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The use of the cationic, dye thioflavin T (ThT), to estimate the electric plasma membrane potential difference (PMP) via the fluorescence changes and to obtain its actual values from the accumulation of the dye, considering important correction factors by its binding to the internal components of the cell, was described previously for baker's yeast. However, it was considered important to explore whether the method developed could be applied to other yeast strains. Alternative ways to estimate the PMP by using flow cytometry and a multi-well plate reader are also presented here. The methods were tested with other strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (W303-1A and FY833), as well as with non-conventional yeasts: Debaryomyces hansenii, Candida albicans, Meyerozyma guilliermondii, and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa. Results of the estimation of the PMP via the fluorescence changes under different conditions were adequate with all strains. Consistent results were also obtained with several mutants of the main monovalent transporters, validating ThT as a monitor for PMP estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthetic pigments/non-renewable coloring sources used normally in the textile industry release toxic substances into the environment, causing perilous ecological challenges. To be safer from such challenges of synthetic colorants, academia and industries have explored the use of natural colorants such as microbial pigments. Such explorations have created a fervent interest among textile stakeholders to undertake the dyeing of textile fabrics, especially with fungal pigments. The biodegradable and sustainable production of natural colorants from fungal sources stand as being comparatively advantageous to synthetic dyes. The prospective scope of fungal pigments has emerged in the opening of many new avenues in textile colorants for wide ranging applications. Applying the biotechnological processes, fungal pigments like carotenoids, melanins, flavins, phenazines, quinones, monascins, violacein, indigo, etc. could be extracted on an industrial scale. This review appraises the studies and applications of various fungal pigments in dyeing textile fabrics and is furthermore shedding light on the importance of toxicity testing, genetic manipulations of fungal pigments, and their future perspectives under biotechnological approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]