Acidification by nitrogen metabolism triggers extracellular biopolymer production in an oleaginous yeast.

ABSTRACT: The oleaginous yeast Rhodotorula toruloides is a natural producer of lipids and carotenoids. However, its potential as a producer of extracellular biopolymers remains unexplored. Hence, we aimed to evaluate the R. toruloides CCT0783 for extracellular biopolymer production. We found that the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio influenced exopolysaccharide (EPS) production, reaching 5.84 ± 0.45 g/L under glucose-rich conditions. We characterized the crude biopolymer using FTIR and GC-MS, identifying polysaccharide peaks, wherein EPS consisted of (%) glucose (88.83 ± 4.87), galactose (5.50 ± 1.50), mannose (4.80 ± 1.57), and xylose and arabinose (0.87 ± 0.04) monomers. The dried EPS also contained a fractional presence of protein (1.0%). Interestingly, inorganic, but not organic, nitrogen

SUBMITTER: Sepulveda Del Rio Hamacek H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12628781 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature