Photoprotection by carotenoid pigments in the yeast Rhodotorula mucilaginosa: the role of torularhodin

Martín Moliné, María Regina Flores, Diego Libkind, María del Carmen Diéguez, María Eugenia Farías, María van Broock

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

In this paper we report the relationship between carotenoids and ergosterol and cell UV-B resistance in different strains of the yeast Rhodotorula mucilaginosa. Cell survival was studied using a set of 13 strains; additionally, two mutants (a hyper-producing one and a colourless one) in combination with diphenylamine (DPA), a carotenogenesis inhibitor, were used. A positive correlation between total carotenoids and survival to UV-B radiation was found. However, when individual carotenoid concentrations were tested, only torularhodin was found to be significantly related to UV-B survival. On the contrary, ergosterol did not affect survival. The hyper-pigmented strain showed an enhanced survival (up to 250%) compared to the parental strain, while the survival of the albino mutant was similar to that experienced by the parental strain; however, observed changes in survival were dose dependent. The cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs), one of the major forms of DNA damage caused by UV exposure, appears as unrelated to the accumulation of carotenoids and cell survival. These results indicate that bearing higher torularhodin concentrations enhances UV-B survival in yeasts and, thus, the accumulation of this pigment constitutes an important mechanism that improves the resistance of yeasts to UV-B.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1145-51
Number of pages7
JournalPhotochemical & photobiological sciences : Official journal of the European Photochemistry Association and the European Society for Photobiology
Volume9
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2010

Keywords

  • Carotenoids
  • Cell Survival
  • DNA Damage
  • Diphenylamine
  • Ergosterol
  • Pyrimidine Dimers
  • Rhodotorula
  • Ultraviolet Rays
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

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