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J Bacteriol, March 1998, p. 1570-1572, Vol. 180, No. 6
0021-9193/98/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1998, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Melanin Biosynthesis in Cryptococcus neoformans

Peter R. Williamson,1,* Kazumasa Wakamatsu,2 and Shosuke Ito2

Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60612,1 and Fujita Health University School of Health Sciences, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan2

Received 17 November 1997/Accepted 13 January 1998

Pigment production by Cryptococcus neoformans is virulence associated. Dopamine- and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine-melanin products were identified after acidic permanganate oxidation, alkaline hydrogen peroxide oxidation, or hydrolysis with hydriodic acid. These data provide direct chemical evidence for the formation of eumelanin polymers by catecholamine oxidation by laccase alone followed by oxidative coupling of dihydroxyindole.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Rm. 888, m/c 735, 808 S. Wood St., Chicago, IL 60612. Phone: (312) 996-6070. Fax: (312) 996-5704. E-mail: prw{at}uic.edu.




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