The fungus Gliocephalotrichum simplex as a source of abundant, extracellular melanin for biotechnological applications

• Published in: World journal of microbiology & biotechnology Vol. 28; no. 2; pp. 505 - 512
• Main Authors: Jalmi, Pratibha, Bodke, Pranali, Wahidullah, Solimabi, Raghukumar, Seshagiri
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.02.2012; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acids; Amino acids; Analysis; Applied Microbiology; Bacteria; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Biotechnology - methods; Carbohydrates; Carboxylic acids; Cosmetics; Culture; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Factorial experiments; Fatty acids; Fungi; Fungi - metabolism; Life Sciences; Melanin; Melanins - metabolism; Microbiology; Microorganisms; Organisms; Original Paper; Paints; Peptones; Protective coatings; Studies; Sulfur; Tyrosine; Fungus; Biotechnology; Chemistry; Extracellular; Melanin
• ISSN: 0959-3993; 1573-0972
• DOI: 10.1007/s11274-011-0841-0

Melanins are commonly produced by bacteria, fungi, plants and animals, where they play a role in many biological functions. They protect organisms against UV and ionizing radiations. Their potential applications in biotechnological industries such as cosmetics and paints, where UV protection is required, are hampered by the lack of suitable organisms or methods to produce them abundantly. We report here the production of high amounts of extracellular melanin by the fungus Gliocephalotrichum simplex in cultures supplemented with tyrosine. Their typical UV-absorbance, as well as i.r., 13 C solid-state and 1 H NMR spectra indicated that the melanin is a eumelanin, being a copolymer of dihydroxyindole carboxylic acid and dihydroxyindole, associated with some carbohydrates and proteinaceous matter. Optimal culture conditions established by a Plackett-Burman experiment, followed by a full factorial experiment based on tyrosine and peptone yielded a maximum of up to 6.6 g melanin l −1 . The high yields of extracellular melanin from G. simplex enables its use in biotechnology.