Biosynthesis of fungal melanins and their importance for human pathogenic fungi
Abstract
For more than 40 years fungi have been known to produce pigments known as melanins. Predominantly these have been dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA)-melanin and dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN)-melanin. The biochemical and genetical analysis of the biosynthesis pathways have led to the identification of the genes and corresponding enzymes of the pathways. Only recently have both these types of melanin been linked to virulence in some human pathogenic and phytopathogenic fungi. The absence of melanin in human pathogenic and phytopathogenic fungi often leads to a decrease in virulence. In phytopathogenic fungi such as Magnaporthe grisea and Colletotrichum lagenarium, besides other possible functions in pathogenicity, DHN-melanin plays an essential role in generating turgor for plant appressoria to penetrate plant leaves. While the function of melanin in human pathogenic fungi such as Cryptococcus neoformans, Wangiella dermatitidis, Sporothrix schenckii, and Aspergillus fumigatus is less well defined, its role in protecting fungal cells has clearly been shown. Specifically, the ability of both DOPA- and DHN-melanins to quench free radicals is thought to be an important factor in virulence. In addition, in several fungi the production of fungal virulence factors, such as melanin, has been linked to a cAMP-dependent signaling pathway. Many of the components involved in the signaling pathway have been identified.
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Langfelder categorized fungal melanin into four types: DHN melanin, pyomelanin, pheomelanin, and eumelanin, with the latter two also referred to as DOPA melanin.
“Langfelder categorized fungal melanin into four types: 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene melanin (DHN melanin), pyomelanin, pheomelanin, and eumelanin, with the latter two also referred to as dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA melanin) [2].”
From Fungal Melanin in Plant Pathogens: Complex Biosynthesis Pathways and Diverse Biological Functions (2025) · cites this paper as [2]
The most prevalent fungal melanin forms are DOPA-derived and DHN-derived melanins.
“The most prevalent forms are DOPA-derived and 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN)-derived melanins [2].”
From Fungal Melanin in Plant Pathogens: Complex Biosynthesis Pathways and Diverse Biological Functions (2025) · cites this paper as [2]
DOPA melanin and DHN melanin are the two most important types of fungal melanin.
“Among these, DOPA melanin and DHN melanin are the two most important types [2].”
From Fungal Melanin in Plant Pathogens: Complex Biosynthesis Pathways and Diverse Biological Functions (2025) · cites this paper as [2]
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- Authors
- Langfelder, K., Streibel, M., Jahn, B., Haase, G., & Brakhage, A. A.
- Affiliations
- Leibniz University Hannover (DE)
- Universitätsklinikum Aachen (DE)
- Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Brakhage, Axel A
- Venue
- Fungal Genetics and Biology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2003-03
- Volume
- 38
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 143-158
- ISSN
- 1087-1845 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2064508279
- Cited by
- 634
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 24 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 32 · 2022: 36 · 2021: 35 · 2020: 38 · 2019: 32 · 2018: 33 · 2017: 36 · 2016: 23 · 2015: 31 · 2014: 43 · 2013: 21 · 2012: 27
- FWCI
- 1.70
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Fungal Genetics and Biology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar-und Meeresforschung (Alfred-Wegener-Institut) (submittedVersion)
- Publication Database GFZ (GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences) (submittedVersion)
- RWTH Publications (RWTH Aachen) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Fungal and yeast genetics research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Fungal Infections and Studies
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biotechnology › Microbial Metabolism and Applications
- Keywords
- fungal melanin, melanogenesis, DOPA-melanin, fungal virulence, human pathogenic fungi, plant pathogenic fungi, appressoria, Cryptococcus neoformans, Wangiella dermatitidis, Sporothrix schenckii, Aspergillus fumigatus, free radical quenching, cAMP signaling
- MeSH terms
- Cryptococcus neoformans, Fungi, Humans, Levodopa, Melanins, Naphthols, Virulence, Signal Transduction
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