Melanin fungal

Langfelder, K. et al., Biosynthesis of fungal melanins and their importance for human pathogenic fungi, Fungal Genet. Biol., 38, 143, 2003. 

Jacobson ES. 2000. Pathogenic roles for fungal melanins. Clin Microbiol Rev 13 708-717. 

Suryanarayanan TS et al.. Characterization of the melanin pigment of a cosmopolitan fungal endophyte, Mycol Res 108 974—978, 2004. 

K. Haider, B.R. Nagar, C. Saiz-Jimenez, H.L.C. Meuzelaar and J.P. Martin, Studies on soil humic compounds, fungal melanins and model polymers by pyrolysis mass spectrometry, in Soil Organic Matter Studies, Vol. II, IAEA, Vienna, 1977, pp. 213-220. 

Martin, J. P., and Haider, K. (1979). Biodegradation of 14C-labeled model and cornstalk lignins, phenols, model phenolase humic polymers, and fungal melanins as influenced by a readily available carbon source and soil. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 38, 283-289. 

Fig. 11.2. Rock-inhabiting fungi often demonstrate a specific yeast-like growth pattern. Image shows a fungal colony, isolated from a marble surface in Crimea (Ukraine). The whole structure resembles a cauliflower and is intensively pigmented by melanin. The colony is very compact and mechanically hard and thus capable of producing intense pressure on the surrounding material.

Gadd, G. M. de Rome, L. (1988). Biosorption of copper by fungal melanins. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 29, 610-17. 

Fungal cell walls are composed primarily of the highly crystalline polysaccharides, chitin and )8-glucan, and various nonhydrolyzable melanins (Peberdy, 1990). Section 8.07.5.4 describes the structure and decomposition of chitin. While chitin has been well studied, very little is known about the structure or in situ decomposition of melanins (Butler and Day, 1998). However, melanins are thought to be a possible humus precursor because of their similarities with humic acids (Saiz-Jimenez, 1996). 

Melanin synthesis of the arthropods is essential for defense and development. The melaniza-tion cascade is activated by bacterial PG or fungal /3-1,3-glucan. Lee and co-workers reported that the tetrasaccharide tetrapeptide functioned as a competitive inhibitor of the natural PG-induced melanization reaction [151]. By using a tetrasaccharide tetrapeptide-coupled column, the Tenebrio molitor PG recognition protein (Tm-PGRP) was purified without activation of the prophenoloxidase. 

BellAA, Wheeler MH (1986) Biosynthesis and functions of fungal melanins. Annu Rev Phytopathol 24 411-451... 

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