Microbial Bacterioruberin: A Comprehensive Review

Application of bacterioruberin from Arthrobacter sp. isolated from Xinjiang desert to extend the shelf-life of fruits during postharvest storage

Post-harvest losses and rapid fruit ripening at room temperature are major challenges in preserving fruit quality. This study aimed to reduce such losses by applying a red carotenoid pigment, bacterioruberin extracted from an Arthrobacter sp. The carotenoid was characterized as bacterioruberin and its derivative tetra anhydrous bacterioruberin (λmax 490 nm), and an m/z value of 675 and 742 (M+ 1H)+1. The annotated LIPID MAP demonstrated the presence of over 360 isoprenoids annotated transcripts. The compound exhibited significant antioxidant activity, with an IC50 of 22 μg/mL, iron chelation and antibacterial activities indicating its potential as a natural preservative. When applied to grapes, peaches, and apricots, bacterioruberin (2 %) effectively prevented spoilage for six days at room temperature. Statistical analysis using one-way ANOVA revealed a significant correlation (p = 0.05) between treated and control groups in subjective quality attributes. Computational investigation with phospholipase D and VQ22 motif protein further supported the preservative potential of bacterioruberin.

Insights into the synthesis, engineering, and functions of microbial pigments in Deinococcus bacteria

The ability of Deinococcus bacteria to survive in harsh environments, such as high radiation, extreme temperature, and dryness, is mainly attributed to the generation of unique pigments, especially carotenoids. Although the limited number of natural pigments produced by these bacteria restricts their industrial potential, metabolic engineering and synthetic biology can significantly increase pigment yield and expand their application prospects. In this study, we review the properties, biosynthetic pathways, and functions of key enzymes and genes related to these pigments and explore strategies for improving pigment production through gene editing and optimization of culture conditions. Additionally, studies have highlighted the unique role of these pigments in antioxidant activity and radiation resistance, particularly emphasizing the critical functions of deinoxanthin in D. radiodurans. In the future, Deinococcus bacterial pigments will have broad application prospects in the food industry, drug production, and space exploration, where they can serve as radiation indicators and natural antioxidants to protect astronauts' health during long-term space flights.