Patent ID: 6958229

Claim:
A process for producing arachidonic acid or a lipid containing arachidonic acid comprising the steps of: (1) culturing a microrganism belonging to the genus Mortierella and subgenus Mortierella that is strain SAM 2197 FERM BP-6261 , in a medium having a carbon source concentration of at least 4% by weight at the start of culturing and the addition of at least an additional 6% by weight of carbon source during the culturing, thereby forming arachidonic acid or a lipid containing arachidonic acid; (2) collecting the cultured cells; and (3) extracting arachidonic acid or a lipid containing arachidonic acid from the collected cells; wherein the microganism produces arachidonic acid of at least about 7 g/L culture medium when cultured in a medium containing at least about 4% carbon source at the start of culturing and the addition of at least an additional 6% by weight of carbon source during the culturing, and at least about 2% nitrogen source at the start of culturing for 5 to 10 days with agitation and aeration.