title: Characterization of the genus Pseudozyma by the formation of glycolipid biosurfactants, mannosylerythritol lipids.
abstract: Pseudozyma antarctica is one of the best producers of the glycolipid biosurfactants known as mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs), which show not only excellent surface-active properties but also versatile biochemical actions. In order to obtain a variety of producers, all the species of the genus were examined for their production of MELs from soybean oil. Pseudozyma fusiformata, P. parantarctica and P. tsukubaensis were newly identified to be MEL producers. Of the strains tested, P. parantarctica gave the best yield of MELs (30 g L(-1)). The obtained yield corresponded to those of P. antarctica, P. aphidis and P. rugulosa, which are known high-level MEL producers. Interestingly, P. parantarctica and P. fusiformata produced mainly 4-O-[(4',6'-di-O-acetyl-2',3'-di-O-alkanoyl)-beta-d-mannopyranosyl]-meso-erythritol (MEL-A), whereas P. tsukubaensis produced mainly 4-O-[(6'-mono-O-acetyl-2',3'-di-O-alkanoyl)-beta-d-mannopyranosyl]-meso-erythritol (MEL-B). Consequently, six of the nine species clearly produced MELs. Based on the MEL production pattern, the nine species seemed to fall into four groups: the first group produces large amounts of MELs; the second produces both MELs and other biosurfactants; the third mainly produces MEL-B; and the fourth is non-MEL-producing. Thus, MEL production may be an important taxonomic index for the Pseudozyma yeasts.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Innovations in Sustainable Chemistry, National institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomotake
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Konishi
authors.forename: Tokuma
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukuoka
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imura
authors.forename: Hiroko K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kitamoto
authors.forename: Dai
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kitamoto
mesh_terms: D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D016533:Mycological Typing Techniques; D013024:Soybean Oil / Q000378:metabolism; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D014587:Ustilaginales / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D006017:Glycolipids; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; C439671:mannosylerythritol lipid; D013024:Soybean Oil