Oleaginous yeasts from Antarctica: screening and preliminary approach on lipid accumulation

VIÑARTA, SILVANA C; ANGELICOLA, VIRGINIA; BARROS, MAXIMILIANO; FERNANDEZ, PABLO M; AYBAR, MANUEL; FIGUEROA, LUCÍA I. C.

JOURNAL OF BASIC MICROBIOLOGY

Wiley

Año: 2016 p. 1360 - 1368

0233-111X

The capability of 17 Rhodotorulaspp isolated from Antarctica to accumulate intracellular lipids in nitrogen-limited medium wasinvestigated. As results, 10 isolates were selected by Nile Red staining, while 12 isolates were selected as oleaginous by analysis of total lipid content (20.4%-73%, w/w of dry biomass). The higher lipid production and accumulation was exhibited for 6 strains belonging to 3 species of Rhodotorula(R. glutinis, R. glacialis and R. laryngis). This is the first report where R. laryngishave been identified within oleaginous specie. Lipid accumulation was evaluated comparatively in two nitrogen-limited glucose-based media (MI and MII). MI (low C/N ratio) was more suitable for biomass and lipid production while in MII (high C/Nratio) total lipid content was improved. R. glutinisR4, R. glacialisR15 and R. glutinisR48 showed high lipid concentrations (4.65-6.93 g L-1) and they were able to accumulate large amounts of lipids per gram of biomass (47-77%, w/w). Also, microbial triacylglycerides were detected by Thin Layer Chromatography. Antarctica represents an important source of oleaginous yeasts with adaptive capabilities to accumulate considerable amounts of lipids at 25ºC with biotechnological interest.