Antioxidants are significant contributors to the aquaculture, medical, food and cosmetic industries. Previously these molecules have been produced synthetically, but in recent years there has been a push for their natural development through plants and fungi like Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous, a basidiomycete yeast. The red yeast X. dendrorhous naturally makes large amounts of the antioxidant astaxanthin - a carotenoid. Previous work has proven X. dendrorhous’ capability to produce carotenoids, but the most optimum growing conditions have yet to be determined. This study investigated the stressor induced metabolite production by two different X. dendrorhous strains when exposed to hydrogen peroxide, ultraviolet light, and various temperatures. Ultimately, it was determined that stress response is strain dependent, with the over producer X. dendrorhous strain always producing more astaxanthin. It is also possible that other secondary metabolites are being produced by X. dendrorhous, especially at room temperature (~23ºC). The determination of optimum growing conditions that facilitate the maximum production of metabolites by X. dendrorhous is essential for a wide range of industries whose consumers are more responsive to the natural production of antioxidants because bio-based products are more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Joyce, Kyle J.
• Kim, Denisa
• Soens, Natalie R.

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 21636
• E-project-050321-185833

Advisor

• Young, Eric Mosher

Year

• 2021

Date created

• 2021-05-03

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Chemical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2021-08-29