Universidade do Minho. Departamento de Engenharia Biológica (DEB)
Abstract
Aim: This study aimed to identify and quantify the fusel alcohols secreted by the opportunistic
yeasts Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis to further get insights into the amino acid
catabolism of those two organisms.
Methods and Results: Fusel alcohols were screened in cell - free supernatants of yeasts
cultivated in RPMI medium. For simultaneous identification and quantification of these
alcohols, a Headspace - Solid Phase Micro Extraction (HS - SPME) coupled with gas
chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC - MS) methodology, previously developed to
analyse the volatile composition of fruits, was followed (Coelho et al. 2006). Results obtained
show that both C. albicans and C. dubliniensis produced isoamyl alcohol and 2-
phenylethanol, end – products of the catabolism of the amino acids leucine and
phenylalanine, respectively.
Significance and Impact of the study: The HS – SPME used herein allows the simultaneous
identification and quantification of compounds, requires small sample volume, has high
sensitivity and reproducibility, is simple and rapid and is solvent free. This revealed to be a
powerful tool for the screening system of yeast metabolic compounds