Multidisciplinary characterization of melanin pigments from the black fungus Cryomyces antarcticus

Pacelli, Claudia; Cassaro, Alessia; Maturilli, Alessandro; Timperio, Anna Maria; Gevi, Federica; Cavalazzi, Barbara; Stefan, M.; Ghica, Daniela; Onofri, Silvano

doi:10.1007/s00253-020-10666-0

Cited by 43 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Figure 5 shows the melanin spectra obtained from colonies mixed with OS substratum ( Figure 5 A), P-MRS ( Figure 5 B) and S-MRS ( Figure 5 C) analogues, exposed to 50 (black lines), 250 (grey lines), and 1000 Gy (light grey lines), compared with the controls (blue lines). Changes in melanin absorbance has been reported in the irradiated samples, with an absorption peak around 245–251 nm; compared with relative controls, which shown an absorption peak at 223–224 nm, the typical wavelength of absorbance of C. antarcticus melanin pigments [ 31 ]. In addition, a bulge at ~310–312 nm was revealed only in exposed samples of OS set, in 50 Gy irradiated samples of P-MRS set, and 50 and 250 Gy irradiated samples of S-MRS sets, probably due to the presence of minerals during the UV-vis detection process.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Results showed that irradiation with accelerated helium ions may alter the melanin structure. In Figure 5 A–C is reported a shift of the typical melanin absorbance peak near 245–251 nm, with respect to C. antarcticus melanin pigment [ 31 ]. The additional peaks in the spectra ( Figure 5 A–C) revealed the presence of mineral grains during the detection.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Melanin was extracted from dried colonies of C. antarcticus grown on different substrata, following the protocol optimized for black fungi [31]. After the extraction, purified pigments were dissolved in 500 µL of NaOH 1M and its UV-visible spectrum was measured in VWR-UV 1600 PC Spectrophotometer by using M.Wave professional 2.0 software (VWR, Radnor, Pennsylvania, USA).…”

Section: Fungal Melanin Extraction and Spectrophotometric Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Responses of the Black Fungus Cryomyces Antarcticus to High Doses of Accelerated Helium Ions Radiation within Martian Regolith Simulants and Their Relevance for Mars

Pacelli

Cassaro

Aureli

et al. 2020

Life

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One of the primary current astrobiological goals is to understand the limits of microbial resistance to extraterrestrial conditions. Much attention is paid to ionizing radiation, since it can prevent the preservation and spread of life outside the Earth. The aim of this research was to study the impact of accelerated He ions (150 MeV/n, up to 1 kGy) as a component of the galactic cosmic rays on the black fungus C. antarcticus when mixed with Antarctic sandstones—the substratum of its natural habitat—and two Martian regolith simulants, which mimics two different evolutionary stages of Mars. The high dose of 1 kGy was used to assess the effect of dose accumulation in dormant cells within minerals, under long-term irradiation estimated on a geological time scale. The data obtained suggests that viable Earth-like microorganisms can be preserved in the dormant state in the near-surface scenario for approximately 322,000 and 110,000 Earth years within Martian regolith that mimic early and present Mars environmental conditions, respectively. In addition, the results of the study indicate the possibility of maintaining traces within regolith, as demonstrated by the identification of melanin pigments through UltraViolet-visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometric approach.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Fungal Melanin Extraction and Spectrophotometric Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Responses of the Black Fungus Cryomyces Antarcticus to High Doses of Accelerated Helium Ions Radiation within Martian Regolith Simulants and Their Relevance for Mars

Pacelli

Cassaro

Aureli

et al. 2020

Life

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“…The melanins present in fungal cells are involved in their protection from UV radiation desiccation, salinity and oxidation (Pacelli et al 2020). Melanins in phytopathogenic or human pathogenic fungi are also involved in the protection against ROS attack from host defense (Papon et al 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Notably, the conidial cell wall, directly in contact with host cells, consists of melanins in addition to the presence of a-(1,3)-glucan and proteinaceous rodlets. The fungal melanins, synthesized via DOPA or DNH pathway (Chang et al 2019) both possess the potential to scavenge free radicals (Pacelli et al 2020). In lamentous fungi, the presence of melanins in conidial cell wall confers the resistance to the attack of free radicals from host organisms, which, in turn, increases their pathogenicity for effective infection and transmission (Chamilos and Carvalho 2020; Amin et al 2014; Cunha et al 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regulatory Effects of Nitric Oxide on Reproduction and Melanin Biosynthesis in Onion Pathogenic Fungus Stemphylium Eturmiunum

Zhao

Yuan

Sun

et al. 2020

Preprint

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The formation of propagules (conidia and ascospores) is the critical stage for the transmission of the pathogenic fungus Stemphylium eturmiunum. However, how the development of these propagules is regulated remains to be fully understood. Here, we show that nitric oxide (NO) is necessary for the formation of conidia and pseudothecia in S. eturmiunum. Application of NO scavenger carboxy-CPTIO (cPTIO) or soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) inhibitor NS2028 abolishes the formation of conidia and pseudothecia. In the culture of S. eturmiunum, supplement of NO-releasing compound sodium nitroprusside (SNP) results in an increased formation of conidia at 0.2 mmol/L, and pseudothecia at 2 mmol/L. SNP supplement also triggered increased biosynthesis of melanin, which can be inhibited partially upon the addition of either arbutin or tricyclazole, the specific inhibitors for 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) and dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN) synthetic pathway, respectively. Intriguingly, enhanced melanin biosynthesis triggered an increased formation of propagules; while its inhibition impaired their formation. The SNP-induced increment in the formation of propagules can be also compromised upon supplement of cPTIO or NS-2028. RT-PCR analysis showed that SNP at 0.2 mmol/L promoted transcription of the genes encoding the conidiation co-regulators brlA, abA, and wetA, and inhibited at 2 mmol/L. In contrast, application of SNP at 2 mmol/L increased transcription of the genes encoding mat1, and mat2, the genes related to sexual reproduction, and the transcription of two DNH melanin synthetic genes pks1 and pks2, and the key gene tyr for DOPA melanin biosynthesis. However, the increased transcription of these genes is down-regulated or blocked upon supplement of cPTIO or NS-2028. Thus, NO regulates asexual and sexual development, as well as melanin synthesis in S. eturmiunum possibly through NO-sGC-GMP signaling pathway.

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Pigments Produced by Fungi and Bacteria from Extreme Environments

Menezes

Medeiros

Lima

et al. 2023

Microbes in the Food Industry

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Multidisciplinary characterization of melanin pigments from the black fungus Cryomyces antarcticus

Cited by 43 publications

References 52 publications

The Responses of the Black Fungus Cryomyces Antarcticus to High Doses of Accelerated Helium Ions Radiation within Martian Regolith Simulants and Their Relevance for Mars

The Responses of the Black Fungus Cryomyces Antarcticus to High Doses of Accelerated Helium Ions Radiation within Martian Regolith Simulants and Their Relevance for Mars

Regulatory Effects of Nitric Oxide on Reproduction and Melanin Biosynthesis in Onion Pathogenic Fungus Stemphylium Eturmiunum

Pigments Produced by Fungi and Bacteria from Extreme Environments

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