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A non-canonical melanin biosynthesis pathway protects Aspergillus terreus conidia from environmental stress

Geib, Elena; Gressler, Markus; Viediernikova, Iuliia; Hillmann, Falk; Jacobsen, Ilse D.; Nietzsche, Sandor; Hertweck, Christian; Brock, Matthias

Authors

Elena Geib

Markus Gressler

Iuliia Viediernikova

Falk Hillmann

Ilse D. Jacobsen

Sandor Nietzsche

Christian Hertweck



Abstract

Pro- and eukaryotes produce melanin for protection from environmental stress or as virulence determinant. The human pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus and related Ascomycetes produce dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN) melanin in conidia, which is essential for inhibiting phagolysosome acidification. In contrast, Aspergillus terreus lacks genes for biosynthesis of DHN-melanin. Therefore, the origin of the pigment in A. terreus conidia was elucidated. Expression analyses from conidiation conditions identified genes coding for an unusual NRPS-like enzyme (MelA) and a tyrosinase. MelA produces aspulvinone E as precursor, which is activated for polymerisation by the tyrosinase TyrP as shown by heterologous in vivo and in vitro reconstitution of pigment formation. Functional studies revealed that the pigment confers resistance against UV-light and hampers phagocytosis by soil amoeba, but does not inhibit acidification of phagolysosomes. Since A. terreus conidia prefer persistence at acidic pH, this uncommon type of melanin, termed Asp-melanin, might specifically contribute to survival in the environment.

Citation

Geib, E., Gressler, M., Viediernikova, I., Hillmann, F., Jacobsen, I. D., Nietzsche, S., …Brock, M. (2016). A non-canonical melanin biosynthesis pathway protects Aspergillus terreus conidia from environmental stress. Cell Chemical Biology, 23(5), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chembiol.2016.03.014

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Mar 17, 2016
Online Publication Date Apr 28, 2016
Publication Date May 19, 2016
Deposit Date May 21, 2016
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Cell Chemical Biology
Electronic ISSN 2451-9456
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 23
Issue 5
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chembiol.2016.03.014
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/789331
Publisher URL http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451945616300927

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