Carotenoid-Producing Yeasts: Identification and Characteristics of Environmental Isolates with a Valuable Extracellular Enzymatic Activity

Abstract

Sixteen cold-adapted reddish-pigmented yeast strains were obtained from environmental samples. According to the PCR-based detection of classical yeast markers combined with phylogenetic studies, the yeasts belong mainly to the genera Rhodotorula, Sporobolomyces and Cystobasidium, all within the subphylum Pucciniomycotina. All strains produced carotenoids within a 0.25–10.33 mg/L range under non-optimized conditions. Noteworthily, among them, representatives of the Cystobasidium genus were found; of particular value are the strains C. laryngis and C. psychroaquaticum, poorly described in the literature to date. Interestingly, carotenoid production with representatives of Cystobasidium was improved 1.8- to 10-fold at reduced temperature. As expected, most of the isolated yeasts biosynthesized extracellular lipases, but within them also one proteolytic and four cellulolytic strains were revealed. We succeeded in isolating strain Cystofilobasidium macerans WUT145 with extraordinarily high cellulolytic activity at 22°C (66.23 ± 0.15 µmol/mg protein·min) that is described here for the first time. Consequently, a set of yeasts capable of producing both carotenoids and extracellular enzymes was identified. Taking into account those abilities, the strains might be applicable for a development of carotenoids production on an agro-industrial waste, e.g., lignocellulose.

How Tillage and Crop Rotation Change the Distribution Pattern of Fungi

“…A strain of Cystofilobasidium macerans showed both cellulolytic and proteolytic activity (Chreptowicz et al, 2019). The ability to utilize various carbon sources, if combined with the production of extracellular hydrolytic enzymes, is particularly functional to the processing of agricultural wastes such as lignocellulosic biomass in the form of straw, which contains polymers composed of sugars like glucose, xylose, galactose, or cellobiose (Chreptowicz et al, 2019). The ecology of Cystobasidium lysinophilum is very particular.…”

Microbiota dysbiosis in honeybee ( Apis mellifera L . ) larvae infected with brood diseases and foraging bees exposed to agrochemicals

“…Previous reports demonstrated that strains from genus Cystofilobasidium were producers of pectinase, including polygalacturonase [ 65 ] and pectin lyase [ 66 ], which were important for the degradation of the polysaccharide walls of pollen grains. Cystofilobasidium macerans was also capable of secreting diverse extracellular enzymes and exhibited cellulytic and proteolytic [ 67 ] activities besides the pectinolytic activity. The significant reduction in the relative abundance of C. macerans in disordered foragers may impair their capacities in nutrient utilization.…”

Development of a Continuous System for 2-Phenylethanol Bioproduction by Yeast on Whey Permeate-Based Medium

“…The isolates were also investigated by conventional identification methods based on the observation of the morphology, the utilization of carbon sources, the range of growth temperature and the extracellular enzymatic activity [ 34 , 35 ]. Yeasts were deposited in a publicly available Warsaw University of Technology Yeast Collection (WUT YC) and all data can be found on (accessed on 3 November 2021) and Table S1 .…”