Effect of light on carotenoid and lipid production in the oleaginous yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides

Khanh Dung Pham, Yosuke Shida, Atsushi Miyata, Takeru Takamizawa, Yoshiyuki Suzuki, Satoshi Ara, Harutake Yamazaki, Kazuo Masaki, Kazuki Mori, Sachiyo Aburatani, Hideki Hirakawa, Kosuke Tashiro, Satoru Kuhara, Hiroaki Takaku, Wataru Ogasawara

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The oleaginous yeast Rhodosporodium toruloides is receiving widespread attention as an alternative energy source for biofuels due to its unicellular nature, high growth rate and because it can be fermented on a large-scale. In this study, R. toruloides was cultured under both light and dark conditions in order to understand the light response involved in lipid and carotenoid biosynthesis. Our results from phenotype and gene expression analysis showed that R. toruloides responded to light by producing darker pigmentation with an associated increase in carotenoid production. Whilst there was no observable difference in lipid production, slight changes in the fatty acid composition were recorded. Furthermore, a two-step response was found in three genes (GGPSI, CAR1, and CAR2) under light conditions and the expression of the gene encoding the photoreceptor CRY1 was similarly affected.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1501-1512
Number of pages12
JournalBioscience, Biotechnology and Biochemistry
Volume84
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2 2020

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Biotechnology
  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Organic Chemistry

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Effect of light on carotenoid and lipid production in the oleaginous yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this