title: Production of mannosylerythritol lipids and their application in cosmetics.
abstract: Mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs) are glycolipid biosurfactants abundantly produced by different basidiomycetous yeasts such as Pseudozyma, and show not only excellent interfacial properties but also versatile biochemical actions. These features of MELs make their application in new technology areas possible. Recently, the structural and functional variety of MELs was considerably expanded by advanced microbial screening methods. Different types of MELs bearing different hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts have been reported. The genes responsible for MEL biosynthesis were identified, and their genetic study is now in progress, aiming to control the chemical structure. The excellent properties leading to practical cosmetic ingredients, i.e., moisturization of dry skin, repair of damaged hair, activation of fibroblast and papilla cells and antioxidant and protective effects in skin cells, have been demonstrated on the yeast glycolipid biosurfactants. In this review, the current status of research and development on MELs, particularly the commercial application in cosmetics, is described.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Innovation in Sustainable Chemistry, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba Central 5-2, Higashi 1-1-1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomotake
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Tokuma
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukuoka
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imura
authors.forename: Dai
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kitamoto
mesh_terms: D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000378:metabolism*; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways / Q000235:genetics; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D014587:Ustilaginales / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics; D006017:Glycolipids; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; C439671:mannosylerythritol lipid