J 2023

Aspergillus niger as a cell factory for the production of pyomelanin, a molecule with UV-C radiation shielding activity

MARIE, Koch Stella, Carsten FREIDANK-POHL, Siontas OLIVER, Cortesao MARTA, Mota AFONSO et. al.

Basic information

Original name

Aspergillus niger as a cell factory for the production of pyomelanin, a molecule with UV-C radiation shielding activity

Authors

MARIE, Koch Stella, Carsten FREIDANK-POHL, Siontas OLIVER, Cortesao MARTA, Mota AFONSO, Runzheimer KATHARINA, Jung SASCHA, Katarína REBROŠOVÁ (703 Slovakia, belonging to the institution), Martin SILER, Moeller RALF and Meyer VERA

Edition

FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY, LAUSANNE, FRONTIERS MEDIA SA, 2023, 1664-302X

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

10606 Microbiology

Country of publisher

Switzerland

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

Impact factor

Impact factor: 5.200 in 2022

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14110/23:00131292

Organization unit

Faculty of Medicine

UT WoS

001041737100001

Keywords in English

Aspergillus niger; melanin; pyomelanin; radioprotection; cosmic radiation; space exploration

Tags

Tags

International impact, Reviewed
Změněno: 26/1/2024 08:10, Mgr. Tereza Miškechová

Abstract

V originále

Melanins are complex pigments with various biological functions and potential applications in space exploration and biomedicine due to their radioprotective properties. Aspergillus niger, a fungus known for its high radiation resistance, is widely used in biotechnology and a candidate for melanin production. In this study, we investigated the production of fungal pyomelanin (PyoFun) in A. niger by inducing overproduction of the pigment using L-tyrosine in a recombinant ΔhmgA mutant strain (OS4.3). The PyoFun pigment was characterized using three spectroscopic methods, and its antioxidant properties were assessed using a DPPH-assay. Additionally, we evaluated the protective effect of PyoFun against non-ionizing radiation (monochromatic UV-C) and compared its efficacy to a synthetically produced control pyomelanin (PyoSyn). The results confirmed successful production of PyoFun in A. niger through inducible overproduction. Characterization using spectroscopic methods confirmed the presence of PyoFun, and the DPPH-assay demonstrated its strong antioxidant properties. Moreover, PyoFun exhibited a highly protective effect against radiation-induced stress, surpassing the protection provided by PyoSyn. The findings of this study suggest that PyoFun has significant potential as a biological shield against harmful radiation. Notably, PyoFun is synthesized extracellularly, differing it from other fungal melanins (such as L-DOPA- or DHN-melanin) that require cell lysis for pigment purification. This characteristic makes PyoFun a valuable resource for biotechnology, biomedicine, and the space industry. However, further research is needed to evaluate its protective effect in a dried form and against ionizing radiation.

Links

MUNI/A/1361/2022, interní kód MU
Name: Diagnostika a terapie původců nozokomiálních infekcí
Investor: Masaryk University, Diagnosis and therapy of agents causing nosocomial infections
NU21-05-00341, research and development project
Name: Pokročilé metody detekce patogenních mikroorganizmů a hodnocení účinku antimikrobiálních látek Ramanovou spektroskopií a dalšími metodami na úrovni molekul v optofluidních systémech
Investor: Ministry of Health of the CR, Subprogram 1 - standard