Characterization of red pigmented yeasts and genes associated with astaxanthin synthesis in <i>Rhodotorula mucilaginosa</i> HL26-1 and <i>Rhodotorula paludigena</i> LL69-1.

Abstract

Background: , the well-known yeast for beta-carotene production, have been reported as natural astaxanthin producers. However, the lack of genomic data on astaxanthin-producing strains within these species hinders the identification of biosynthetic routes, molecular characterization of these pathways, and gene editing applications. Methods: This study explored the diversity and astaxanthin production capability of cultivable pigmented yeast in flower samples. The astaxanthin production ability was inspected by three consecutive methods, including thin-layer chromatography (TLC) for the preliminary step, followed by quantitative spectrophotometry and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for qualitative validation. The draft genome sequence and astaxanthin-producing genes of astaxanthin-producing yeasts were examined. Results: as potential astaxanthin transcription genes. Conclusion: LL69-1, for astaxanthin production. Furthermore, our findings provide information on the whole genome and protein-encoded genes associated with astaxanthin production, which serve as valuable biological resources for various biotechnological applications.