Production and chemical characterization of an exopolysaccharide synthesized by psychrophilic yeast strain Sporobolomyces salmonicolor AL1 isolated from Livingston Island, Antarctica

The exopolysaccharide (EPS) production by psychrophilic Antarctic yeast Sporobolomyces salmonicolor AL1 reached the maximum yield in medium containing sucrose (50 g/L) and diammonium sulfate (2.5 g/L) after a 5-d fermentation (5.64 g/L) at 22 °C, the dynamic viscosity of the culture broth reaching (after 5 d) 15.4 mPa s. EPS showed a mannan-like structure and high molar mass, and did not affect cellular viability and proliferation of murine macrophages. It exhibited also a protective effect against the toxic activity of Avarol.