The lactose-negative yeast Rhodotorula glutinis 22P and the homofermentative lactic acid bacterium Lactobacillus helveticus 12A were cultured together in a cheese whey ultrafiltrate containing 42 g L−1 lactose. The chemical composition of the caroteno-protein has been determined. The carotenoid and protein contents are 248 μ g g−1 dry cells and 48.2% dry weight. Carotenoids produced by Rhodotorula glutinis 22P have been identified as β-carotene 15%, torulene 10%, and torularhodin 69%. After separating the cell mass from the microbial association, the exopolysaccharides synthesized by Rhodotorula glutinis 22P were isolated from the supernatant medium in a yield of 9.2 g L−1. The monosaccharide composition of the synthesized biopolymer was predominantly D-mannose (57.5%).
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Received 08 July 1996/ Accepted in revised form 11 December 1996
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Frengova, G., Simova, E. & Beshkova, D. Caroteno-protein and exopolysaccharide production by co-cultures of Rhodotorula glutinis and Lactobacillus helveticus . J Ind Microbiol Biotech 18, 272–277 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jim.2900379
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jim.2900379