STUDY ON THE ASTAXANTHIN-PRODUCING YEAST PHAFFIA RHODOZYMA MUTATED BY NTG / 微生物学通报

ABSTRACT

astaxanthin is an effective antioxidant and natural pigment which has wide application. Phaffia rhodozyma is a good source of astaxantin, but wild strain has limited use in industry because of low production level of astaxanthin. Several mutants of Phaffia rhodozyma were obtained by exerting mutagen N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. The growth curve suggested that pigments were mainly produced in the middle and latter periods of log phase. The pigments were extracted from Phaffia rhodozyma and analysed by esterification, thin layer chromatography and absorption spectrometry. It was proved that astaxanthin, astaxanthin diester and β-carotene were the major components of the pigments produced by Phaffia rhodozyma. We also studied the pigments producing phase of Phaffia rhodozyma. and founded that astaxanthin was stable to light under butylatedhydroxytoluene coexistance.