Biological remediation mechanism and applications of Rhodotorula mucilaginosa for heavy metal pollution

Heavy metal pollution poses a serious threat to the safety of water and soil resources and human health. Rhodotorula mucilaginosa has gained widespread attention due to its biological safety and strong ability to tolerate and accumulate metal ions. And it is considered an ideal candidate for remediation of heavy metal environmental pollution. This review provides an overview of the current status of heavy metal pollution and discusses the physiological and biochemical responses of Rhodotorula mucilaginosa to heavy metals. It comprehensively elucidates the tolerance mechanisms and accumulation mechanisms of Rhodotorula mucilaginosa towards various heavy metal ions, summarizes the current applications of Rhodotorula mucilaginosa in the field of heavy metal environmental pollution remediation, and discusses future research directions in this area to address current research gaps. This aims to provide theoretical references for the application and development of Rhodotorula mucilaginosa in the remediation of heavy metal environmental pollution. • Heavy metal pollution is a global issue, and bioremediation is a key solution. • This review examines Rhodotorula mucilaginosa 's physiological and biochemical responses to metal ions. • It elucidates the tolerance mechanisms of Rhodotorula mucilaginosa to various heavy metal ions. • The application of Rhodotorula mucilaginosa in heavy metal remediation is discussed. • Future research directions for Rhodotorula mucilaginosa in pollution control are outlined.