Carotenoids are naturally occurring pigments produced by bacteria, yeasts, filamentous fungi and plants. They exhibit significant biological effects and are widely used in the food industry, pharmacy and cosmetics. The aim of this diploma thesis proposed as a comparative study was regulation of carotenoid and ergosterol production in red yeasts using several waste substrates as whey, corn germs, wheat, apple fiber and pasta. To selected production media extracellular hydrolytic enzymes degrading polysaccharide were added. These enzymes were obtained from the cultivation media of four fungal strains. In this study three carotenogenic yeast strains were used: Rhodotorula glutinis, Sporobolomyces roseus and Cystofilobasidium capitatum. All strains were cultivated simultaneously and changes in biomass and carotenoid production in different production media were monitored and compared. As the best waste substrate apple fiber was utilized, particularly in Rhodotorula glutinis, which exhibited mainly biomass production increase. In Sporobolomyces roseus increased production of biomass and carotenoids have been reported in media with hydrolyzed fiber and pasta as well. Beta-carotene production in this strain reached 4776,38 mg/g of dry weight. The strain Cystofilobasidium capitatum exhibited in waste media a decerase of biomass production accompanied with increased production of carotenoids, especially in wheat mush and pasta medium hydrolyzed by enzyme preparative from Aureobasidium pullulan. It can be concluded that hydrolyzed waste substrates are very hopeful as cheap nutrient sources for yeast strains producing carotenoids and ergosterol. Nevertheless, further study of substrate processing for individual strains is needed.

Oleogenic yeasts under appropriate conditions produce and accumulate lipids and lipid-soluble metabolites in high amounts. This attribute is characteristic also for red yeasts that except lipids accumulate also carotenoids – natural pigments used in food industry and dietary supplements. The aim of this diploma thesis was designed as a comparative screening study of production properties of strains Cystofilobasidium capitatum, Rhodotorula glutinis, Sporobolomyces roseus and Sporobolomyces shibatanus. Choosen carbon sources were glucose and glycerol as waste by-product in biofuel industry. The best production properties were found in Cystofilobasidium capitatum and Rhodotorula glutinis. These two strains produced increased amounts of lipids as well as higher amounts of carotenoids. Strains were tested by FTIR spectroscopy that enables high-throughput, uncomplicated and accurate analysis.

This work is dealing with application of advanced fluorescence techniques for gaining knowledge about culture development during fermentation of red yeasts. Flow cytometry was used for auto-fluorescence measurement a carotenoids quantitation. It was resolved that while carotenoids are stored mainly in membranes the technique was feasible. If red yeast starts to accumulate carotenoids into lipid bodies mainly throughout the course of stationary phase, then the method starts to fail. Flow cytometric method using cell size measurement and light scatter for lipid quantitation was proved as applicable, too. However, it works only if cells are not starved. Individual calibration for each species is needed for elimination inter-species variations of intracellular structures. Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy was also used for studying of red yeast. Inherent ability to resolve different fluorescent species of the same molecule, which arise due to different molecular environment, helps with quantitation of cellular lipidic structures changes through the course of fermentation. Increase in the levels of carotenoids and/or rigidity of membranes was found as mechanism of protection during metabolic shifts, when intracellular content is vulnerable to damage.