Co-production of astaxanthin and xylitol using Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous from renewable resources

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K06873
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Biofunction/Bioprocess
• Research Institution: Kyoto Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Horiuchi Jun-ichi 京都工芸繊維大学, 分子化学系, 教授 (30301980)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: バイオリファイナリー / 赤色酵母 / アスタキサンチン / キシリトール / コーンコブ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Co-production of astaxanthin and xylitol from renewable resources (corncobs) using Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous was investigated. X. dendrorhous could successfully produce both astaxanthin and xylitol using synthetic medium containing glucose and xylose. X. dendrorhous was then cultivated using corncobs hydrolysate medium containing glucose and xylose. The results showed that only astaxanthin was effectively accumulated, however, xylitol was little produced. To improve xylitol production using corncobs hydrolysate medium, a two-step fermentation, which started with aerobic condition for astaxanthin production followed by xylitol production with microaerobic condition, was examined. Using the two-step fermentation system, the co-production of astaxanthin and xylitol from corncob hydrolysate medium was successfully performed.

Free Research Field

生物化学工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

地球温暖化の抑制や循環型社会構築の観点から、バイオマス等の未利用資源を原料としたバイオプロセスによる有用物質生産の研究が注目されている。本研究では、農産廃棄物であるコーンコブ（トウモロコシの穂軸）をモデル原料として、ヘミセルロース、セルロース成分をそれぞれキシロース・グルコースに加水分解し、それらを基質として赤色酵母を用いたバイオプロセスにより、アスタキサンチン及びキシリトールの同時発酵生産に成功した。