Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Carotenoids produced by the deep-sea bacterium Erythrobacter citreus LAMA 915: detection and proposal of their biosynthetic pathway

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Folia Microbiologica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Technologies based on synthetic biology to produce bacterial natural carotenoids depend on information regarding their biosynthesis. Although the biosynthetic pathway of common carotenoids is known, there are carotenoids whose pathways are not completely described. This work aimed to mine the genome of the deep-sea bacterium Erythrobacter citreus LAMA 915, an uncommon bacterium that forms yellow colonies under cultivation. This work further explores the potential application of the carotenoids found and low-cost substrates for bacterial growth. A combined approach of genome mining and untargeted metabolomics analysis was applied. The carotenoid erythroxanthin sulfate was detected in E. citreus LAMA 915 cell extract. A proposal for carotenoid biosynthesis by this bacterium is provided, involving the genes crtBIYZWG. These are responsible for the biosynthesis of carotenoids from the zeaxanthin pathway and their 2,2′-hydroxylated derivatives. E. citreus LAMA 915 extracts showed antioxidant and sun protection effects. Based on the high content of proteases and lipases, it was possible to rationally select substrates for bacterial growth, with residual oil from fish processing the best low-cost substrate selected. This work advances in the understanding of carotenoid biosynthesis and provides a genetic basis that can be further explored as a biotechnological route for carotenoid production.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to André Oliveira de Souza Lima.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 1595 KB)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Niero, H., da Silva, M.A.C., de Felicio, R. et al. Carotenoids produced by the deep-sea bacterium Erythrobacter citreus LAMA 915: detection and proposal of their biosynthetic pathway. Folia Microbiol 66, 441–456 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12223-021-00858-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12223-021-00858-0

Navigation