Abstract: The red yeast Rhodotorula mucilaginosa is a species belonging to the genus Rhodotorula. It is widely distributed in various ecosystems because of its strong adaptability to different environments. R. mucilaginosa appears to be a very promising industrial strain due to its ability to produce proteins and bioactive substances such as natural carotenoids, β-carotene, astaxanthin, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and vitamins. This review summarizes the available data in the literature on the research and application of R. mucilaginosa in the production of lycopene, β-carotene, astaxanthin and alpha-linolenic acid and functional edible oils rich in the essential dietary ω-3 fatty acid, α-linolenic acid (ALA). Its focus is on screening for high-yield strains, construction of genetically engineered strains, and the fermentation and extraction processes as well as the applications of R. mucilaginosa in production of laccase by co-culture, cutinase and in the preparation of novel drugs from whole-cell biotransformation lead compounds.

Key words: Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, carotenoid, alpha-linolenic acid, ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, laccase, cutinase, biocatalyst