title: Cloning, functional analysis and expression of a scytalone dehydratase gene ( SCD1) involved in melanin biosynthesis of the phytopathogenic fungus Bipolaris oryzae.
abstract: Scytalone dehydratase is involved in the production of fungal dihydroxynaphthalene melanin. We isolated and characterized SCD1, a gene encoding scytalone dehydratase, from the phytopathogenic fungus Bipolaris oryzae. Sequence analysis showed that SCD1 encodes a putative protein that has 185 amino acids, a molecular weight of 21 kDa and 51-75% sequence identity to other fungal scytalone dehydratases. Targeted disruption of SCD1 showed that this gene is necessary for melanin biosynthesis in B. oryzae. Northern blot analysis showed that SCD1 transcripts are specifically enhanced by near-ultraviolet (300-400 nm) radiation.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, Shimane University, Matsue, 690-8504, Shimane, Japan. j-kihara@life.shimane-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kihara
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moriwaki
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ueno
authors.forename: Toshiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tokunaga
authors.forename: Sakae
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arase
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Honda
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D005658:Fungi / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006836:Hydro-Lyases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008029:Lighting; D008543:Melanins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data
chemical_list: D008543:Melanins; D006836:Hydro-Lyases; C082741:scytalone dehydratase