Rhodotorula mucilaginosa-alternative sources of natural carotenoids, lipids, and enzymes for industrial use

Biotechnologically useful yeast strains have been receiving important attention worldwide for the demand of a wide range of industries. Rhodotorula mucilaginosa is recognized as a biotechnologically important yeast that has gained great interest as a promising platform strain, owing to the diverse substrate appetites, robust stress resistance, and other gratifying features. Due to its attractive properties, R. mucilaginosa has been regarded as an excellent candidate for the biorefinery of carotenoids, lipids, enzymes, and other functional bioproducts by uti-lizing low-cost agricultural waste materials as substrates. These compounds have aroused great interest as the potential alternative sources of health-promoting food products, substrates for so-called third-generation bio-diesel, and dyes or functional ingredients for cosmetics. Furthermore, the use of R. mucilaginosa has rapidly increased as a result of advancements in fermentation for enhanced production of these valuable bioactive compounds. This review focuses on R. mucilaginosa in these advancements and summarizes its potential prospects as alternative sources of natural bioproducts.

Automated summary

Rhodotorula mucilaginosa is a biotechnologically important yeast strain with diverse substrate appetites and robust stress resistance. It has great potential for the production of carotenoids, lipids, enzymes, and other functional bioproducts using low-cost agricultural waste materials as substrates.