Taxonomic Characterization and Potential Biotechnological Applications of Yarrowia lipolytica Isolated From Meat and Meat Products

Some species of yeast such as Yarrowia lipolytica produce citric acid, lipases,single-cell oil, etc. Y. lipolytica can degrade renewable, low-cost substrates to produce organicacids like citric acid, more efficiently than Aspergillus niger, and result in higherproduct yield and lesser waste production and toxicity. The aim of this study was to isolate yeast strains with potential for use in biotechnologicalapplications such as production of citric acid and lipase. For yeast strain screening, we isolated 179 yeast strains from meatand meat products that were prepared at the RAK and Pegah factories in Isfahan, Iran. Differentmedia were used for screening of yeast colonies and for analyses of citric acid andlipase production; the production of these metabolites was assayed over time. One of the yeast strains isolated from poultry produced 55.5 g/L of citric acid and12.3 U/mL of lipase. Biochemical and molecular tests showed that this strain belonged tothe species Y. lipolytica. Molecular identification was confirmed by DNA sequencing, andthe strain was named Y. lipolytica M7 (GenBank accession number, HM011048). The results of this study suggest that meat and its products, especially poultryproducts, are suitable sources for isolation of yeast strains that produce two biotechnologicallyvaluable products—citric acid and lipase. The yeast strain Y. lipolytica M7 canbe used for citric acid production in bioreactor.