Lipid composition of some yeast strains from Livingston Island, Antarctica

Identification and analysis of metabolite production with biotechnological potential in Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous isolates

Antarctic microorganisms have developed different strategies to live in their environments, including modifications to their membrane components to regulate fluidity and the production of photoprotective metabolites such as carotenoids. Three yeast colonies (ANCH01, ANCH06 and ANCH08) were isolated from soil samples collected at King George Island, which according to their rDNA sequence analyses, were determined to be Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous. This yeast is of biotechnological interest, because it can synthesize astaxanthin as its main carotenoid, which is a powerful antioxidant pigment used in aquaculture. Then, the aim of this work was to characterize the ANCH isolates at their molecular and phenotypic level. The isolates did not display any differences in their rDNA and COX1 gene nucleotide sequences. However, ANCH01 produces approximately sixfold more astaxanthin than other wild type strains. Moreover, even though ANCH06 and ANCH08 produce astaxanthin, their main carotenoid was β-carotene. In contrast to other X. dendrorhous strains, the ANCH isolates did not produce mycosporines. Finally, the ANCH isolates had a higher proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids than other wild type strains. In conclusion, the reported X. dendrorhous isolates are phenotypically different from other wild type strains, including characteristics that could make them more resistant and better able to inhabit their original habitat, which may also have biotechnological potential.

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of fatty acid profiles of Antarctic and non-Antarctic yeasts

The fatty acid profiles of Antarctic (n = 7) and non-Antarctic yeasts (n = 7) grown at different temperatures were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The Antarctic yeasts were enriched in oleic 18:1 (20-60 %), linoleic 18:2 (20-50 %) and linolenic 18:3 (5-40 %) acids with lesser amounts of palmitic 16:0 (<15 %) and palmitoleic 16:1 (<10 %) acids. The non-Antarctic yeasts (n = 4) were enriched in 18:1 (20-55 %, with R. mucilaginosa at 75-80 %) and 18:2 (10-40 %) with lesser amounts of 16:0 (<20 %), 16:1 (<20 %) and stearic 18:0 (<10 %) acids. By contrast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains (n = 3) were enriched in 16:1 (30-50 %) and 18:1 (20-40 %) with lesser amounts of 16:0 (10-25 %) and 18:0 (5-10 %) acids. Principal component analysis grouped the yeasts into three clusters, one belonging to the S. cerevisiae strains (enriched in 16:0, 16:1 and 18:1), one to the other non-Antarctic yeasts (enriched in 18:1 and 18:2) and the third to the Antarctic yeasts (enriched in 18:2 and 18:3).

Oxidative stability of lipids rich in EPA and DHA extracted from fermented scallop ovary

A novel seafood paste was developed by the fermentation of scallop ovary using rice malt (koji) and yeast culture. Chemical analysis of the product showed the formation of high level of free amino acids and organic acids during the fermentation. The product color and flavor resembled to Japanese traditional soybean miso. The contents of total lipids (TLs) extracted from the fermented products were ranged from 9.18% to 11.59% or 11.38% to 13.57%/dry sample weight. Although the TL was rich in oxidatively unstable polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), little decrease was found in these PUFAs during the fermentation, showing the high oxidative stability of the TL from the fermented scallop ovary. Moreover, the oxidative stability of the TL extracted from the fermented products increased with increasing the fermentation time. This would be mainly due to the formation of lipid soluble antioxidants such as tocopherols, which might be derived from yeast used for fermentation.

Synthesis and characterization of an exopolysaccharide by antarctic yeast strain Cryptococcus laurentii AL₁₀₀

An exopolysaccharide-producing Antarctic yeast strain was selected and identified as Cryptococcus laurentii AL₁₀₀. The physiological properties of the strain and its ability to utilize and biotransform different carbon sources (pentoses, hexoses, and oligosaccharides) into exopolysaccharide and biomass were investigated. Sucrose was chosen as a suitable and accessible carbon source. The biosynthetic capacity of the strain was studied in its dynamics at different sucrose concentrations (20, 30, 40, and 50 g/L) and temperatures (22 and 24 °C). The maximum biopolymer quantity of 6.4 g/L was obtained at 40 g/L of sucrose, 22 °C temperature and 96-h fermentation duration. The newly synthesized microbial carbohydrate was a heteropolysaccharide having the following monosaccharide composition: arabinose, 61.1%; mannose, 15.0%; glucose, 12.0%; galactose, 5.9%; and rhamnose, 2.8%. It was characterized by polydispersity of the polymer molecule, 60% of it having molecular mass of 4200 Da. The exopolysaccharide demonstrated good emulsifying and stabilizing properties with regard to oil/water emulsions and a pronounced synergistic effect with other hydrocolloids such as xanthan gum, guar gum, and alginate.

