Biotechnologically Relevant Yeasts from Patagonian Natural Environments

LIBKIND D.; MOLINÉ M.; TROCHINE A.; BELLORA N.; DE GARCIA V.

Biology and Biotechnology of Patagonian Microorganisms

Springer

Año: 2016; p. 325 - 351

The Patagonia region constitutes a vast geographic area with multipleextreme environments having one or more of these stress factors: cold, high UVincidence, desiccation, ultra-oligotrophy, acidity, and the presence of heavy met-als, among others. Yeasts that constantly live under stress conditions evolve adap-tive mechanisms to minimize or resist their negative effects and thus permitsurvival and reproduction. These specifi c mechanisms are promising sources ofbiotechnologically relevant molecules or genes. Here we summarize numerousyeast bioprospection studies performed in the conventional and extreme environ-ments of the Argentinean Patagonia. More than 1000 yeasts and dimorphic fungiwere collected and molecularly identifi ed; when possible, relevant secondarymetabolites were screened, as well as their ability to tolerate several types of stressin laboratory conditions. Screened metabolites include carotenoid pigments,mycosporines (UV sunscreens), and cold-active enzymes. In some cases, thesetraits could be correlated to habitat characteristics and for those (e.g., mycospo-rines, carotenoid pigments, heavy metal tolerance) their potential role in the adap-tive mechanisms to specifi c stress factors was evaluated. Genome sequencing andanalyses were performed for biotechnologically relevant isolates such asSaccharomyces eubayanus , Saccharomyces uvarum , and Phaffi a rhodozyma (syn-onym of Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous ). The biotechnological potential ofselected species is addressed as specifi c study cases. The present work representsan overview of our fi ndings related to biotechnologically relevant yeasts fromPatagonian natural environments.