Biosynthesis of fungal melanins and their importance for human pathogenic fungi

Langfelder, Kim; Streibel, Martin; Jahn, Bernhard; Haase, G.; Brakhage, Axel A.

doi:10.1016/s1087-1845(02)00526-1

Cited by 548 publications

(456 citation statements)

References 128 publications

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“…Indole pyruvic acid deaminated from L-tryptophan can be dimerized into terrequinone by a singlemodule nonribosomal peptide synthetase (4). The catalysis of the substrates tyrosine or Dopa by tyrosinase to form dopaquinone is a well-known pathway for Dopa-melanin biosynthesis (5). Similar to tyrosinase, catechol oxidase is a copper-containing enzyme that can oxidize catechol into 1,2-benzoquinone (2).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Fungal biosynthesis of the bibenzoquinone oosporein to evade insect immunity

Peng

Shang

Cen

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

187

167

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Quinones are widely distributed in nature and exhibit diverse biological or pharmacological activities; however, their biosynthetic machineries are largely unknown. The bibenzoquinone oosporein was first identified from the ascomycete insect pathogen Beauveria bassiana >50 y ago. The toxin can also be produced by different plant pathogenic and endophytic fungi with an array of biological activities. Here, we report the oosporein biosynthetic machinery in fungi, a polyketide synthase (PKS) pathway including seven genes for quinone biosynthesis. The PKS oosporein synthase 1 (OpS1) produces orsellinic acid that is hydroxylated to benzenetriol by the hydroxylase OpS4. The intermediate is oxidized either nonenzymatically to 5,5′-dideoxy-oosporein or enzymatically to benzenetetrol by the putative dioxygenase OpS7. The latter is further dimerized to oosporein by the catalase OpS5. The transcription factor OpS3 regulates intrapathway gene expression. Insect bioassays revealed that oosporein is required for fungal virulence and acts by evading host immunity to facilitate fungal multiplication in insects. These results contribute to the known mechanisms of quinone biosynthesis and the understanding of small molecules deployed by fungi that interact with their hosts.

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confidence: 99%

Fungal biosynthesis of the bibenzoquinone oosporein to evade insect immunity

Peng

Shang

Cen

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

187

167

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“…In fungi, there are two important types of melanin, DHNmelanin, named after the biosynthetic intermediate, 1, 8-dihydroxynaphthalene and DOPA-melanin, named after L-3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalamine. Both types of melanin have been implicated in pathogenesis (Langfelder et al 2003). The production of melanin in P. brasiliensis, Cryptococcus neoformans, Histoplasma capsulatum and Coccidioides posadasii requires the presence of an exogenous substrate, in the form of o-diphenolic or pdiphenolic compounds, such as L-DOPA (Nosanchuk & Casadevall 2003, Nosanchuk et al 2007).…”

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confidence: 99%

Resistance of melanized yeast cells of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis to antimicrobial oxidants and inhibition of phagocytosis using carbohydrates and monoclonal antibody to CD18

Silva

Thomaz

Marques

et al. 2009

Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz

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“…38 In Colletotrichum (asexual stage of Glomerella), cAMP signaling pathway was shown to be critical for formation of melanins, which provide high pressures to appressoria to penetrate plant leaves. 39 Inhibition of phosphodiesterase by isobutylmethylxanthine or by high level of cAMP (5 mM) completely inhibited melanin formation in Ustilago hordei. 40 One of methylxanthine functions is thus established to modulate endogenous cAMP, which critically regulates fungal life, including morphogenesis, virulence, nutrient sensing and reproduction.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Caffeine fostering of mycoparasitic fungi against phytopathogens

Sugiyama

Sano

Yazaki

et al. 2016

Plant Signaling & Behavior

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Abbreviation: PDA, potato dextrose agar Caffeine (1,3,7-trimethixanthine) is a typical purine alkaloid produced in more than 80 plant species. Its biological role is considered to strengthen plant's defense capabilities, directly as a toxicant to biotic attackers (allelopathy) and indirectly as an activator of defense system (priming). Caffeine is actively secreted into rhizosphere through primary root, and possibly affects the structure of microbe community nearby. The fungal community in coffee plant rhizosphere is enriched with particular species, including Trichoderma family, a mycoparasite that attacks and kills phytopathogens by coiling and destroying their hyphae. In the present study, the caffeine response of 8 filamentous fungi, 4 mycoparasitic Trichoderma, and 4 prey phytopathogens, was examined. Results showed that allelopathic effect of caffeine on fungal growth and development was differential, being stronger on pathogens than on Trichoderma species. Upon confronting, the prey immediately ceased the growth, whereas the predator continued to grow, indicating active mycoparasitism to have occurred. Caffeine enhanced mycoparasitism up to 1.7-fold. Caffeine thus functions in a double-track manner against fungal pathogens: first by direct suppression of growth and development, and second by assisting their natural enemy. These observations suggest that caffeine is a powerful weapon in the arms race between plants and pathogens by fostering enemy's enemy, and we propose the idea of "caffeine fostering" as the third role of caffeine.

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Biosynthesis of fungal melanins and their importance for human pathogenic fungi

Cited by 548 publications

References 128 publications

Fungal biosynthesis of the bibenzoquinone oosporein to evade insect immunity

Fungal biosynthesis of the bibenzoquinone oosporein to evade insect immunity

Resistance of melanized yeast cells of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis to antimicrobial oxidants and inhibition of phagocytosis using carbohydrates and monoclonal antibody to CD18

Caffeine fostering of mycoparasitic fungi against phytopathogens

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