title: Torularhodin and torulene are the major contributors to the carotenoid pool of marine Rhodosporidium babjevae (Golubev).
abstract: A carotenoid-producing yeast strain, isolated from the sub-arctic, marine copepod Calanus finmarchicus, was identified as Rhodosporidium babjevae (Golubev) according to morphological and biochemical characteristics and phylogenetic inference from the small-subunit ribosomal RNA gene sequence. The total carotenoids content varied with cultivation conditions in the range 66-117 microg per g dry weight. The carotenoid pool, here determined for the first time, was dominated by torularhodin and torulene, which collectively constituted 75-91% of total carotenoids under various regimes of growth. Beta-carotene varied in the range 5-23%. A high-peptone/low-yeast extract (weight ratio 38:1) marine growth medium favoured the production of torularhodin, the carotenoid at highest oxidation level, with an average of 63% of total carotenoids. In standard yeast medium (YM; ratio 1.7:1), torularhodin averaged 44%, with increased proportions of the carotenes, torulene and beta-carotene. The anticipated metabolic precursor gamma-carotene (beta,psi-carotene) constituted a minor fraction (<or=8%) under all conditions of growth.
authors.affiliation: The Norwegian College of Fishery Science, University of Tromsø, 9037 Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Sigmund
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sperstad
authors.forename: Bjart Frode
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Lutnaes
authors.forename: Svein Kristian
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Stormo
authors.forename: Synnøve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liaaen-Jensen
authors.forename: Bjarne
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Landfald
mesh_terms: D002338:Carotenoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012248:Rhodotorula / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019207:beta Carotene; D002338:Carotenoids; C078922:torulene; C078923:torularhodin