Identification of Newly Zeaxanthin-Producing Bacteria Isolated from Sponges in the Gulf of Thailand and their Zeaxanthin Production

• Published in: Applied biochemistry and biotechnology Vol. 167; no. 8; pp. 2357 - 2368
• Main Authors: Thawornwiriyanun, Patcharee, Tanasupawat, Somboon, Dechsakulwatana, Chutiwan, Techkarnjanaruk, Somkiet, Suntornsuk, Worapot
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer-Verlag 01-08-2012; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animals; Aquatic life; Bacteria; Bacteria - classification; Bacteria - genetics; Bacteria - isolation & purification; Bacteria - metabolism; Bioactive compounds; Biochemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Blastomonas natatoria; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; DNA, Bacterial - genetics; DNA, Ribosomal - genetics; Environmental effects; Environmental factors; Enzymes; Fermentation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Molecular Sequence Data; Phylogeny; Porifera - microbiology; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics; Sphingomonas; Thailand; Xanthophylls - biosynthesis; Zeaxanthins; Thailand; Asia; Sponge-associated bacteria; Zeaxanthin; Identification; Production; Sphingomonas natatoria; Porifera; Bacteria; Sphingomonas; Sphingomonas phyllosphaerae; Invertebrata
• ISSN: 0273-2289; 1559-0291
• DOI: 10.1007/s12010-012-9760-2

Sponge-associated bacteria have been found to produce a variety of bioactive compounds including natural pigments. Here, we report the molecular identification of zeaxanthin-producing sponge-associated bacteria isolated from sponges in the Gulf of Thailand and the effect of environmental factors on zeaxanthin production from a bacterium. Three colorful sponge-associated bacteria (CHOB06-6, KODA19-6, and MAKB08-4) were identified based on the 16S rDNA profile. The 16S rDNA sequence-based analyses revealed that CHOB 06-6 and MAKB 08-4 were the closest relatives to
Sphingomonas phyllosphaerae
FA2
T
, and KODA19-6 was a relative of
Shingomonas
(
Blastomonas
)
natatoria
DSM 3183
T
. After all bacteria were cultivated in a modified Zobell medium,
S. natatoria
KODA19-6 was found to produce the highest zeaxanthin at 0.62 mg/l. pH and temperature considerably affected its zeaxanthin production. Its optimal condition for zeaxanthin production was found at a pH of 7 and 30 °C. The bacterium had a maximum specific growth rate (
μ
max
) of 0.06 1/h with zeaxanthin productivity (
Q
p
) of 6.27 μg/l·h. Therefore, this newly zeaxanthin-producing bacterium has a potential to produce natural zeaxanthin for the food, feed, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries.