Diversity of lipase-producing yeasts from marine environments and oil hydrolysis by their crude enzymes

Total 427 yeast strains from seawater, sediments, mud of salterns, guts of the marine fish and marine algae were obtained. After lipase activity of the yeast cultures was estimated, we found that nine yeast strains obtained in this study grown in the medium with olive oil could produce lipase. The results of routine identification and molecular methods show that they belonged to Candida intermedia YA01a, Pichia guilliermondii N12c, Candida parapsilosis 3eA2, Lodderomyces elongisporus YF12c, Candida quercitrusa JHSb, Candia rugosa w18, Yarrowia lipolytica N9a, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa L10-2 and Aureobasidium pullulans HN2.3, respectively. The optimal pHs and temperatures of lipases produced by them were between 6.0 and 8.5 and between 35 and 40 degrees C, respectively. Majority of lipases from the yeast strains were cell-bound and only lipase from A. pullulans HN2.3 was extracellular. Some lipases from the yeast strains could actively hydrolyse different oils, indicating that they may have potential applications in industry.