Evaluation of pigment biosynthesis by R. mucilaginosa submitted to stress conditions and production optimization

• Grant number: 23/12460-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2024
• End date: January 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Iolanda Cristina Silveira Duarte
• Grantee: Gabriela Santos
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Humanas e Biológicas (CCHB). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). Sorocaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Carotenoids are biosynthesized by several organisms and due to their properties antioxidants that they present are of great interest to the pharmaceutical and food. Natural carotenoids have been gaining market share because they are safer and preferred by the consumer. It should be noted here that, in addition to plants, microorganisms can synthesize carotenoids. There is a possibility that exposure of yeast to stress generated by UV-C radiation and osmotic pressure results in an increase in biosynthesis of carotenoids, and that it is possible to reduce production costs by defining the culture medium ideal, optimizing the carbon source and physical-chemical conditions. In this way, the objective this project is to optimize the production of carotenoids from Rhodotorula yeast mucilaginous (PSR 34). To achieve this goal, factors such as osmotic stress and oxidative, generated by NaCl and UV-C radiation will be evaluated at the ideal concentration for induce maximum production of these pigments. To make this possible, research will be divided as follows: first, the effects of different times and distances of UV-C light irradiation on plates containing yeast, and incubation in different culture media and carbon sources; and subsequently the evaluation of the effect of different concentrations of NaCl, different types of pH, temperatures and incubation times. It is expected that this work will help in the application of yeasts in bioreactors for the production of more profitable and sustainable pigments.