The ability of the yeast Issatchenkia orientalis CECT 10688 to secrete lipolytic activity in submerged culture was investigated. The yeast was grown in a complex medium supplemented with a fixed concentration of several lipidic compounds (triglycerides, fatty acids). Maximum enzyme activity around 70-80 U cm(-3) was produced in cultures supplemented with tributyrin. An optimum tributyrin concentration of 10gdm(-3) was selected. Several surfactants were added to the cultures, but no significant increase in activity was detected. Finally, the effect of the type of carbon source on lipolytic enzyme production was studied. The best results were obtained with glucose and fructose (60-80 U cm(-3)), while rather low enzyme activity was found in cultures grown on lactose and maltose (about 20 U cm(-3)). (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.