Low-frequency magnetic field (LFMF) for enhanced carotenoids production by Rhodotorula glutinis

Carotenoids are fat-soluble pigments known for their vibrant yellow, orange, and red hues. Extracting carotenoids from the microorganism Rhodotorula mucilaginosa offers several advantages over plant and animal sources, such as shorter production cycles, independence from seasonal variations, high production efficiency and the ability to control growth conditions precisely. Current research focuses on optimizing microbial methods for enhancing carotenoid production. 

In a study published in the KeAi journal Food Physics, a group of researchers from Yangtze University in Hubei, China, reported a low-frequency magnetic field (LFMF) intensity that could improve carotenoid yield without adversely affecting R. mucilaginosa growth.

Various LFMF intensities were used to assess carotenoid production, intracellular iron content, and the expression levels of genes related to carotenoid synthesis and iron metabolism in R. mucilaginosa.

“Specifically, deletion of the TFR and FPN1 genes significantly disrupts the growth and carotenoid synthesis of R. mucilaginosa, with distinct effects observed for each gene,” shares Mengxiang Gao, senior and corresponding author of the study. “Loss of TFR inhibited the growth of R. mucilaginosa, while markedly increasing carotenoid production and intracellular iron content.”

Conversely, the growth of ∆RmFPN1 was impeded, leading to a significant increase in intracellular iron content. “Our findings serve as initial insights into the mechanism by which LFMF impact carotenoid synthesis through the regulation of iron metabolism,” adds Gao. "We hope that our results would encourage scientists to continue investigating the use of LFMF to increase microbial secondary metabolites not just about carotenoid production in food fermentation industry applications.

Contact author: Mengxiang Gao, College of Life Science, Institute of Food Science and Technology, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei, China, mgao@yangtzeu.edu.cn

Funder: This research was part of the project NNSFC (National Natural Science Foundation of China) (32372472). 

Conflict of interest: All other authors declare that there are no competing interests. 

See the article: Menglin Ju, et al., A low frequency magnetic field regulated the synthesis of carotenoids in Rhodotorula mucilaginosa by influencing iron metabolism,Food Physics, Volume 2, 2025, Pages 100041, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodp.2024.100041