Bio-pigmentation and Biotechnological Implementations

Om V. Singh

• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN: 9781119166146
• eBook ISBN: 9781119166184
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Subtopic: Biotechnology
• Index: Biological Sciences

Recent technological advances have provided unique opportunities for the exploration of alternatives to the industrial use of chemically produced synthetic colors. The most promising developments in this area have been in bio-pigmentation derived from microorganisms. This groundbreaking book reviews the current state of the science of bio-pigmentation, providing important insights into the molecular mechanisms of microbial biosynthesis of industrial pigments. Featuring contributions by leading researchers from both industry and academe, it explores the latest advances in the use of bio-pigments as safe, sustainable alternatives to chemically synthesized pigments, and provides extensive coverage the most promising sources of bio-pigments within the food, feed, and pharmaceutical industries.

• Proposes microbial uniqueness of coloration in variety of food, feed and pharmaceuticals

• Covers the basic science behind bio-pigmentation as well as the latest advances in the field

• Describes detection strategies for screening and identifying color producing microorganisms under varying environmental conditions

• Provides an exhaustive review of the literature on color producing extremophiles and offers fascinating insights into color production as a stress response in extremophiles

• Explores microbial molecular mechanisms of color production, with special coverage of color production as secondary metabolites under environmental stress

Bio-pigmentation and Biotechnological Implementations is required reading for professionals and post-doctoral students of microbiology, applied microbiology, food microbiology, food science, and food biochemistry. It is a valuable working resource for scientists working in color-dependent food, feed, and pharmaceuticals.

Chapter 1
Introduction of Natural Pigments from Microorganisms

Siyuan Wang, Fuchao Xu and Jixun Zhan

Department of Biological Engineering, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA

1.1 Introduction

Pigments are widely used in a variety of industries. In the food industry, one of the most important goals is to develop foods that have an attractive flavor and appearance. Artificial food coloring using synthetic dyes can make foods more appealing and desirable. However, the safety of these dyes has been questioned. Recent research has linked synthetic food dyes to a number of potential health problems, such as cancer in animals and attention-deficit disorder in children (Potera 2010). Synthetic colorants are criticized for having these problems, and consumers are showing more and more interest in products that do not include artificial coloring agents. Therefore, various natural sources of food-grade colorants are in high demand. The textile industry also uses millions of tons of dyes, pigments, and dye precursors every year, and almost all of them are manufactured synthetically (Chequer et al. 2013). Synthetic dyes have serious limitations in that their production involves the use of toxic chemicals and can generate hazardous wastes, which is unfriendly to the environment and to human health (Khan et al. 2013).

Biological pigments are substances from biological sources that have a particular color, corresponding to their structure. They are found in plants, animals, and microbial organisms. Natural pigments have been long studied, but they are receiving increasing attention from industry because of the potential health and environmental concerns around synthetic dyes. Biological pigments from microbial cells are termed “microbial pigments.” In addition to their function as colorants, some microbial pigments are also used to promote human health, providing key nutrients or compounds required by the body. Some also have particular biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, anticancer, and immunosuppressive properties (Soliev et al. 2011). Microbial pigments with fluorescence are used in laboratories to label antibodies (Mahmoudian et al. 2010). Some pigments can also be used to indicate the progress of specific reactions or to track pH changes through changes in their color (Venil et al. 2014). A large number of pigments are produced by various species of bacteria, yeasts, fungi, and algae, with colors including brown, black, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple, and structures such as carotenoids, anthraquinones, flavonoids, and tetrapirroles. Different biosynthetic enzymes are involved in the biosynthesis of microbial pigments. For example, carotenoids are typically synthesized by terpene synthases, flavonoids are assembled by polyketide synthases (PKSs), and indigoidine – a bacterial blue pigment – is synthesized by a nonribosomal peptide synthetase. Microbial pigments are used for different purposes depending on their color property and biological function. This chapter covers a variety of microbial pigments from eukaryotic and prokaryotic sources and discusses their properties and applications.

1.2 Microbial Pigments from Eukaryotic Sources

The cells of eukaryotes such as plants, animals, and fungi contain a nucleus and other organelles. Eukaryotic microorganisms produce a lot of different pigments. Some representative pigments from these organisms are described in this section, categorized according to their source: algae, fungi, and yeasts.

1.2.1 Pigments from Algae

Algae produce a variety of pigments. The most commonly used in the industry is the carotenoid β-carotene (Figure 1.1). Carotenoids belong to the family of tetraterpenoids and are found in the chloroplasts and chromoplasts of plants, algae, fungi, and some bacteria (Asker et al. 2007). They are yellow, orange, and red pigments that can be used for coloration. β-carotene is a red-orange nonpolar pigment that can be obtained from Dunaliella salina, a kind of marine green microalga. The production of β-carotene in D. salina is affected by high salinity, temperature, and light intensity. A high β-carotene content in D. salina can help it protect itself from intense light and osmotic pressure in the ocean (Oren 2005). β-carotene is well known for its antioxidant activity and for its use as food supplement (Stargrove et al. 2008). It is commercially produced across the world, due to its widespread use (Oren 2005). The first company to manufacture and sell natural β-carotene, Betatene Ltd., was established in 1985 (Nelis and Deleenheer 1991). Production of β-carotene from D. salina is often seen in large open ponds located in or near salt lakes in Australia, the United States, and China.

Figure 1.1 Structures of four representative carotenoids: β-carotene, lutein, canthaxanthin, and astaxanthin.

Besides β-carotene, many other carotenoids are produced by microalgae. For example, lutein (Figure 1.1) is obtained from different green algae, such as Chlorella, Chlorococcum, Chlamydomonas, and Spongiococcum. Lutein is a red-orange pigment that is generally insoluble in water. For some time, it was widely used in chicken feeds to improve the color of broiler chicken skin and egg yolks (Philip et al. 1976). In the human body, lutein is concentrated in the macula. Some research has revealed that lutein protects eyes against oxidation (Berendschot et al. 2000; Malinow et al. 1980). Canthaxanthin (Figure 1.1), a dark red food coloring agent, is another example of a cartenoid produced by algae. Dictyococcus cinnabarinus was reported to produce it canthaxanthin in 1970. The final concentration of cellular can...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Table of Contents
• List of Contributors
• Introduction
• Chapter 1: Introduction of Natural Pigments from Microorganisms
• Chapter 2: Establishing Novel Cell Factories Producing Natural Pigments in Europe
• Chapter 3: Color-Producing Extremophiles
• Chapter 4: Current Carotenoid Production Using Microorganisms
• Chapter 5: C50 Carotenoids: Occurrence, Biosynthesis, Glycosylation, and Metabolic Engineering for their Overproduction
• Chapter 6: Biopigments and Microbial Biosynthesis of β-carotenoids
• Chapter 7: Biotechnological Production of Melanins with Microorganisms
• Chapter 8: Biochemistry and Molecular Mechanisms of Monascus Pigments
• Chapter 9: Diversity and Applications of Versatile Pigments Produced by Monascus sp
• Chapter 10: Microbial Pigment Production Utilizing Agro-industrial Waste and Its Applications
• Chapter 11: Microbial Pigments: Potential Functions and Prospects
• Chapter 12: The Microbial World of Biocolor Production
• Index
• End User License Agreement