Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2015) 4(8): 244-252 244 Original Research Article Production of Very Long Chain Polyunsaturated Omega 3 and Omega 6 Fatty Acids by Candida glabrata Strains Roberto A. Lima 1,2 , Rosileide F.S. Andrade 1,2 , Daylin R. Ribeaux 1,2 , Patricia N. Santos 2 , Clarissa D.C. Albuquerque 2 and Galba M. Campos-Takaki 2 * 1 Program of Post-graduation in Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, 50670-420, Recife-Pernambuco, Brazil 2 Nucleus of Research in Environmental Sciences and Biotechnology, Catholic University of Pernambuco, 50050-590, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil *Corresponding author ABSTRACT Introduction Biotechnology offers new perspectives with microorganisms and the use of industrial waste as a substrate in fermentation processes for the production of secondary metabolites, stands out as an innovative alternative to contain large amounts of organic matter, reducing the cost of production as well as the disposal in the environment. In addition, this market is promising for attracting interest in the study ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 4 Number 8 (2015) pp. 244-252 http://www.ijcmas.com Lipids are a group of biological substances, mainly composed of non-polar substances (triglycerides, diglycerides, monoglycerides and sterols) and polar compounds (free fatty acids, phospholipids and sphingolipids). This work was developed for the biotechnological studies of polyunsaturated lipids ( 3 e 6) production from agro-industrial wastes (corn steep liquor and milk whey) by two strains of Candida glabrata (UCP 1002 and 1556). The production was carried by submerged cultivation method in control medium containing glucose, yeast extract, peptone and inorganic salts and a medium of production the base of agro-industrial wastes, with 40% milk whey in replacing glucose and 20% corn steep liquor replacing peptone. The biomass yield was calculated by gravimetrically and the lipids extracted biomass. The fatty acids were methylated and identified by gas chromatography. The results demonstrated that the strains of C. glabrata (UCP 1002 and 1556) showed biomass yield of 6.8 and 8.8 g/L -1 , respectively. The total lipids production by strains of C. glabrata (UCP 1002 and 1556), showed values of 16.20 and 21.50%, respectively. The two strains of C. glabrata (UCP 1002 and 1556) showed ability to produce polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), with emphasis for production of -linolenic acid ( 3), with 75.61 and 90.05%, respectively. Our results indicate that the two strains of Candida glabrata have the ability to metabolize agro-industrial wastes and produce biotechnologically polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Keywords Lipids, PUFAs, Candida glabrata, Agro- industrial wastes