Home • Cystobasidium minutum MCA 4210 v1.0
Rhodotorula minuta
Rhodotorula minuta.
Image Credit: Dr. M. Catherine Aime

Rhodotorula minuta (Saito) F.C. Harrison is a pink glistening Pucciniomycotina (Basidiomycota) yeast species that is commonly isolated from air, freshwater and seawater all over the world. This species has also been implicated in rare human infections. The strain selected for genome sequencing was isolated from the mycangia of Sirex wasp in Louisiana, USA.  Rhodotorula minuta produces UV absorbing compounds, termed mycosporines, which are probably involved in protecting these yeasts from ultraviolet radiation.

Rhodotorula minuta belongs to Cystobasidiomycetes (Erythrobasidiales, Erythrobasidiaceae), although the current name does not reflect its phylogenetic position as true Rhodotorula species are members of Sporidiobolales (Microbotryomycetes). Genomic data produced for this project will represent the first available for a member of Erythrobasidiales.  Researchers will use these data in phylogenetic and phylogenomic reconstructions and in comparative genomics studies that seek to elucidate the molecular bases governing the production of yeast states, mycosporines, and the evolution of pathogenicity in Pucciniomycotina.

If you would like to use this genome in your research, please contact Dr. M. Catherine Aime ([email protected]) and Dr. Igor Grigoriev ([email protected]) for permission.

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Genome Reference(s)