Melanin: a photoprotection for Bacillus thuringiensis based biopesticides.
Melanins are negatively-charged, hydrophobic, dark high molecular weight irregular biopolymers, composed of polymerized phenolic and/or indolic compounds. They are produced by most organisms. Bacillus thuringiensis is a Gram-positive, spore-forming, soil bacterium and the most successful biological control agent that produces distinctly shaped crystals during sporulation that have insecticidal activity. However, one of the main disadvantages is that the insecticidal activity of B. thuringiensis formulation is unstable and rapidly loses its activity under field conditions due to UV radiation. Melanin absorbs radiation; therefore photoprotection of B. thuringiensis based on melanin has been studied and is herewith reviewed.
Facultad de Ciencias Químicas de la Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, 72570, Puebla, Pue, Mexico, estisan@yahoo.com.
Estibaliz
E
Sansinenea
Aurelio
A
Ortiz
D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis / Q000378:metabolism*; D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004355:Drug Stability; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004731:Endotoxins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D008543:Melanins; C030956:insecticidal crystal protein, Bacillus Thuringiensis