VARIANT OF OLEAGINOUS YEAST AND ITS USE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF LIPIDS

The present invention relates to a variant of oleaginous yeast of the species Trichosporon oleaginosus characterized by mutations affecting cell wall synthesis that change the morphology thereof with respect to the wild-type strain of the same species. In particular, thanks to said mutations, cell aggregates are formed which, with respect to the wild-type strain of the same species, lower the viscosity of the culture broth, are more easily separable therefrom and thus make their recovery easier. Said variant of oleaginous yeast of the species Trichosporon oleaginosus is also characterized by yields of oleaginous cellular biomass and intracellular accumulation of lipids that are similar or even higher than those of the wild-type strain. Further, the present invention relates to a process for the production of lipids through said variant of oleaginous yeast of the species Trichosporon oleaginosus. The lipids thus obtained can be advantageously used as synthesis intermediates, particularly in the so-called "green chemistry" sector, or in the production of biofuels such as, for example, "biodiesel" or "green diesel", which can be used as such, or mixed with other fuels for transportation.