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Characterization of melanin pigment produced by Aspergillus nidulans

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Abstract

Although most of the Ascomycetes present DHN-melanin, some reports suggest that A. nidulans does not produce this type of melanin. In this study, we analyzed the pigment extracted from highly melanized strains (MEL1 and MEL2) of Aspergillus nidulans to determine the type of melanin present in this fungus. Our results showed that the pigment produced by MEL1 and MEL2 mutants possesses physical and chemical properties and UV- and IR-spectra very similar to synthetic DOPA-melanin. The characterization of this pigment in terms of its degradation products indicated the presence of indolic units, which were also found in synthetic DOPA-melanin. The analyses of the elemental composition showed that the pigment extracted from these mutants has a high percentage of nitrogen and, therefore, it cannot be DHN-melanin, which presents only trace of nitrogen. This observation was confirmed in the test with tricyclazole because this inhibitor of DHN-melanin biosynthesis did not suppress pigment production in the MEL1 and MEL2 strains. On the other hand, in a medium containing tropolone, an inhibitor of DOPA-melanin biosynthesis, the dark pigmentation of the colonies was not observed indicating that this compound inhibited melanin production in these strains. Taken together, the results obtained in this study indicate that melanin produced by these mutants is DOPA type, representing the first report on characterization of this type of melanin in A. nidulans.

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Abbreviations

DOPA:

3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine

DHN:

1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene

GDHB:

Glutaminyl-3,4-dihydroxybenzene

UV:

Ultraviolet

IR:

Infrared

ESR:

Electron spin resonance

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by Programa de Apoio a Pós-graduação (PROAP-UNESP) and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES). We thank the group of molecular biophysics “Sérgio Mascarenhas” from the University of São Paulo.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departament of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UFES, Espirito Santo Federal University, Av. Marechal Campos 1488, Vitória, ES, CEP 29040-080, Brazil

    R. C. R. Gonçalves

  2. Institute of Naturals and Exacts Sciences, UFMT, Mato Grosso Federal University, Rodovia Rondonópolis/Guiratinga Km 06, Rondonopolis, MT, CEP 78735-901, Brazil

    H. C. F. Lisboa

  3. Department of Biochemistry and Technology Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, UNESP, São Paulo State University, Rua Prof. Francisco Degni, 55, CP 355, Araraquara, SP, CEP 14801–970, Brazil

    S. R. Pombeiro-Sponchiado

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  1. R. C. R. Gonçalves
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  3. S. R. Pombeiro-Sponchiado
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Correspondence to S. R. Pombeiro-Sponchiado.

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Gonçalves, R.C.R., Lisboa, H.C.F. & Pombeiro-Sponchiado, S.R. Characterization of melanin pigment produced by Aspergillus nidulans . World J Microbiol Biotechnol 28, 1467–1474 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-011-0948-3

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