the start of the culture.

9. The process as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the acetate is added in two stages, a first addition being performed 25-35 hours after the start of the culture, and a second addition being performed 50-60 hours after the start of the culture.

10. The process as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that acetate is added continuously at a rate of 0.05 g/l per hour from the 20^th hour after the start of the culturing, particularly preferably from the 25^th hour after the start of the culturing.

11. The process as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the γ

-linolenic acid precursor molecules are added in the form of palmitic acid (C16;

0), stearic acid (C18;

0), oleic acid (C18;

1) and/or linoleic acid (C18;

2), or in the form of triglycerides, diglycerides, monoglycerides, phospholipids, esters or salts of the corresponding fatty acid precursors, very particularly preferably in the form of natural oils such as thistle oil, olive oil or sunflower seed oil.

12. The process as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the acetate is added to the culture in the form of acetic acid or as a salt of acetic acid.

13. The process as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vegetable oil is added to the medium at a final concentration of 0.1 ml/l to 10 ml/l.

14. The process as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the acetate is added as sodium acetate at a concentration of 0.1 g/l to 1 g/l.

15. The process as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the GLA content of the biomass dry matter from the culture is at least 4% (w/w), particularly preferably at least 5% (w/w).

16. The process as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the γ

-linolenic acid concentration in the culture is at least 300 mg/l.

17. The process as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the purity of the γ

-linolenic acid based on the total lipid content of the culture is at least 30 area %.

18. γ

-Linolenic acid obtainable by one of the processes as claimed in one of the preceding claims.