BACKGROUND

This project primarily focused on the setting up and full characterization of fermentation systems including upstream and downstream activities to produce GLA rich fungal lipids. This is to support the government's thrust in developing indeginous biotechnology capabilities. The end product of this project will be three fold. First, the development of skilled manpower capable of operating large scale fermentation systems. Secondly, the complete specification of fermentation, recovery and purification systems for GLA production using local isolates. Thirdly, the formulation of fungal GLA-based food to cater for local needs.

GLA, an 18:3 n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid, has been used in the amelioration of various diseases such as eczema , rheumatoid arthritis, and premenstrual syndrome. It has also been shown to improve the effectiveness of cancer chemotherapy. GLA has been produced commercially in the form of oil, extracted from plants such as evening primrose and blackcurrant seed. However, the presence of oleaginous microorganisms capable of producing lipids with high GLA content has led to the study of such organisms as an alternative source forGLA. Previously, we have isolated six oleaginous filamentous fungi from soil of various forest reserves in Malaysia which produced lipid with GLA content comparable or better than that of Evening Primrose oil (10%, of total fatty acids). Preliminary work regarding the effect of various growth parameters in relation to GLA production has been carried out in shake flasks (1 L) and results indicated that GLA production of the isolates could be further enhanced under different growth conditions. However, studies should be pursued to show the potentials of these isolates to produce GLA in larger scale as it would allow proper optimization process to be carried out.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Project Title:
Production of Microbial Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid (PUFA)

 

Previously (1985), large scale fermentation of GLA from fungi was based on batch submerged culture at 220 m3. In this project, we intend to further evaluate selected isolates for the development of a complete production set up of GLA-containing fungal oil. The whole project consists of four complimentary programmes managed by UKM with interinstitution collaboration (UKM, UPM, MARDI and UTM) ie. strain improvement, optimization of production, purification and recovery of oil, toxicity studies and formulation.

RESEARCH STATUS

New.

OVERALL OBJECTIVES

1. To characterize local fungal isolates towards the elucidation of function and improvement of gamma-linolenic acid production.
2. To establish fermentation conditions for optimum production of g-linolenic acid (GLA)
3. To develop recovery processes for lipid from oleaginous fungi
4. Product formulation and feasibility studies of microbial g-linolenic acid (GLA).

Period of the project : 3 Years (2001 - 2004)

Progress/Achievements for 2002

Project Status

- On-going