Iron required by all organisms is related with diverse biological processes. Most eukaryotes need extra iron to maintain their nutrition balance. However, extra iron supplement gives many problem to solubility in the cells. To increase the bio-availability of iron in cells, yeast was applied to carry the iron with solubility. Selection of yeast mutants with enhanced iron uptake were performed by mutagenesis using the alkylation agent EMS. Eleven mutant strains with enhanced iron uptake were selected by the measurement of iron content with atomic absorption spectrometer. The iron content in mutants was 1.5- to 2.5-fold more than that in wild-type. These mutants could be served as iron-fortified nutrients for food and feed.
Keywords: Ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS);iron;mutant;yeast;