Production and chemical characterization of an exopolysaccharide synthesized by psychrophilic yeast strain Sporobolomyces salmonicolor AL₁ isolated from Livingston Island, Antarctica.

The exopolysaccharide (EPS) production by psychrophilic Antarctic yeast Sporobolomyces salmonicolor AL₁ reached the maximum yield in medium containing sucrose (50 g/L) and diammonium sulfate (2.5 g/L) after a 5-d fermentation (5.64 g/L) at 22 °C, the dynamic viscosity of the culture broth reaching (after 5 d) 15.4 mPa s. EPS showed a mannan-like structure and high molar mass, and did not affect cellular viability and proliferation of murine macrophages. It exhibited also a protective effect against the toxic activity of Avarol.