The influence of the presence of ammonium ions in growth culture on malic enzyme (ME) isoforms activity and lipogenesis in Cunninghamella bainieri 2A1 was investigated. The fungus was cultivated in a nitrogen-limiting medium for 120 h at 30°C under two conditions. One of the cultures was intermittently fed with ammonium tartrate to maintain the ammonium concentrations above 0.5 g/L. The second culture was performed without any feeding to allow N limitation, thus promoting lipid accumulation. Activity staining of ME isoforms was carried out for both cultures. The culture which was not intermittently fed with ammonium tartrate achieved a maximum lipid content of 35% (g/g biomass) at 48 h. This culture possessed five ME isoforms (A, B, C, D and E) with isoform E showing a parallel correlation to lipid accumulation profile. In contrast, intensity of bands representing isoform D decreased as lipid accumulated. No appreciable differences of all other isoforms were observed. However, the culture which was intermittently fed with ammonium tartrate, accumulated only up to 16% lipid (g/g biomass). All isoforms were present but with a more pronounced activity of isoform D and a lower activity of isoform E was observed. These findings support further evidence that isoform E is the key isoform for lipid synthesis in C. bainieri 2A1.

Strategic feeding of ammonium and metal ions (Mg2+, Mn 2+, Fe3+, Cu2+, Ca2+, Co 2+, and Zn2+) for enhanced GLA-rich lipid accumulation in C. bainieri 2A1 was established. When cultivated in nitrogen-limited medium, the fungus produced up to 30% lipid (g/g biomass) with 12.9% (g/g lipid) GLA. However, the accumulation of lipid stopped at 48 hours of cultivation although glucose was abundant. This event occurred in parallel to the diminishing activity of malic enzyme (ME), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and ATP citrate lyase (ACL) as well as the depletion of metal ions in the medium. Reinstatement of the enzymes activities was achieved by feeding of ammonium tartrate, but no increment in the lipid content was observed. However, increment in lipid content from 32% to 50% (g/g biomass) with 13.2% GLA was achieved when simultaneous feeding of ammonium, glucose, and metal ions was carried out. This showed that the cessation of lipid accumulation was caused by diminishing activities of the enzymes as well as depletion of the metal ions in the medium. Therefore, strategic feeding of ammonium and metal ions successfully reinstated enzymes activities and enhanced GLA-rich lipid accumulation in C. bainieri 2A1. � 2014 Shuwahida Shuib et al.