Melanin Pigments in the Fungus Paecilomyces lilacinus (Thom) Samson

摘要

Melanins are widely spread brown or black pigments formed during oxidative polymerization. Dark brown and black melanins of Ascomycotina and related Deuteromycotina as well as of many other fungi are synthesized primarily by the pentaketide pathway; their precursor is 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene [1]. The synthesis of melanins of the dihydroxynaph-thalene series is inhibited by the fungicide tricyclazole (5-methyl-l,2,4-triazole-(3,4P)-benzothiazole) [2]. Extracellular melanins in fungi are usually formed from tyrosine and are similar to DOPA (3,4-dihydrox-yphenylalanine), melanins of animals and humans [3].