• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.719-722
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• 1998

The addition of decane to biotransfonnation media containing Yarrowia lipolytica led to the accumulation of intennediate L-phenylacetaldehyde and L-phenethyl acetate during bioconversion of L-phenylalanine, whilst none of these products were obtained in conventional aqueous fennentations. The results obtained support an earlier hypothesis (Spinnler et al. 1996. Proc. Natl. A cad. Sci. USA 93: 3373-3376) that organic solvents, acting as "thermodynamic traps" for hydrophobic intermediates, can substantially alter metabolic fluxes.