Evaluating the influence of inhibitors present in lignocellulosic hydrolysates on the cell membrane integrity of oleaginous yeast Trichosporon fermentans by flow cytometry

The effect of ten typical organic acids and five aldehydes present in lignocellulosic hydrolysates on the cell membrane integrity of oleaginous yeast Trichosporon fermentans was evaluated by flow cytometry. Overall, organic acids affected the cell membrane integrity of T. fermentans more significantly than that of aldehydes albeit aldehydes are more toxic to T. fermentans. The PI (Propidium Iodide) uptake rate of T. fermentans' cells gradually decreased as fermentation going on, indicating that T. fermentans could overcome the inhibition of organic acids or aldehydes by adaption. Interestingly, in some cases, the effect of organic acids or aldehydes on the cell membrane integrity of T. fermentans was well related to their hydrophobicity. However, for the outliers, no obvious similar phenomena were observed. Thus, the attack on hydrophobic sites of cell membrane was not the only determinant for the damage of organic acids or aldehydes on cell membrane integrity of T. fermentans.