Rhodotorula svalbardensis sp. nov., a novel yeast species isolated from cryoconite holes of Ny-Ålesund, Arctic.
A psychrophilic yeast species was isolated from glacier cryoconite holes of Svalbard. Nucleotide sequences of the strains were studied using D1/D2 domain, ITS region and partial sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. The strains belonged to a clade of psychrophilic yeasts, but showed marked differences from related species in the D1/D2 domain and biochemical characters. Effects of temperature, salt and media on growth of the cultures were also studied. Screening of the cultures for amylase, cellulase, protease, lipase, urease and catalase activities was carried out. The strains expressed high amylase and lipase activities. Freeze tolerance ability of the isolates indicated the formation of unique hexagonal ice crystal structures due to presence of 'antifreeze proteins' (AFPs). FAME analysis of cultures showed a unique trend of increase in unsaturated fatty acids with decrease in temperature. The major fatty acids recorded were oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, myristic acid and pentadecanoic acid. Based on sequence data and, physiological and morphological properties of the strains, we propose a novel species, Rhodotorula svalbardensis and designate strains MLB-I (CCP-II) and CRY-YB-1 (CBS 12863, JCM 19699, JCM 19700, MTCC 10952) as its type strains (Etymology: sval.bar.den'sis. N.L. fem. adj. svalbardensis pertaining to Svalbard).
Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani-K.K. Birla Goa Campus, Zuarinagar, Goa 403726, India. Electronic address: purnimabitsgoa@gmail.com.
Purnima
P
Singh
National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR), Ministry of Earth Sciences, Vasco-Da-Gama, Goa 403804, India.
Shiv M
SM
Singh
Biomass Refinery Research Center (BRRC), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 3-11-32, Kagamiyama, Higashihiroshima 739-0046, Japan.
Masaharu
M
Tsuji
Microbial Type Culture Collection and Gene Bank (MTCC), Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Chandigarh, India.
Gandham S
GS
Prasad
Biomass Refinery Research Center (BRRC), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 3-11-32, Kagamiyama, Higashihiroshima 739-0046, Japan.
Tamotsu
T
Hoshino
D000681:Amylases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D021301:Antifreeze Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001110:Arctic Regions; D003080:Cold Temperature; D045303:Cytochromes b / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D021901:DNA, Intergenic / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000378:metabolism; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D046448:Ice Cover / Q000382:microbiology; D008049:Lipase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012248:Rhodotorula / Q000145:classification* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics
D021301:Antifreeze Proteins; D021901:DNA, Intergenic; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D045303:Cytochromes b; D008049:Lipase; D000681:Amylases
Psychrophilic yeast; Rhodotorula svalbardensis; Svalbard; Taxonomy