Characterization of a novel South American population of the astaxanthin producing yeast Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous (Phaffia rhodozyma)

A novel population of the biotechnologically important yeast Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous, the sexual stage of Phaffia rhodozyma, has been recently isolated for the first time in the southern Hemisphere (Patagonia, Argentina). The aim of the present work was to phenotypically and genotypically characterize two representative strains of this new population, and assess such strains as a potential biotechnological source of astaxanthin, fatty acids and extracellular enzymes. Minor variations were found in physiological tests. PCR fingerprinting studies (MSP-PCR) showed the main differences between X. dendrorhous Patagonian and Type strains. Patagonian strains accumulated a xanthophyll-like pigment, which was identified as astaxanthin. These strains showed low fatty acids content (mainly polyunsaturated fatty acids) and, of a total of six extracellular enzymes tested, only produced amylase. Genetic differences between Patagonian and collection X. dendrorhous strains could be explained by geographic isolation and habitat specificity.

Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, a carotenoid producing yeast strain from a Patagonian high-altitude lake

The red yeast Rhodotorula mucilaginosa strain CRUB 0138 (previously identified as R. lactosa) was isolated from a high-altitude Patagonian Lake Toncek (1700 m a.s.l.), and assigned with mucilaginosa species. Its biochemical, physiological and molecular features were assessed and compared to R. mucilaginosa PYCC 5166 type strain using a polyphasic approach; in addition, biomass and carotenoid pigment production at different C/N ratios were determined in an incubator shaker. Phenetic characterization by means of 70 current physiological tests including assimilation of aldaric acids and aromatic compounds, and also the ability to grow with amino acids as sole carbon sources, was carried out. According to numerical taxonomy calculations, similarity indexes between R. mucilaginosa CRUB 0138 and PYCC 5166 type strain were 0.86 and 0.77, corresponding to a complete set of physiological tests and MSP-PCR (Mini/Micro Satellite Primed PCR; (GTG)5, M13 and (GAC)5 primers were employed) fingerprinting. Killer activity against 2 native strains, Rhodosporidium kratochvilovae and R. mucilaginosa was detected. Maximum biomass-glucose conversion efficiency (87%) and maximum carotenoid yield (2.32 mg/L) were obtained at C/N = 5 in culture medium containing 10 and 40 g/L glucose, respectively. Different C/N ratios did not influence carotenoid pigment production but low C/N enhanced biomass yield.

Yeast strains from Livingston Island, Antarctica

Five yeast strains were isolated from soil and moss samples from the Livingston Island (Antarctica) and identified according to morphological cultural and physiological characteristics. All strains had an optimum growth temperature of 15 degrees C: none grew above 25 degrees C. They assimilated D-glucose, D-galactose, sucrose, cellobiose, trehalose, 2-keto-D-gluconate, D-xylose, D-ribose and melezitose. Four of them were nonfermentative, only one, which formed pseudomycelium fermented glucose, galactose, trehalose. Two strains were identified as pink-red yeasts belonging to genus Rhodotorula--R. minuta and R. mucilaginosa; two were related to the genus Cryptococcus--C. albidus and C. laurentii; one was Candida oleophila.

Microorganisms in a high altitude glacier ice in Tibet

Eighty-one strains of viable microorganisms were recovered from 23 samples collected from Ice Core 3 of Malan Glacier (China, 91 degrees 45.3' E, 35 degrees 48.4' N) drilled at high altitude (5620 m). All the strains were prokaryotes--75 of bacteria (including spore-forming ones) and 6 of actinomycetes. The characteristic genera differ from those of Arctic and Antarctic ice, in which many fungi and algae are widely distributed; this shows an difference of environmental conditions between Tibet and polar regions. The variation in number and species of Bacillus in different ice core layers implied changes of environmental conditions in the past.