Change of Lipid Composition of Mucor miehei as a Function of Cultivation Temperature

Lipids of the thermophilic fungus Mucor miehei,strain UzLT-3, cultivated at 26 and 42 C are studied. The lipids of this strain contain isomeric 18:2 (9,12) and (6,9) fatty acids and polyene acids - and -18:3, which are uncharacteristic of thermophilic fungi. Cultivation at 26°C increases the fraction of phospholipids (PL), glycolipids (GL), and isomeric 18:3 fatty acids in the total lipids. It is hypothesized that the liquid-crystalline state of the membranes of this strain at reduced temperature are due to activation of desaturases ¹²and ¹⁵and possibly ⁶, which are present in the fungus and participate in the biosynthesis of unsaturated acyl lipids.