Isolation and identification of a strain converting levoglucosan to carotenoid

Abstract:

Abstract:［Objective］In order to use cellulosic biomass effectively，we screened a strain that can convert levoglucosan efficiently to carotenoids． ［Methods］Strain ZS1 was isolated from soil using levoglucosan of cellulosis pyrolysis products as sole carbon source．It was identified based on rDNA ITS sequence analysis and morphological characteristics．Phylogenetic tree was constructed to determine its taxonomic status．The conversion rate of levoglucosan was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography．Carotenoid in fermentation liquid was detected by spectrophotometry.［Results］ The results show that ZS1could ferment levoglucosan efficiently and the consumption rate of levoglucosan reached 67.0% after 4 days．Strain ZS1 was identified as Rhodosporidium kratochvilovae (CGMCC NO:6365) based on the morphology features and ITS sequence analysis． After optimization of culture conditions，the conversion rate of levoglucosan reached 98.7% after 5 days．The content of carotenoid in cells was 427.1 μg/g (cell dry weight)．After conversion，460. 4μg/g (levoglucosan) of carotenoids could be produced with levoglucosan as carbon source.［Conclusion］The strain capable fermenting levoglucosan was identified as R．kratochvilovae that could produce carotenoids with levoglucosan as carbon source．

Key words:Keywords: levoglucosan，biomass pyrolysis，Rhodosporidium kratochvilovae，carotenoids