Priyadarshini L A Swagatika, Kataria Rashmi
School of Biosciences and Technology (SBST), Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
Microb Cell Fact. 2025 Jun 16;24(1):134. doi: 10.1186/s12934-025-02752-7.
Rhodotorula toruloides (R. toruloides) has shown great potential for the microbiological synthesis of useful substances, including lipids and carotenoids. Through interconnected metabolic pathways, this oleaginous yeast can synthesize various carotenoids and accumulate significant amounts of lipids. The mevalonate pathway plays a crucial role in the production of these substances. R. toruloides can utilize diverse carbon sources, including waste-derived and sustainable substrates. The product yields are significantly influenced by the optimization of stress factors and culture conditions. Lipid and carotenoid extraction methods have advanced from traditional approaches to more sophisticated techniques, such as enzyme-assisted extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction, and supercritical fluid extraction. These modern techniques aim to minimize environmental impact while maximizing efficiency and selectivity. Genetic engineering has played a pivotal role in enhancing lipid and carotenoid accumulation in R. toruloides. These strategies involve overexpressing key biosynthetic genes, modifying regulatory elements, and introducing heterologous pathways. Such approaches have expanded the range of chemical synthesis and led to significant improvements in product yields. This study provides a comprehensive insight into the metabolic linkages between lipid and carotenoid biosynthesis, highlighting how stress factors, genetic engineering, and waste-derived substrates influence productivity. Furthermore, present review uniquely explores the role of R. toruloides in environmental bioremediation and wastewater treatment, emphasizing its potential for sustainable waste valorization. Due to its ability to synthesize valuable chemicals from a wide array of carbon sources, R. toruloides is a promising candidate for commercial applications in the feed, food, cosmetic, and biofuel industries.
红酵母（Rhodotorula toruloides）在微生物合成包括脂质和类胡萝卜素在内的有用物质方面显示出巨大潜力。通过相互关联的代谢途径，这种产油酵母能够合成各种类胡萝卜素并积累大量脂质。甲羟戊酸途径在这些物质的生产中起着关键作用。红酵母能够利用多种碳源，包括来自废物的和可持续的底物。产物产量受到应激因素和培养条件优化的显著影响。脂质和类胡萝卜素的提取方法已从传统方法发展到更复杂的技术，如酶辅助提取、超声辅助提取和超临界流体提取。这些现代技术旨在将环境影响降至最低，同时最大限度地提高效率和选择性。基因工程在提高红酵母中脂质和类胡萝卜素的积累方面发挥了关键作用。这些策略包括过表达关键生物合成基因、修饰调控元件以及引入异源途径。此类方法扩大了化学合成的范围，并导致产物产量有显著提高。本研究全面深入地探讨了脂质和类胡萝卜素生物合成之间的代谢联系，突出了应激因素、基因工程和来自废物的底物如何影响生产力。此外，本综述独特地探讨了红酵母在环境生物修复和废水处理中的作用，强调了其在可持续废物增值方面的潜力。由于其能够从多种碳源合成有价值的化学品，红酵母是饲料、食品、化妆品和生物燃料行业商业应用的有前途的候选者。
