Evidence for two fatty alcohol oxidases in the biosurfactant-producing yeast Candida (Torulopsis) bombicola.

Fatty alcohol oxidase activities in Candida (Torulopsis) bombicola ATCC 22214, which produces large amounts of glycolipids consisting of omega- and (omega-1)-hydroxyfatty acids and a sugar moiety, occurred only in the microsomal fraction whether the cells had grown on n-alkanes, carbohydrates or a mixture of the two. High activities occurred in glucose-grown cells. Aliphatic alcohols from octanol to hexadecanol were oxidized with two maxima in activities for decanol and for tetradecanol. Differences in their pH optima and in temperature stability suggest two separate enzymes are present. Long chain diols, but not omega-hydroxyfatty acids, were also oxidized.