Biosynthesis of polyhydroxyalkanotes in wild type yeasts.

Biosynthesis of biodegradable polymers polyhydroxyalkanotes (PHAs) have been studied extensively in wild type and genetically modified prokaryotic cells, however the content and structure of PHAs in wild type yeasts is not well documented. The purpose of this study was to screen yeast isolates collected from different ecosystems for their ability to accumulate PHAs. Identification of the isolates and characterization of PHAs produced by the positive isolates were investigated. One positive isolate (strain Y4) was identified by both API20C system and 18S rDNA sequencing. The data revealed that isolate Y4 belongs to the yeast genus Rhodotorula and exhibits 18S rDNA similarity value >99% to the species Rhodotorula minuta. Quantification of PHAs yield of strain Y4 in glucose, oleic acid and tween 60 containing medium for over a growth period of 96 h gave 2% of PHAs in biomass. The nature of produced PHAs was analyzed by infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance (1H and 13C NMR) and found to contain polyhydroxybutyrate and polyhydroxyvalerate (PHBV).