title: Antioxidant function of fungal melanin.
abstract: Polyphenols have been implicated in the virulence and oxidant resistance of Cryptococcus neoformans. Although monomeric polyphenols did not protect against the prooxidant, plumbagin, polymeric dopamine-melanin conferred resistance both to hypochlorite and to permanganate. The physiologic antioxidant capacity conferred by melanin was found to be 21.3 x 10(-15) mole-equivalents per cell, a value which approximates oxidant production by stimulated macrophages.
authors.affiliation: Research Service, McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia 23249.
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Tinnell
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001216:Asparagine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D006997:Hypochlorous Acid / Q000633:toxicity; D007700:Kinetics; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009285:Naphthoquinones / Q000633:toxicity*; D016877:Oxidants / Q000633:toxicity*; D010641:Phenotype; D011196:Potassium Permanganate / Q000633:toxicity*; D011815:R Factors
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008543:Melanins; D009285:Naphthoquinones; D016877:Oxidants; D011196:Potassium Permanganate; D001216:Asparagine; D006997:Hypochlorous Acid; D004298:Dopamine; C014758:plumbagin