Bacterioruberin extracts from a genetically modified hyperpigmented Haloferax volcanii strain: antioxidant activity and bioactive properties on sperm cells

MARÍA VICTORIA MIRÓ; CELESTE MARTÍNEZ; ANDREINA CESARI; LUCIA ZALAZAR; MARÍA SANDRA CHURIO; MARÍA INIESTA-CUERDA; ROSANA DE CASTRO; PABLO PAGOLA; MICAELA CERLETTI; ANA JOSEFA SOLER VALLS

JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2019 vol. 126 p. 796 - 810

1364-5072

Aims: To examine the antioxidant activity of Bacterioruberin (Bctr)-rich extracts isolated from a hyperpigmented, genetically modified Haloferax volcanii strain (HVLON3) and to investigate the effect on cold-sensitive ram sperm cells. Methods and Results: The strain HVLON3 produces higher Bctr amounts than most haloarchaea (220 ± 13 mg g −1 DW). HVLON3-Bctr extract has higher antioxidant activity than β-carotene (threefold) as evaluated using 2,2 diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl combined with Electron Paramagnetic Resonance analysis (EC 50 4·5 × 10 −5  mol l −1 vs 13·9 × 10 −5  mol l −1 respectively). Different concentrations of HVLON3-Bctr extracts were assayed on ram sperm after freezing/thawing and physiologically relevant parameters were examined. Extracts containing 7 and 20 μmol l −1 Bctr significantly improved cell viability (P