Abstract
Yeasts of the genera Rhodotorula are able to synthesize different pigments of high economic value like β-carotene, torulene, and torularhodin, and therefore represent a biotechnologically interesting group of yeasts. However, the low production rate of pigment in these microorganisms limits its industrial application. Here we describe some strategies to obtain hyperpigmented mutants of Rhodotorula mucilaginosa by means of ultraviolet-B radiation, the procedures for total carotenoids extraction and quantification, and a method for identification of each pigment.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsSpringer Nature is developing a new tool to find and evaluate Protocols. Learn more
References
Fell JW, Statzell-Tallman A (1998) Rhodotorula F.C. Harrison. In: Kurtzman CP, Fell JW (eds) The yeasts, a taxonomic study. Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam, pp 800–827
Libkind D, Sampaio JP (2010) Rhodotorula. In: Liu D (ed) Molecular detection of foodborne pathogens. CRC Press, New York, pp 603–618
Disch A, Rohmer M (1998) On the absence of the glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate/pyruvate pathway for isoprenoid biosynthesis in fungi and yeasts. FEMS Microbiol Lett 168:201–208
Buzzini P, Innocenti M, Turchetti B, Libkind D, van Broock M, Mulinacci N (2007) Carotenoid profiles of yeasts belonging to the genera Rhodotorula, Rhodosporidium, Sporobolomyces, and Sporidiobolus. Can J Microbiol 53:1024–1031
Bhosale PB (2001) Studies on yeast Rhodotorula, its carotenoids and their applications. Thesis, University of Pune, Pune
Bhosale P, Gadre RV (2001) Production of β-carotene by a Rhodotorula glutinis mutant in sea water medium. Bioresour Technol 76:53–55
Cong L, Chi Z, Li J, Wang X (2007) Enhanced carotenoid production by a mutant of the marine yeast Rhodotorula sp. hidai. J Ocean Univ China 6:66–71
Frengova GI, Simova ED, Beshkova DM (2004) Improvement of carotenoid-synthesizing yeast Rhodotorula rubra by chemical mutagenesis. Z Naturforsch C 59:99–103
Sakaki H, Nakanishi T, Satonaka K, Miki W, Fujita T, Komemushi S (2000) Properties of a high-torularhodin-producing mutant of Rhodotorula glutinis cultivated under oxidative stress. J Biosci Bioeng 89:203–205
Moliné M, Libkind D, Diéguez MC, van Broock M (2009) Photoprotective role of carotenoids in yeasts: response to UV-B of pigmented and naturally-occurring albino strains. J Photochem Photobiol B 95:156–161
Moliné M, Flores MR, Libkind D, Diéguez MC, Farías ME, van Broock M (2010) Photoprotection by carotenoid pigments in the yeast Rhodotorula mucilaginosa: the role of torularhodin. Photochem Photobiol Sci 9:1145–1151
Libkind D, Gadanho M, van Broock MR, Sampaio JP (2008) Studies on the heterogeneity of the carotenogenic yeast Rhodotorula mucilaginosa from Patagonia, Argentina. J Basic Microbiol 48:93–98
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this protocol
Cite this protocol
Moliné, M., Libkind, D., van Broock, M. (2012). Production of Torularhodin, Torulene, and β-Carotene by Rhodotorula Yeasts. In: Barredo, JL. (eds) Microbial Carotenoids From Fungi. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 898. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-918-1_19
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-918-1_19
Published:
Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ
Print ISBN: 978-1-61779-917-4
Online ISBN: 978-1-61779-918-1
eBook Packages: Springer Protocols