Cold-adapted yeasts : biodiversity, adaptation strategies and biotechnological significance

"Yeasts are a versatile group of eukaryotic microorganisms, exhibiting heterogeneous nutritional profiles and an extraordinary ability to survive in a wide range of natural and man-associated ecosystems, including cold habitats Cold-adapted yeasts inhabit numerous low-temperature environments where they are subjected to seasonal or permanent cold conditions Hence, they have evolved a number of adaptation strategies with regard to growth and reproduction, metabolic activities, survival and protection Due to their distinctive ability to thrive successfully at low and even subzero temperatures, cold-adapted yeasts are increasingly attracting attention in basic science and industry for their enormous biotechnological potential This book presents our current understanding of the diversity and ecology of cold-adapted yeasts in worldwide cold ecosystems, their adaptation strategies, and their biotechnological significance Special emphasis is placed on the exploitation of cold-adapted yeasts as a source of cold-active enzymes and biopolymers, as well as their benefits for food microbiology, bioremediation and biocontrol Further, aspects of food biodeterioration are considered - Font no determinada Front Matter....Pages i-xi Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Cold-Adapted Yeasts: A Lesson from the Cold and a Challenge for the XXI Century....Pages 3-22 Methods for the Isolation and Investigation of the Diversity of Cold-Adapted Yeasts and Their Ex Situ Preservation in Worldwide Collections....Pages 23-45 Front Matter....Pages 47-47 Cold-Adapted Yeasts in Arctic Habitats....Pages 49-74 Cold-Adapted Yeasts in Antarctic Deserts....Pages 75-98 Cold-Adapted Yeasts in Alpine and Apennine Glaciers....Pages 99-122 Cold-Adapted Yeasts in Patagonian Habitats....Pages 123-148 Cold-Adapted Yeasts in Deep-Sea Environments....Pages 149-171 Black Yeasts in Cold Habitats....Pages 173-189 Front Matter....Pages 191-191 Production of Pigments and Photo-Protective Compounds by Cold-Adapted Yeasts....Pages 193-224 Changes in Lipids Composition and Fluidity of Yeast Plasma Membrane as Response to Cold....Pages 225-242 Cold-Shock Response and Adaptation to Near-Freezing Temperature in Cold-Adapted Yeasts....Pages 243-257 Production of Antifreeze Proteins by Cold-Adapted Yeasts....Pages 259-280 Role of Sterol Metabolism and Endoplasmic Reticulum-Associated Degradation of Proteins in Cold Adaptation of Yeasts....Pages 281-293 Subzero Activity of Cold-Adapted Yeasts....Pages 295-323 Fundamentals of Cold-Active Enzymes....Pages 325-350 Front Matter....Pages 351-351 Cold-Active Yeast Lipases: Recent Issues and Future Prospects....Pages 353-375 Miscellaneous Cold-Active Yeast Enzymes of Industrial Importance....Pages 377-395 Production of Polymers and Other Compounds of Industrial Importance by Cold-Adapted Yeasts....Pages 397-415 Low-Temperature Production of Wine, Beer, and Distillates Using Cold-Adapted Yeasts....Pages 417-439 Cold-Adapted Yeasts as Biocontrol Agents: Biodiversity, Adaptation Strategies and Biocontrol Potential....Pages 441-464 Front Matter....Pages 351-351 Bioremediation and Biodegradation of Hydrocarbons by Cold-Adapted Yeasts....Pages 465-480 Heterologous Expression of Proteins from Cold-Adapted Yeasts in Suitable Hosts: Methods and Applications....Pages 481-496 Food Spoilage by Cold-Adapted Yeasts....Pages 497-532 Back Matter....Pages 533-549