Patent ID: 8597923

Claim:
A method of using a substantially pure Candida host cell for the oxidation of a fatty acid into a corresponding α-carboxyl-ω-hydroxyl fatty acid, wherein the substantially pure Candida host cell is characterized by: a first genetic modification class that comprises one or more genetic modifications that collectively or individually disrupt an alcohol dehydrogenase gene, and a second genetic modification class, wherein the second genetic modification class comprises an insertion of a first gene into the Candida cell genome; wherein the first gene encodes a first protein that is not identical to a naturally occurring protein in the substantially pure Candida cell, wherein the first protein oxidizes the fatty acid to the corresponding α-carboxyl-ω-hydroxyl fatty acid, or a second protein that is identical to a naturally occurring protein in the substantially pure Candida cell wherein, when the first gene encodes the second protein, expression of the first gene is controlled by a promoter that is different from a promoter that controls the expression of the naturally occurring first gene, and wherein the second protein oxidizes the fatty acid to the corresponding α-carboxyl-ω-hydroxyl fatty acid, wherein the method comprises: fermenting the substantially pure Candida host cell in a culture medium comprising a nitrogen source and a carbon source, thereby oxidizing the fatty acid to the corresponding α-carboxyl-ω-hydroxyl fatty acid.