Pigments of fungi (Macromycetes)

Abstract

This review summarises progress reported in the chemical, biological and mycological literature dealing with the isolation, characterisation and chemistry of pigments manufactured by those fungi that produce conspicuous fruit bodies (Macromycetes). Work that has appeared in the primary literature between September 1998 and May 2003 is covered, and 99 references are cited.

Pigments of higher fungi - a review

“…Gill. These xanthones are responsible for the bright yellow fluorescence under UV light (Gill 1999 (Von Nussbaum et al 1998). Unusually high concentrations of iron were also found in the Velvet Bolete, Suillus variegatus (Sw.) Kuntze (Boletales) (Drbal et al 1975;Kalač et al 1989).…”

“…The major dark orange pigment of the European toadstool C. cinnabarinus Fr. is fallacinol (6-O-methoxycitreorosein, 15) (Gill & Steglich 1987;Gill 1994 (Gill & Steglich 1987;Gill 1994). A number of anthraquinone pigments formally derived from torosachrysone and atrochrysone by coupling (dimeric, trimeric and tetrameric octaketides) have been described, mostly in Australian fungi belonging to the genera Cortinarius, Dermocybe and, to a lesser extent, Tricholoma (Gill & Morgan 2001).…”

“…Many of the pigments of higher fungi are quinones or similar conjugated structures that are mostly classified according to the perceived biosynthetic pathways, reflecting their structure, to pigments derived from (i) the shikimate (chorismate) pathway, (ii) the acetatemalonate (polyketide) pathway, (iii) the mevalonate (terpenoid) pathway, and (iv) pigments containing nitrogen. Several review articles covering the literature published from its inception during the latter half of the 19 th century to the end of 2009 have been already published (Gill & Steglich 1987;Gill 1994Gill , 1996Gill , 1999Gill , 2003Hanson 2008a,b;Räisänen 2009;Zhou & Liu 2010).…”

“…Fr. (Gill 1998(Gill , 2003. Alkaloids containing the canthin-6-one skeleton are produced by some other C. species.…”

“…P. Kumm., where they have a considerable taxonomic significance (Gill 1994). Hispidin is biosynthesised by two different mechanisms using the activated 4-hydroxy-6-methylpyrone (a condensation product of three activated acetates) and the activated 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid or from phenylalanine via a cinnamyl derivative that is combined with either acetate or malonate through the polyketide pathway.…”