Screening and product characterization of a mannosylerythritol lipids producing strain

Abstract:

[Objective] In order to solve the environmental pollution problem caused by long chain petroleum hydrocarbons, we selected biosurfactant-producing strain that can degrade oil efficiently. [Methods] Six glycolipid-producing strains were isolated from grape skins by using oil-plate and blood-plate method. Oil-spreading test was conducted to test emulsifying ability of the strains. Strain K6 was selected out by detecting emtl gene sequence related to mannosylerythritol lipids synthesis. Morphological, physiological and molecular phylogenic studies were conducted to identify strain K6. The metabolites of strain K6 were characterized by TLC and HPLC. [Results] Strain K6 that produced mannosylerythritol lipids was identified as Pseudozyma churashimaensis. Moreover, its degradation rate of petroleum hydrocarbons could reach 70.17%. [Conclusion] Strain K6 has the ability to produce glycolipid biosurfactant and degrade petroleum hydrocarbons, which shows a practical significance on restoring the petroleum-contaminated environment.