Genomic Insight and Optimization of Astaxanthin Production from a New <i>Rhodotorula</i> sp. CP72-2
Engkarat Kingkaew,
Nisachon Tedsree,
Sukanya Phuengjayaem,
Pornchai Rojsitthisak,
Boonchoo Sritularak,
Worathat Thitikornpong,
Somphob Thompho,
Wuttichai Mhuantong,
Somboon Tanasupawat
Affiliations
Engkarat Kingkaew
Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Nisachon Tedsree
Faculty of Science and Arts, Burapha University, Chanthaburi Campus, Chanthaburi 22170, Thailand
Sukanya Phuengjayaem
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok 10140, Thailand
Pornchai Rojsitthisak
Department of Food and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Boonchoo Sritularak
Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Worathat Thitikornpong
Department of Food and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Somphob Thompho
Pharmaceutical Research Instrument Center, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Wuttichai Mhuantong
National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Khlong Luang 12120, Thailand
Somboon Tanasupawat
Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Astaxanthin is a carotenoid pigment extensively used in various industries. Rhodotorula sp. CP72-2, isolated from Calotropis gigantea, showed potential astaxanthin production. In this study, strain CP72-2 was identified as a putative new species in the genus Rhodotorula based on the 26S rRNA gene sequence (98% identity). It was first used as the microbial source for producing astaxanthin. Strain CP72-2 was screened for its astaxanthin production and was identified and quantified by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS), and UV-Vis spectrophotometer. After a screening of astaxanthin production, various carbon sources, pH, temperature, and incubation period were evaluated for their effect on the astaxanthin production of strain CP72-2. Among the several experimental factors, the most efficient conditions for astaxanthin production were glucose (50 g/L), pH 4.5, 25 °C, and three days of cultivation. The assembly genome of strain CP72-2 has a total length of 21,358,924 bp and a GC content of 64.90%. The putative candidate astaxanthin biosynthesis-associated genes (i.e., CrtE, CrtYB, CrtI, CrtS, CrtR, CrtW, CrtO, and CrtZ) were found. This research presents the first report on the production and optimization of astaxanthin from strain CP72-2 and its genome analysis, focusing on the biotechnological potential of the astaxanthin producer.
