Rhodoturula yeasts are protected from UV radiation via the UV-absorbing compound mycosporine-glutaminol-glucoside.
“The UV sunscreen and antioxidant properties attributed to mycosporines (Young and Patterson, 1982; Gorbushina, 2003) suggest a photoprotective function of these compounds in nature. Indeed, the high concentrations of myc-glm-glu observed in the two Rhodotorula species (up to 0.5% dry weight) after induction with UVR, supports the idea that synthesis of this secondary metabolite is important to obtain protection from UV stress.” (Sommaruga et al. 2004:1080)
