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Volume 137, Issue 4

Characterization of melanin Free

Abstract

Summary: The constituents of the melanin complex from mycelial forms of were partially characterized. The pigment was mainly accumulated on large alkali-extractable, electron-dense cytoplasmic bodies (melanosomes) and, apparently, on the outer layer of the cell wall as external deposits within verrucose outgrowths. Using electron microscopy and Thiéry’s periodate/thio-semicarbazide/silver proteinate staining method, glycogenlike particles were also detected at the periphery of the cells. Melanin constituents comprised aromatic and aliphatic/glycosidic structures with a predominance of the latter. Infrared spectra showed the presence of hydroxyl, carbonyl and carboxyl groups. The aliphatic/glycosidic moiety consisted of fatty acids and polysaccharides with protein, in a ratio protein/polysaccharide 1:15. Rhamnose, mannose, galactose and glucose (in the ratio 1:2:4:3·5) were the constituents of the polysaccharide. Lipid components included even-numbered, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids (in the ratio 2:1) ranging from C to C. Palmitic and oleic acids were the prominent fatty acids. Aspartic and glutamic acids, leucine, glycine and alanine were the major amino acids. Non-pigmented cells of were studied for comparison with the pigmented forms: they did not accumulate acid-insoluble precursors of melanin.

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© Society for General Microbiology 1991
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1991-04-01
2024-04-20
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Characterization of Fonsecaea pedrosoi melanin
Microbiology 137, 837 (1991); https://doi.org/10.1099/00221287-137-4-837
/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-137-4-837
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