Oxygenation of Hexadecane in the Biosynthesis of Cyclic Glycolipids in Torulopsis Apicola

Biotransformation of [1-13C] labelled hexadecane, hexadecanol and hexadecanoic acid have been investigated using the yeast Torulopsis apicola. The yeast produces a microcrystalline mixture of two glycolipids, the lipophilic moiety of which consists of ω- or (ω-l)-hydroxylated hexadecanoic acid. Biosynthesis of these glycolipids takes place via hydroxylation of hexadecane, oxidation to hexadecanoic acid and ω or (ω-l)-hydroxylation of hexadecanoic acid. Feeding the cell cultures with a mixture of hexadecane and [1-13C] labelled hexadecane derivatives one observes 13C enrichment ratios which indicate that neither of the biohydroxylation or oxidation steps are rate limiting in the formation of the glycolipids, furthermore, two different monooxygenase systems appear to be involved in hydroxylation of hexadecane and hexadecanoic acid.