Identification and characterization of a psychrophilic yeast strain newly isolated from the fermentative starter (Loog-pang) of a traditional drink in Thailand.

One psychrophilic yeast strain, that grew well in a cold environment such as in a refrigerator, was isolated from the yeast starter (Loog-pang) of a traditional alcohol drink in Thailand. The isolated strain OPU-FC11 was identified as Cryptococcus diffluens by the assay for 26S ribosomal DNA and the test for carbon source assimilation. OPU-FC11 showed a good amount of growth at 4 degrees 0 at which a commonly found yeast like Saccharomyces cerevisiae did not grow, and produced cold-adapted enzymes that showed a relatively high activity at lower temperatures.