A comparison of metabolic activity and use of microalgae and pigment-formed yeasts

Carotenoids are natural pigments occurring in plants and many microorganisms, such as algae, yeast and bacteria. They represent the most common group of antioxidants with significant biological effect. Lipids are an essential component of all living organisms. They are the source and the reservoir of energy for organisms, which can also be used in the petrochemical industry for the production of biofuels. This thesis deals with the production properties of carotenoids and lipids by selected strains of yeasts, algae, and canobacteria, in order to apply the acquired knowledge and find cheap suitable alternatives for microbial biotechnological production of these metabolites using waste substrates. Carotenoids, coenzyme Q, and ergosterol in cells were determined by liquid chromatography. The lipid content and fatty acid profile was analyzed by gas chromatography. Cell morphology and localization of selected metabolites were analyzed by fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy. In this work yeast genera Sporobolomyces, Cystofilobasidium and Rhodotorula were used. As the representatives of the algae and cyanobacteria strains of Desmodesmus, Cyanothece, Chlamydomonas, Synechoccocus and Chlorella strains were studied. In the overall comparison, the yeast strains were more productive than algae and cyanobacteria. The highest carotenoid production was found in S. pararoseus, C. capitatum and R. mucilaginosa cells, while the highest lipid yield was observed in strains of C. infirmominiatum and S. metaroseus