Taxonomy of Aureobasidium spp. and biosynthesis and regulation of their extracellular polymers. (June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Yang; Chi, Zhe; Wang, Guang-Yuan; Wang, Zhi-Peng; Liu, Guang-Lei; Lee, Ching-Fu; Ma, Zhai-Chao; Chi, Zhen-Ming
• Is Part Of: Critical reviews in microbiology. Volume 41:Number 2(2015:May)
• Page Start: 228
• Page End: 237
• Publication Date: 2015-06
• Subjects: Microbiology -- Periodicals; Microbiology -- Periodicals; Review Literature -- Periodicals; 579
• DOI: 10.3109/1040841X.2013.826176
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1040-841X

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p>The genus <italic>Aureobasidium</italic> spp. have been divided into three species, <italic>A. pullulans. A. leucospermi</italic> and <italic>A. proteae</italic>, and <italic>A. pullulans</italic> has been known to have five varieties. However, after analysis of many strains of this yeast isolated from different environments, they do not belong to any of the three species or the five varieties. Although pullulan produced by <italic>A. pullulans</italic> has been widely used in different fields in industry and different strains of this yeast has been known to produce poly(β-L-malic acid) (PMA), heavy oils and β-1, 3-glucan, it is still unknown how the black yeast synthesizes and secretes the extracellular polymers at molecular level. In this review article, new biosynthetic pathways of pullulan, PMA and heavy oils, the enzymes and their genes related to their biosynthesis and regulation are proposed. Furthermore, some enzymes and their genes related to pullulan biosynthesis in <italic>A. pullulans</italic> have been characterized. But it is completely unknown how pullulan is secreted and how PMA, heavy oils and β-1, 3-glucan are synthesized and secreted. Therefore, there is much work to be done about taxonomy and biosynthesis, secretion and regulation of pullulan, PMA, heavy oils and β-1, 3-glucan at molecular levels in <italic>Aureobasidium</italic> spp.</p> </abstract>