The structural unit of melanin in the cell wall of the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans.

ABSTRACT: Melanins are synthesized macromolecules that are found in all biological kingdoms. These pigments have a myriad of roles that range from microbial virulence to key components of the innate immune response in invertebrates. Melanins also exhibit unique properties with potential applications in physics and material sciences, ranging from electrical batteries to novel therapeutics. In the fungi, melanins, such as eumelanins, are components of the cell wall that provide protection against biotic and abiotic elements. Elucidation of the smallest fungal cell wall-associated melanin unit that serves as a building block is critical to understand the architecture of these polymers, its interaction with surrounding components, and their functional versatility. In this study, we used isopycnic gradie

SUBMITTER: Camacho E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6615676 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature