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Inhibitory effect of aflastatin A on melanin biosynthesis by Colletotrichum lagenarium

Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan¹
Faculty of Agriculture, Kyoto Prefectural University, Shimogamo, Kyoto 606-8522, Japan²
Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan³
Morinaga and Co., Ltd, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-8504, Japan⁴

Author for correspondence: Shohei Sakuda. Tel: +81 3 5841 5133. Fax: +81 3 5841 8022. e-mail: asakuda{at}mail.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp

The effect of aflastatin A (AsA), a novel inhibitor of aflatoxin production, on melanin biosynthesis of Colletotrichum lagenarium was examined. Addition of a low concentration of AsA (0·5 µg ml^-1) to the culture medium almost completely inhibited the melanin production of this organism. AsA also inhibited the production of scytalone, an early intermediate of melanin biosynthesis. Melanin production was restored by addition of exogenous scytalone in the presence of AsA, suggesting that the late steps after the synthesis of scytalone were not significantly affected by AsA. This was confirmed by the results from RT-PCR analysis of the expression of genes encoding melanin biosynthetic enzymes (SCD1, THR1) and a regulatory gene (CMR1). By contrast, expression of PKS1 was severely impaired by AsA, although catalytic activity of a polyketide synthase (PKS1) was not inhibited by AsA. These results indicate that AsA inhibits an early step in melanin production, which suppresses the expression of PKS1.

Keywords: aflastatin A, Colletotrichum lagenarium, melanin, PKS1, RT-PCR

Abbreviations: AsA, aflastatin A; 1,8-DHN, 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene; 1,3,6,8-THN, 1,3,6,8-tetrahydroxynaphthalene; 1,3,8-THN, 1,3,8-trihydroxynaphthalene

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