Utilization of n-alkane and its oxidized derivatives as sources of carbon and energy is one of the important properties that characterize the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica and has been a subject of intensive study. We describe a progress that has been made in the last decade, mainly on the transcriptional control of ALK genes encoding 12 CYP52 family cytochromes P450ALK that work in initial hydroxylation of n-alkanes. Among 12 ALK genes, ALK1 is most prominently expressed upon the addition of n-alkanes, where two positive regulators, Yas1p and Yas2p, bind together to the promoter element ARE1 and highly activate transcription of ALK1. The control by n-alkane depends on the localization of a negative regulator Yas3p that binds to Yas2p in nucleus when n-alkanes are absent but remains binding to ER when n-alkanes are present in culture medium.