ANALYSIS OF ASTAXANTHIN AND OTHER CAROTENOIDS FROM SEVERAL PHAFFIA-RHODOZYMA MUTANTS

Astaxanthin and other carotenoids from 29 mutant strains of the yeast Phaffia rhodozyma obtained by means of benomyl and/or ethyl-methanesulfonate treatment and extracted with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography. Detection at 474 nm revealed variations in the pigment content of the different mutant strains. Hypopigmented mutants showed higher p-carotene contents than the wild type, whereas hyperpigmented mutants exhibited considerable increases (up to 232%) in astaxanthin contents. Furthermore, and contrary to the wild type, the pigments in some of the mutants could be directly extracted with ethanol, and although the yield of pigment decreased in relation to DMSO, the content of astaxanthin increased up to 80%.