Yeast lipid droplet-less mutant is hypersensitive to squalene monooxygenase inhibitor terbinafine.

Terbinafine hypersensitivity is caused by high accumulation of squalene.

Squalene accumulation and terbinafine sensitivity are alleviated by zaragozic acid.

High squalene levels are toxic to cells deficient in lipid storage organelles – lipid droplets.

Squalene toxicity may interfere with biotechnological production of squalene in yeast.