Multi-substrate metabolism for improving biomass and lipid production

A method for increasing the selectivity of methyl palmitate conversion to a Z11-16 non-native unsaturated fatty acid over conversion to other lipid variants in a recombinant Yarrowia lipolytica microorganism, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) oxidizing cytosolic malate to pyruvate in the recombinant Yarrowia lipolytica microorganism;
• wherein the oxidizing step is carried out by a heterologous decarboxylating malic enzyme from an organism selected from the group consisting of Escherichia coli, Hominidae sapiens, Lypomyces starkeyi, Mus musculus, Rattus novegicus, and Rhodosporidium toruloides;
• and
• b) culturing said recombinant Yarrowia lipolytica microorganism in medium comprising a simple carbon substrate and methyl palmitate;
• wherein the recombinant Yarrowia lipolytica microorganism exhibits increased selectivity in the conversion of methyl palmitate to the Z11-16 non-native unsaturated fatty acid compared to a control Yarrowia lipolytica microorganism in which the oxidizing step of (a) is not carried out.