Hermansen, C., Siao, R., Chua, G. G., Lee, M. R. X., Thong, A., Weingarten, M., Lindley, N., & Peterson, E. C. (2025). Short-Chain Fatty Acid Utilization in Cyberlindnera jadinii for Single-Cell Protein and Odd-Chain Fatty Acid Production. Microorganisms, 13(7), 1558. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13071558
Abstract:
In view of the growing global need for sustainable protein sources, this study explores the utilization of short-chain fatty acids into single-cell protein using the non-conventional yeast Cyberlindnera jadinii. Short-chain fatty acids can be sustainably produced via anaerobic digestion of organic waste, presenting a promising fermentation substrate for a circular bioeconomy. Cyberlindnera jadinii is demonstrated to be capable of growing on acetate, propionate and butyrate as both a carbon and energy source without strong inhibition. Bioprocess development was conducted in stirred tank bioreactors, where a fed-batch pH-stat bioprocess led to improved efficiency without substrate inhibition. The highest titer of 31.3 ± 1.0 g/L, rate of 0.67 ± 0.02 g/L/h and yield of 0.36 ± 0.01 g/g was achieved with propionate. The resulting biomass contained 41.3% crude protein, and 17.3% crude lipids with 81% unsaturated fatty acids. In contrast to acetate and butyrate, propionate as a substrate led to accumulation of 37% odd-chain fatty acids with titer, rate and yield of 1.74 ± 0.06 g/L, 0.037 ± 0.001 g/L/h and 0.020 ± 0.001 g/g. These findings confirm that short-chain fatty acids are viable fermentation substrates not only for single-cell protein, but also unsaturated and odd-chain fatty acid production with Cyberlindnera jadinii.
License type:
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Funding Info:
This research / project is supported by the National Research Foundation, Singapore Food Agency - Singapore Food Story (“SFS”) R&D 2.0 Programme ‘Research Translation’ Grant
Grant Reference no. : NRF-SFSRND2RT-0005