Metabolism of methanol by yeast and SCP production.

The utilization of methanol by Candida lipolytica was studied with respect to the biomass, protein, lipid and other metabolites contents. Supplementation of the methanol medium with certain redox agents such as 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol, reduced glutathione and methyl red, showed a stimulation of both growth and protein production of C. lipolytica. At certain growth conditions the cellular yield of C. lipolytica was 0.3 g of cells/g of methanol and the protein of the biomass was 41.0%. The amino acid composition of the protein especially of the essential ones was comparable to FAO standards. Thin-layer chromatography of the lipids indicated a dominance of total glycerides. Analyses of the acylated unsaponified fraction by gas liquid chromatography showed that campesterol was the major component.