Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Vagstad AL
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3530136 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Dec
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Vagstad Anna L AL Hill Eric A EA Labonte Jason W JW Townsend Craig A CA
Chemistry & biology 20121201 12
Melanins are a broad class of darkly pigmented macromolecules formed by oxidative polymerization of phenolic monomers. In fungi, melanins are known virulence factors that contribute to pathogenicity. Their biosynthesis generally involves polymerization of 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene via a 1,3,6,8-tetrahydroxynaphthalene (THN) precursor assembled by multidomain, nonreducing polyketide synthases. Convergent routes to THN have evolved in fungi. Parallel heptaketide and hexaketide pathways exist that u ...[more]