Microbiological Characteristics, Enzyme Activity, and Physiological Functionality of Unrecorded Wild Yeasts from the Wolsung Valley of South Deogyu Mountain and Jinjamcheon in Daejeon, Korea

This study aimed to screen and investigate the microbiological characteristics, enzyme activity, and physiological functionality of unrecorded wild yeasts from the Wolsung valley of South Deogyu mountain and Jinjamcheon in Daejeon city, Korea. Candida sorboxylosa WSC25-4 (NNIBRFG47336), Arxula adeninivorans WSC6-3 (NNIBRFG47335), Farysizyma taiwaniana JRC6-2 (NNIBRFG47339), Saturnispora dispora JTS19-1 (NNIBRFG47334), Vanderwaltozyma polyspora JJCH5-3 (NNIBRFG47337), and Vanrija fragicola SW-9(NNIBRFG47338) have not been previously recorded. None of these formed spores or pseudo-mycelium, and four strains, including C.sorboxylosaWSC25-4, were global in shaped. Except for V. polyspora JJCH5-3, all strains grew well in the yeast extract-peptone-dextrose (YPD), potato-dextrose, and yeast malt extract media. A. adeninivorans WSC6-3 and S. dispora JTS19-1 grew well in 40% glucose-containing YPD medium and V. fragicola SW-9 in 5% NaCl-containing YPD medium. The supernatant of A. adeninivorans WSC6-3, F. taiwaniana JRC6-2, and V. fragicola SW-9 exhibited 58.0, 59.0, and 59.0% of glucoamylase activity, respectively. C.sorboxylosaWSC25-4 also produced extracellular alkaline protease. Antioxidant activity of the supernatant from F. taiwanian JRC6-2 was high (79.8%), while the other five unrecorded yeasts demonstrated elevated antiaging superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity (99%). Anti-gout xanthin oxidase inhibitory activity of S. dispora JTS19-1 and V. fragicola SW-9 was also elevated at 79 and 80%, respectively.