Abstract: A method for isolating one compound or more than one compound from a biomass which contains microorganisms that have produced the compound or compounds, the method comprising the following steps: (a) preparing or obtaining wet cells having an average moisture content of between 30% and 80%; (b) subjecting the wet cells to primary drying to obtain primary dried cells having an average moisture content of between 5% and 50%; (c) subjecting the primary dried cells obtained in (b) to secondary drying to obtain secondary dried cells having an average moisture content of no greater than 10%; and (d) extracting or isolating, purifying and/or refining the compound or each of the compounds from the secondary dried cells obtained in (c).

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a process which, by improving the conventional method of culturing the green alga Haematococcus pluvialis, promotes vegetative cell growth and astaxanthin biosynthesis so markedly as to enable efficient production of astaxanthin-containing lipids from the culture. In order to attain this object, the green alga Haematococcus pluvialis is cultured with an organic nitrogen source being used in a medium at an AN/TN ratio of 65% or less, preferably 43% or less, more preferably 35% or less, to obtain algal bodies in which astaxanthin-containing lipids have been accumulated. If necessary, the astaxanthin-containing lipids may be extracted from the algal bodies and optionally purified.

Abstract: A method for preservation of a microorganism capable of microbial production of a polyunsaturated fatty acid or a compound comprising a polyunsaturated fatty acid as a constituent fatty acid, which method comprises: (a) forming spores in a spore-forming medium at pH 4-7 containing a nutrient source comprising an inorganic salt and a saccharide; (b) suspending the spores obtained in (a) in sterilized water, or sterilized water containing a surfactant and/or an inorganic salt to prepare a spore suspension, and adding a cryoprotectant at 5-15% to prepare a cryopreserving spore suspension; and (c) preserving the cryopreserving spore suspension obtained in (b) at between ?100° C. and ?20° C.

Abstract: An edible oil obtained by culturing a microorganism belong to the genus Mortierella subgenus Mortierella in a medium containing a nitrogen source derived from soybean is discussed. The oils obtained have a low 24,25-methylenecholest-5-en-3?-ol content.

Abstract: An edible oil obtained by culturing a microorganism belong to the genus Mortierella subgenus Mortierella in a medium containing a nitrogen source derived from soybean is discussed. The oils obtained have a low 24,25-methylenecholest-5-en-3?-ol content.

Abstract: A process for production of unsaturated fatty acid-containing oils which is characterized by culturing a microorganism belonging to the genus Mortierella subgenus Mortierella in a medium containing a nitrogen source derived from soybean, and collecting the unsaturated fatty acid-containing oil from the cultured product. The oils are obtained with a low 24,25-methylenecholest-5-en-3?-ol content.

Abstract: There are provided polyunsaturated fatty acids-containing oils/fats or triglycerides with high digestion and absorption properties and resistance to oxidative damage, which are suitable for applications in fields such as modified milk for infants, food products and healthy foods and/or supplements, produced by transesterification of polyunsaturated fatty acids-containing oils/fats or triglycerides with vegetable oils/fats or triglycerides using 1,3-position specific type lipases.

Abstract: An edible oil obtained by culturing a microorganism belong to the genus Mortierella subgenus Mortierella in a medium containing a nitrogen source derived from soybean is discussed. The oils obtained have a low 24,25-methylenecholest-5-en-3?-ol content.

Abstract: A process for producing a crude oil having lowered unsaponifiable matter content and/or ester-type sterol content and comprising a highly unsaturated fatty acid as a constituent fatty acid, characterized in that a microorganism capable of producing a fat or oil comprising an unsaturated fatty acid as a constituent fatty acid is cultured in a medium containing a nitrogen source concentration of 2 to 15% within a culture tank equipped with an agitation impeller satisfying the requirement that the ratio of the diameter of agitation impeller (=d) to the inner diameter of the culture tank (=D) is d/D=0.30 to 0.6.

