Aspergillus niger as a cell factory for the production of pyomelanin, a molecule with UV-C radiation shielding activity
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 pr...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Microbiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1233740/full |
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| author | Stella Marie Koch Carsten Freidank-Pohl Oliver Siontas Marta Cortesao Afonso Mota Katharina Runzheimer Sascha Jung Katarina Rebrosova Martin Siler Ralf Moeller Vera Meyer |
| author_facet | Stella Marie Koch Carsten Freidank-Pohl Oliver Siontas Marta Cortesao Afonso Mota Katharina Runzheimer Sascha Jung Katarina Rebrosova Martin Siler Ralf Moeller Vera Meyer |
| author_sort | Stella Marie Koch |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T22:46:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a202a1839a124561a111f532f4478aeb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-302X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T22:46:20Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-a202a1839a124561a111f532f4478aeb2023-07-21T05:01:10ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2023-07-011410.3389/fmicb.2023.12337401233740Aspergillus niger as a cell factory for the production of pyomelanin, a molecule with UV-C radiation shielding activityStella Marie Koch0Carsten Freidank-Pohl1Oliver Siontas2Marta Cortesao3Afonso Mota4Katharina Runzheimer5Sascha Jung6Katarina Rebrosova7Martin Siler8Ralf Moeller9Vera Meyer10Radiation Biology Department, Aerospace Microbiology Research Group, German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Cologne, GermanyApplied and Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, GermanyApplied and Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, GermanyRadiation Biology Department, Aerospace Microbiology Research Group, German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Cologne, GermanyRadiation Biology Department, Aerospace Microbiology Research Group, German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Cologne, GermanyRadiation Biology Department, Aerospace Microbiology Research Group, German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Cologne, GermanyApplied and Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, GermanyDepartment of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University (MUNI) and St. Anne's Faculty Hospital, Brno, CzechiaInstitute of Scientific Instruments of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, CzechiaRadiation Biology Department, Aerospace Microbiology Research Group, German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Cologne, GermanyApplied and Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, GermanyMelanins 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.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1233740/fullAspergillus nigermelaninpyomelaninradioprotectioncosmic radiationspace exploration |
| spellingShingle | Stella Marie Koch Carsten Freidank-Pohl Oliver Siontas Marta Cortesao Afonso Mota Katharina Runzheimer Sascha Jung Katarina Rebrosova Martin Siler Ralf Moeller Vera Meyer Aspergillus niger as a cell factory for the production of pyomelanin, a molecule with UV-C radiation shielding activity Frontiers in Microbiology Aspergillus niger melanin pyomelanin radioprotection cosmic radiation space exploration |
| title | Aspergillus niger as a cell factory for the production of pyomelanin, a molecule with UV-C radiation shielding activity |
| title_full | Aspergillus niger as a cell factory for the production of pyomelanin, a molecule with UV-C radiation shielding activity |
| title_fullStr | Aspergillus niger as a cell factory for the production of pyomelanin, a molecule with UV-C radiation shielding activity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Aspergillus niger as a cell factory for the production of pyomelanin, a molecule with UV-C radiation shielding activity |
| title_short | Aspergillus niger as a cell factory for the production of pyomelanin, a molecule with UV-C radiation shielding activity |
| title_sort | aspergillus niger as a cell factory for the production of pyomelanin a molecule with uv c radiation shielding activity |
| topic | Aspergillus niger melanin pyomelanin radioprotection cosmic radiation space exploration |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1233740/full |
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