Dimorphic growth and lipase production in lipolytic yeasts.

N-Acetylglucosamine and citrate promoted intensive dimorphic growth and significant lipase synthesis in Yarrowia lipolytica. In contrast, use of a phosphate buffer instead of citrate for buffering the medium stimulated only dimorphic growth. No correlation between dimorphic growth and a high lipase synthesis studied in five different species of lipolytic yeasts was demonstrated. The data provide evidence against the inevitable linkage between the capability (and/or intensity) of mycelium formation and a high level of extracellular lipase in lipolytic yeasts.