Peroxisomal β-oxidation and Production of γ-decalactone by the Yeast Rhodotorula aurantiaca

Abstract

γ-Decalactone is a fruity aroma compound resulting from the peroxisomal β-oxidation of ricinoleic acid by yeasts. During the β-oxidation of fatty acids, the acyl-CoA oxidase and thioesterase play an important role. In R. aurantiaca, we demonstrated the presence of partial gene sequences homologous to acyl-CoA oxidase and thioesterase involved in the pathways synthesis of γ-decalactone. This preliminary work is expected to characterize the relationship between the γ-decalactone production and the transcription of these partial gene sequences of R. aurantiaca probably involved in the oxidation of ricinoleic acid.