Rhodotorula glutinis
1. Classification
a. Higher order taxa
Eukaryota; Fungi; Microbotryomycetes; Sporidiobolales; Sporidiobolaceae; Rhodotorula Include this section if your Wiki page focuses on a specific taxon/group of organisms
2. Description and significance
Rhodotorula glutinis, also known as “red yeast” (1), is a species of fungus in the Sporidiobolaceae family that is commonly found in the environment and on human skin (2). It has pink and red colonies due to its ability to produce red-orange carotenoid pigments (3). The species has been the focus of attention in the medical field, as it can persist on plastic surfaces, such as catheters, and potentially cause sepsis in immunocompromised patients (4). Current research focuses on the industrial significance of R. glutinis, including its ability to produce carotenoids, act as a biocatalyst, and aid in biofuel production (3, 5-6). Research suggests that R. glutinis can sustainably produce biofuel precursors from industrial and organic waste, but questions still remain about the cost-effectiveness of large-scale biofuel production utilizing R. glutinis (7, 8).
3. Genome structure
The Rhodotorula glutinis genome has 20,478,880 nucleotides, and guanine and cytosine (G + C) bases compose 61.9% of the genome. The region of the genome thought to encode genes contains 17,229,291 base pair and there are 3,359 genes coding for 2,817 proteins (9). Some of the major protein groups encoded in the genome play roles in the metabolism of lipids and carotenoids, along with other genes that produce enzymes that are highly relevant to the bio-products and pharmaceutical industries. One example of this is the enzyme phenylalanine ammonia lyase, which can be used to treat phenylketonuria, a disease that is caused by the build-up of the amino acid phenylalanine (10).
4. Morphology, Cell Structure, and Reproduction
Rhodotorula glutinis forms pink or red, smooth, moist, and mucus-like colonies when grown on agar. When fully matured, R. glutinis cells form an elongated sphere, or ellipsoid, and their diameter ranges from three to five micrometers (11). The overall structure and division of the nucleus is similar to other previously reported fungi and yeast. In some strains of R. glutinis, vacuoles are absent in young cells, suggesting they are not permanent structures and instead hold a transient function in the cell. Granular and rod-shaped mitochondria are often present in the cytoplasm (12). The nucleus consists of a central nucleolus surrounded by highly condensed DNA, and is enclosed by a nuclear membrane. R. glutinis reproduces by simultaneously budding from multiple start points, also known as multipolar budding. Through this method, a smaller version of the yeast cell grows from the original cell. Eventually, the mature daughter cell separates from the mother cell, taking half of the nucleus and resulting in two identical cells (13). R. glutinis can also reproduce sexually through the use of mycelial clamp connections, which form a link between two fungal cells and transfers a nucleus, and with it DNA and genetic material, from one yeast cell to another (13).
5. Metabolic processes
Describe important sources of energy, electrons, and carbon (i.e. trophy) for the organism/organisms you are focusing on, as well as important molecules it/they synthesize(s).
6. Ecology
Habitat; symbiosis; contributions to the environment.
7. Pathology
How does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.
8. Current Research
Include information about how this microbe (or related microbes) are currently being studied and for what purpose
9. References
It is required that you add at least five primary research articles (in same format as the sample reference below) that corresponds to the info that you added to this page. [Sample reference] Faller, A., and Schleifer, K. "Modified Oxidase and Benzidine Tests for Separation of Staphylococci from Micrococci". Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 1981. Volume 13. p. 1031-1035.
