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Microbial Carotenoids pp 257–268Cite as

Lycopene Production by Mated Fermentation of Blakeslea trispora

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1852))

Abstract

Lycopene is a carotenoid mainly present in red-colored fruits and vegetables. Its value in the pharmaceutical and food industry is linked to its benefits for the human health, including properties against cancer and cardiovascular diseases, and its use as a food colorant. Lycopene can be produced either by synthetic or natural means, but there is a preference for the second, since it is considered a more eco-friendly and less harmful process. Among natural methods for obtaining lycopene, microbial fermentation is a good alternative to extraction from plants that naturally contain lycopene, since it implies obtaining higher and more specific amounts of this carotenoid. This chapter describes lycopene production by fermentation of the fungus Blakeslea trispora, a naturally carotenoid producer, at 30 L scale. This procedure involves separated growth of the two sexual mating types of B. trispora during the vegetative stages and the use of a lycopene cyclase inhibitor to achieve lycopene accumulation during the production stage.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology, Crystal Pharma, A Subsidiary of Albany Molecular Research Inc. (AMRI), Parque Tecnológico de León, León, Spain

    Sonia Martínez-Cámara, Sara Rubio, Hannah del Río, Marta Rodríguez-Sáiz & José-Luis Barredo

Authors
  1. Sonia Martínez-Cámara
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  2. Sara Rubio
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  3. Hannah del Río
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  4. Marta Rodríguez-Sáiz
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  5. José-Luis Barredo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to José-Luis Barredo .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Biotecnología de León (INBIOTEC), Parque Científico de León, León, Spain

    Carlos Barreiro

  2. Department of Biotechnology, Crystal Pharma, A Subsidiary of Albany, Molecular Research Inc. (AMRI), Parque Tecnológico de León, León, Spain

    José-Luis Barredo

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Martínez-Cámara, S., Rubio, S., del Río, H., Rodríguez-Sáiz, M., Barredo, JL. (2018). Lycopene Production by Mated Fermentation of Blakeslea trispora. In: Barreiro, C., Barredo, JL. (eds) Microbial Carotenoids. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1852. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-8742-9_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-8742-9_15

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-8741-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-8742-9

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