Regulation of sophorose lipid production by Candida (Torulopsis) apicola

When growing on glucose, fructose or sucrose, Candida apicola produces large amounts of sophorose lipid during the stationary growth phase. In contrast, no sophorose lipid formation is observed with galactose or maltose independently whether hydrocarbons are present or not. The biosynthesis of the biosurfactant is therefore not simply a prerequisite for the degradation of extracellular hydrocarbon.