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A one-stage, continuous-flow bioreactor with both immobilized and suspended cells was used to investigate the roles of lipid supplements in ethanol production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The reactor performance and the level of alcohol dehydrogenase(ADH) activities of the suspended cells, grown under various conditions, were measured. When ergosterol and/or oleic acid were added with surfactants to the yeast culture grown under non-aerated conditions, remarkable increases in ethanol production and cell growth was achieved, but specific ADH activities were not affected. Especially, no difference of specific ADH activities of the suspended cells grown under aerated and non-aerated condition was observed. The addition of the surfactant as a supplement also resulted in significant increases in ethanol production, cell growth, and specific ADH activity. When ergosterol and oleic acid were added to the yeast culture exposed to higher ethanol concentration($gt;40 g/ℓ) level, ethanol production, cell growth, and specific ADH activity were increased, but the addition of surfactant was as effective as at lower ethanol concentration level. $quot;the results indicated that lipid supplements were more effective at higher ethanol concentration level than at lower ethanol concentration level during ethanol production. ADH isozyme patterns of the yeast cultures grown under various conditions on starch gel electrophoresis showed only one major band, probably ADH I. The migrating distance of the major isozyme, however, varied slightly according to the culture conditions of the cells. No apparent correlation was found between specific ADH activity and amount of ethanol produced. Cell mass was more important factor for ethanol production than specific ADH activity of the cells.
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