Abstract: A process for producing lipids containing arachidonic acid comprising culturing a microorganism in which ?3 desaturase activity has been decreased or is lacking at a temperature lower than the optimum growth temperature from the start of culturing or after culturing at the optimum growth temperature, said microorganism being obtained by the mutation treatment of a microorganism capable of producing arachidonic acid and belonging to the genus Mortierella and the like; and then recovering lipids containing arachidonic acid from the culture.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing a highly unsaturated fatty acid-containing lipid which is less expensive than existing ones, which comprises culturing a microorganism belonging to the genus Mortierella with the use of, as a medium carbon source, a saccharified starch, which is less expensive than glucose, does not contribute to an increase in osmotic pressure of the culture medium, and can be utilized by the Mortierella microorganism, and collecting a highly unsaturated fatty acid-containing lipid from the culture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a production method of an oil containing triglyceride in which medium chain fatty acids are bound to the 1- and 3-positions of the triglyceride and polyunsaturated fatty acid is bound to the 2 position by allowing lipase, which specifically acts on ester bonds at the 1- and 3-positions that has been immobilized on a porous ion exchange resin support having a pore size of about 100 Angstroms or more, to act on a mixture of medium-chain fatty acids and raw material oil containing at least one polyunsaturated fatty acid selected from the group consisting of &ohgr;6 series polyunsaturated fatty acid having 18 or more carbon atoms and 3 or more double bonds and &ohgr;9 series polyunsaturated fatty acid having 18 or more carbon atoms and 2 or more double bonds, but not containing &ohgr;3 series polyunsaturated fatty acid, oils and fats or triglycerides obtained by that method, and the use of the oils and fats or triglycerides in a food, beverage or pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: A process for controlling the mycelial morphology of a microorganism belonging to the genus Mortierella during culturing and a process for producing unsaturated fatty acids and a lipid containing them by using a culture medium for culturing a microorganism in which phosphate ions, potassium ions, sodium ions, magnesium ions, and calcium ions in the culture medium are in the range of 5 to 60 mM, 5 to 60 mM, 2 to 50 mM, 0.5 to 9 mM, and 0.5 to 12 mM, respectively, characterized in that the microorganism belonging to the genus Mortierella is cultured in a culture medium containing phosphate ions in the range of 5 to 60 mM, potassium ions in the range of 5 to 60 mM, sodium ions in the range of 2 to 50 mM, magnesium ions in the range of 0.5 to 9 mM, and calcium ions in the range of 0.

Abstract: The present invention provides domestic fowl eggs having a high content of arachidonic acid and optionally docosahexaenoic acid obtained by feeding egg-laying domestic fowls &ohgr;6 highly unsaturated fatty acids and optionally &ohgr;3 highly unsaturated fatty acids, their production process, a lipid that originates from them, and a food that contains said lipid.

Abstract: A process for controlling the mycelial morphology of a microorganism belonging to the genus Mortierella during culturing and a process for producing unsaturated fatty acids and a lipid containing them by using a culture medium for culturing a microorganism in which phosphate ions, potassium ions, sodium ions, magnesium ions, and calcium ions in the culture medium are in the range of 5 to 60 mM, 5 to 60 mM, 2 to 50 mM, 0.5 to 9 mM, and 0.5 to 12 mM, respectively, characterized in that the microorganism belonging to the genus Mortierella is cultured in a culture medium containing phosphate ions in the range of 5 to 60 mM, potassium ions in the range of 5 to 60 mM, sodium ions in the range of 2 to 50 mM, magnesium ions in the range of 0.5 to 9 mM, and calcium ions in the range of 0.

Abstract: Edible oil containing arachidonic acid obtained from microorganisms belonging to the subgenus Mortierella of the genus Mortierella and being capable of producing arachidonic acid are provided. The oil contain little unsaponifiable matters and, above all, the smallest possible amount of sterol with cyclopropane structure which have not been recognized as food components, and are suitable for the production of foods, in particular, infant formula.Arachidonic acid-containing edible oil originating in microorganisms containing not more than 0.8% by weight, preferably not more than 0.6% by weight of unsaponifiable matters and 20% by weight or more of arachidonic acid. Further, these edible oil contain not more than 0.3% by weight, preferably not more than 0.15% by weight of 24,25-methylenecholest-5-en-3 .beta.-ol. The microorganisms are those belonging to the subgenus Mortierella of the genus Mortierella and being capable of producing arachidonic acid.