Isolation, characterization and long term preservation of mutant strains of Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous.

The yeast Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous is biotechnologically important due to its ability to produce the pigment astaxanthin, but is poorly understood at the genetic level. This is mainly because its preservation is difficult and many of the mutants obtained are unstable. The objectives of the present work were (i) the mutagenesis X. dendrorhous and, (ii) isolation of mutants with auxotrophic markers suitable for genetic studies of the carotenogenesis pathway and sexual cycle. Additionally, two kinds of preservation methods at the laboratory level were tested for the storage of strains. A collection of X. dendrorhous mutants affected in the production of carotenoid pigments or development of sexual structures and auxotrophic requirements were isolated by treatment with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and the antibiotic nystatin. From a detailed analysis about the requirements of auxotrophic mutants the ARG7, ARG3 and PRO3 loci can be defined in this yeast. Among the methods assayed for the long-term preservation of X. dendrorhous strains, the dehydrated gelatin drop method showed the highest recovery of viable yeast after storage for 65 months. No changes in auxotrophic properties and in macro or micro morphology were observed after applying the latter method.

Association between the occurrence of matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 in parotid saliva with the degree of parotid gland damage in juvenile recurrent parotitis.

OBJECTIVE: The study was aimed to investigate whether the occurrence of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 2 and 9 in parotid saliva of juvenile recurrent parotitis (JRP) patients is associated with the degree of glandular involvement. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-three JRP patients were included. Involvement of parotid gland was assessed by sialography. Parotid saliva was assayed for MMP-2 and MMP-9 by zymography. Medical charts were examined for number of recurrences, disease laterality, and time of follow-up. Logistic regression analysis between occurrence of either MMP, the clinical parameters, and sialographic staging was conducted. RESULTS: None of the clinical parameters under analysis were found to be associated with degree of sialographic involvement. Statistical associations were found between presence of MMP-9 and MMP-2 in parotid saliva and sialographic stage (P = .017; odds ratio [OR] 6.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4-30.4; and P = .009; OR 6.1; 95% CI 1.6-23.7; respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Occurrence frequency of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in parotid saliva from affected glands of JRP patients was associated with degree of gland damage.

Study of the expression of carotenoid biosynthesis genes in wild-type and deregulated strains of Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous (Ex.: Phaffia rhodozyma).

The expression, at the mRNA level, of carotenoid biosynthetic genes from Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous was studied by RT-PCR. The experimental conditions for the RT-PCR assay were standardized to quantify the relative transcript levels of idi, crtE, crtYB and crtI genes. This work attempted to correlate astaxanthin production with the transcript levels of carotenogenic genes in a wild-type strain (UCD 67-385) and two overproducer deregulated strains (atxS1 and atxS2). At 3 day cultures, the wild-type strain contained higher transcript levels from the crtE and crtYB genes on minimal medium than on rich medium. Similarly, carotenoid production was higher on minimal medium than on rich medium. However, carotenoid production in the atxS1 and atxS2 strains was not correlated with the transcript level of carotenogenic genes under the same experimental conditions. This result suggests that there is not a linear relationship between carotenogenic transcript levels and carotenoid biosynthesis.

Study of the expression of carotenoid biosynthesis genes in wild-type and deregulated strains of Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous (Ex: Phaffia rhodozyma)

The expression, at the mRNA level, of carotenoid biosynthetic genes from Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous was studied by RT-PCR. The experimental conditions for the RT-PCR assay were standardized to quantify the relative transcript levels of idi, crtE, crtYB and crtI genes. This work attempted to correlate astaxanthin production with the transcript levels of carotenogenic genes in a wild-type strain (UCD 67-385) and two overproducer deregulated strains (atxS1 and atxS2). At 3 day cultures, the wild-type strain contained higher transcript levels from the crtE and crtYB genes on minimal medium than on rich medium. Similarly, carotenoid production was higher on minimal medium than on rich medium. However, carotenoid production in the atxS1 and atxS2 strains was not correlated with the transcript level of carotenogenic genes under the same experimental conditions. This result suggests that there is not a linear relationship between carotenogenic transcript levels and carotenoid biosynthesis.

Genetic determination of ploidy level in Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous.

Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous (formely Phaffia rhodozyma) is a basidiomycetous yeast-like fungus that produces carotenoids useful for the food industry. Recently, its sexual cycle was reported but little is known about its genetic constitution. To inquire into the ploidy state of X. dendrorhous, biased mutant spectrum, genetic complementation and mitotic recombination analysis were used. A wild-type strain was subjected to N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine mutagenic treatment. Auxotrophic and carotene mutants were forced to revert to the wild-type phenotype. Pigment producing and prototroph revertants behaved as diploid except for adenine less mutants. These results are in agreement with the limited spectrum of auxotrophs obtained in this strain for the ADE1 locus. To analyze the genetic characteristic of the adenine genetic marker of X. dendrorhous, protoplast fusion experiments with several adenine less mutants were performed. The experiments presented in this work suggest that the ATCC 2430 (UDC 67-385) strain of X. dendrorhous is diploid and a heterozygous constitution is proposed for the ADE1 locus.

Estudio genético molecular de levaduras de diversos ambientes / Molecular genetic study of yeasts from different environments

Se describe la presencia de polimorfísmo genético en levaduras nativas aisladas de diferentes ambientes, tales como: agua de mar, suelos forestales con poca intervención antrópica, suelos de viñedos, otros ambientes naturales y desde pacientes con fungemia severa. Se detectó la presencia de elementos genéticos extracromosómicos en cuatro cepas diferentes de levaduras. El análisis de amplificación de una región ITS utilizando partidores específicos para el ITS2 (partidores ITS3 e ITS4), permite determinar una banda de amplificación de rDNA que varia de tamaño entre 450 y 560 pb. dependiendo del género de levadura analizada. En una cepa de Cryptococcus terreus se observó la presencia de tres bandas de amplificación ITS que sugieren una organización compleja de los genes de rDNA en esa cepa. Finalmente el análisis del cariotipo electroforético de cepas ambientales y clínicas de Pichia anomala mostró un marcado polimorfísmo cromosómico en esta levadura emergente.

Aislamiento de genes carotenogénesis de xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous (ex. phaffia rhodozyma) mediante PCR / Isolation of carotenogenesis genes of xanthophyllomyces dendrohous (ex. phaffia rhodozyma) through PCR

Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous (ex.phaffia rhodozyma) es una levadura basidiomicetica carotenogénica, en la cual aspectos importantes de su biología como la organización general de su genoma, número de cromosomas y nivel de ploidia aún no son completamente entendidos. En atención a esto, se han orientado esfuerzos en estudios moleculares con el objetivo de aumentar el conocimiento de su genética. En el presente trabajo, se describe un eficiente procedimiento para seleccionar y clonar genes a partir de una genoteca de DNA genómico de x. dendrorhous mediante la amplificación de DNA por PCR, utilizándo parejas de partidores específicos para el gen crtl. Adicionalmente, se describe la síntesis de cDNA a partir de RNA total de la levadura mediante transcripción reversa acoplada a amplificación de DNA (rt-pcr)