Effect of active oxygen species on the productivity of torularhodin by Rhodotorula glutinis No. 21

• Published in: Journal of bioscience and bioengineering 2002, Vol.93 (3), p.338-340
• Main Authors: Sakaki, Hideyuki, Nochide, Hidesato, Komemushi, Sadao, Miki, Wataru
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Action of physical and chemical agents; active oxygen species; Biological and medical sciences; Biology of microorganisms of confirmed or potential industrial interest; Biotechnology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; methylene blue; Microbiology; Miscellaneous; Mission oriented research; Mycology; Rhodotorula glutinis; singlet oxygen; torularhodin
• ISSN: 1389-1723; 1347-4421
• DOI: 10.1016/S1389-1723(02)80040-8

The effect of active oxygen species on the productivity of torularhodin, an effective antioxidant, by soil yeast, Rhodotorula glutinis no. 21, was examined. Methylene blue, methyviologen and AAPH [2,2′-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride] were used as generators of singlet oxygen, superoxide anion radicals and peroxy radicals, respectively. All of them indicated effectiveness at a dose of 1.0 x 10 −10 to 3.0 x 10 −6 M. Addition of these generators to the culture medium had almost no influence on the biosynthesis of β-carotene, whereas it had marked enhancement on those of torulene and torularhodin. Production of uric acid by xanthineoxidase remained unchanged at a torularhodin concentration of up to 100 μM. This result suggests that torularhodin does not directly affect the productivity of superoxide anions. It has been proved that torularhodin has a more potent effect on the scavenging of peroxyl radicals and inhibits substrate degradation by singlet oxygen more effectively than β-carotene does. Continuous addition of methylene blue enhanced the torularhodin accumulation more markedly than single addition.