Carotenoids are bioactive compounds used as natural pigments and are found in plants, animals,
algae and microorganisms. Some of these compounds are precursors of vitamin A and have benefits to human health such as strengthening the immune system and reducing the risk of chronic degenerative diseases. In industry, the production of carotenoids is obtained mainly by chemical synthesis or through algae and plant extracts. However, with the growing concern about utilization of chemical additives in food by many consumers, the interest in obtaining them through biotechnological processes and diverse microorganisms may synthesize them, such as yeasts. In this work, an exploration study was carried out focused on molecular identification of carotenoid-producing yeasts available in a microregion of Amazonia biome, with the aim of highlighting promising microorganisms for future industrial applications. Samples were collected from leaves, flowers, soil, and bark trees, among them, 4 promising strains were isolated and identified from phyllosphere of philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum): Rhodosporidiobolus ruineniae (PH-18(I)), Rhynchogastrema noutii or Hannaella pagnoccae (dPH-8(I)), Leucosporidium egoroviorum or Lyomyces sp. (dPH-8(II)), and Rhodotorula diobovata or Rhodotorula glutinis (PH-22(II)). The strain PH-18(I) showed a biomass yield of 0.26% to 0.76% and total carotenoid content of 139.70 μg/g of dry biomass. The strain dPH-8(I) showed a biomass yield of 0.43% to 0.96 % and total carotenoid content of 54.26 μg/g. The strain dPH-8(II) demonstrated a biomass yield of 0.35% to 1.12% and total carotenoid content of 52.71 μg/g, while the strain PH-20(II) demonstrated a biomass yield of 11.63 % to 23.67 % and total carotenoid content of 44.98 μg/g. The carotenoids identified in this study were 13Z-β-carotene, (all-E)-β-carotene and 9Z-β-carotene, being (all-E)-β-carotene the majority. Results found in this study highlight a promising perspective for future applications of carotenoid-producing yeasts in the Amazonia biome, being an excellent alternative to replace the process of obtaining carotenoids by synthetic means or by exploitation of vegetal sources.
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