Tracking gene expression, metabolomics and biochemical analysis in the halotolerant basidiomycetous yeast Rhodotorula mucilaginosa EXF-1630 during benzo [a] pyrene and phenanthrene biodegradation under hypersaline conditions

Bioremediation is considered an eco-friendly, efficient and safe technology for therestoration of polluted ecosystems. While filamentous fungi have been extensively studied as PAHs-bioremediating agents, yeasts emerged later as aromatic compound-utilizing microorganisms. Here we used transcriptomics, metabolomics and different biochemical and toxicological tests to analyze the mechanisms of PAHs biodepletion by the halotolerant basidiomycetous yeast Rhodotorula mucilaginosa EXF-1630 when grew at hypersaline conditions (1.0 M NaCl) with Phe and BaP as sole carbon sources. To the best of our knowledge, no previous work has been published describing a metabolomics and transcriptomics analysis on PAH degradation by yeast.