Synthesis of Coenzyme Q10 and β-carotene by Yeasts Isolated from Antarctic Soil and Lichen in Response to Ultraviolet and Visible Radiations

Abstract

The effect of different doses of visible (Vis), ultraviolet-capital A, Cyrillic (UVA), and mixed light (UVA + Vis) upon coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)) and beta-carotene synthesis and biomass yield by the Sporobolomyces salmonicolor AL(1), Cryptococcus albidus AS(55), Cryptococcus laurentii AS(56), and C. laurentii AS(58) strains isolated from Antarctic samples was investigated. The beta-carotene concentration in the red strain biomass increased by 52% under irradiation with 11 J/cm(2) Vis, and the CoQ(10) concentration rose by 37% in relation to the control quantity obtained through dark cultivation. Under irradiation with 6 J/cm(2) UVA, the S. salmonicolor AL(1) strain synthesized 15% more beta-carotene; C. albidus AS(55), 22%; C. laurentii AS(56), 44%; and C. laurentii AS(58), 35% in relation to the control quantity. Irradiation with a low UVcapital A, Cyrillic + Vis dose significantly stimulated beta-carotene biosynthesis by the strains of the Cryptococcus genus (87%, 138%, and 100%), whereas S. salmonicolor AL(1) increased the beta-carotene content to a smaller degree (55%). Higher doses of all three irradiation types inhibited beta-carotene accumulation. Vis suppressed CoQ(10) biosynthesis in the Cryptococcus strains, whereas UVcapital A, Cyrillic and UVcapital A, Cyrillic + Vis inhibited it in all four strains. The S. salmonicolor AL(1) strain pre-treated with 0.02 J/cm(2) UVA synthesized twice as much CoQ(10) and beta-carotene when cultivated in the presence of Vis light in an 11-J/cm(2) dose.

Production of Enriched Biomass by Carotenogenic Yeasts - Application of Whole-Cell Yeast Biomass to Production of Pigments and Other Lipid Compounds

“…Carotenoids are important natural pigments that play an essential role as accessory lightharvesting pigments and, especially, in protection against damage by photosensitized oxidation. Several yeast genera-Rhodotorula, Sporobolomyces, Rhodosporidium, and Cryptococcus-produce also coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10; Dimitrova et al, 2010). CoQ10 has a similar isoprenoid chain in its structure.…”

“…Therefore, research efforts on the production of CoQ10 by microorganisms focus on the development of potent strains by conventional mutagenesis and metabolic engineering, analysis and modification of the key metabolic pathways, and optimization of fermentation strategies. Various microorganisms, including bacteria (e.g., Agrobacterium, Rhodobacter) and yeasts (e.g., Candida, Rhodotorula, and Saitoella), are reported as CoQ10 producers in patented laid-open applications purposely applied in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry (Dimitrova et al, 2010, Yurkov et al, 2008. Strains of basidiomycetous yeasts isolated from different sources were studied in order to determine the content of carotenoid pigments and ubiquinone Q10 for subsequent selection work to obtain producers of these substances.…”

“…In many works mostly Rhodotorula glutinis sems to be perspective strain. Combined enrichment of Rhodotorula biomass by provitamin A (carotenes) and provitamin D (ergosterol) could be used in food and feed supplements (Marova et al, 2010), aditional enrichment by Coenzyme Q10 is suitable product for cosmetics and could be used also in food and feed (Dimitrova et al, 2010). Formulas based on selenium-enriched red yeast biomass with enhanced carotenoid content could be used as nutrition suplement too (Breierova et al, 2008).…”

Effect of Different Carbon Sources on Biosynthesis of Exopolysaccharide from Antarctic StrainCryptococcus LaurentiiAL62

“…the Antarctic microorganisms have recently attracted considerable attention for their metabolite adaptation at extreme Antarctic conditions and for practical reasons with the possibility for study of their biological potential for obtaining biologically active substances with useful properties (3,6,11,15,18,19,21,31). the genus Cryptococcus is the most predominant yeast group in the Antarctic.…”

Biosynthesis and Characterization of Exopolysaccharides and Lipids from Antarctic Yeasts

“…the progress in the study of Antarctic microorganisms involves creation of culture collections, investigation of their specific metabolism of adaptation to environmental conditions, biodiversity, taxonomic determination, biochemical characterization and synthesis of biologically active compounds from strains with a potential for enzyme, polysaccharide, lipid, carotenoid, and bioremediation agent synthesis, etc. (3,5,6,9,12,15,16,17,20,22,24).…”