3, 4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine-derived melanin from Yarrowia lipolytica mediates the synthesis of silver and gold nanostructures

Abstract

BackgroundNanobiotechnology applies the capabilities of biological systems in generating a variety of nano-sized structures. Plants, algae, fungi and bacteria are some systems mediating such reactions. In fungi, the synthesis of melanin is an important strategy for cell-survival under metal-stressed conditions. Yarrowia lipolytica, the biotechnologically significant yeast also produces melanin that sequesters heavy metal ions. The content of this cell-associated melanin is often low and precursors such as L-tyrosine or 3, 4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine (L-DOPA) can enhance its production. The induced melanin has not been exploited for the synthesis of nanostructures. In this investigation, we have employed L-DOPA-melanin for the facile synthesis of silver and gold nanostructures. The former have been used for the development of anti-fungal paints.MethodsYarrowia lipolytica NCIM 3590 cells were incubated with L-DOPA for 18 h and the resultant dark pigment was subjected to physical and chemical analysis. This biopolymer was used as a reducing and stabilizing agent for the synthesis of silver and gold nanostructures. These nanoparticles were characterized by UV-Visible spectra, X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies, and electron microscopy. Silver nanoparticles were evaluated for anti-fungal activity.ResultsThe pigment isolated from Y. lipolytica was identified as melanin. The induced pigment reduced silver nitrate and chloroauric acid to silver and gold nanostructures, respectively. The silver nanoparticles were smaller in size (7 nm) and displayed excellent anti-fungal properties towards an Aspergillus sp. isolated from a wall surface. An application of these nanoparticles as effective paint-additives has been demonstrated.ConclusionThe yeast mediated enhanced production of the metal-ion-reducing pigment, melanin. A simple and rapid method for the extracellular synthesis of nanoparticles with paint-additive-application was developed.

Production of Melanin Pigment by Fungi and Its Biotechnological Applications

“…This study suggested that A. auricular melanin inhibits quorum-sensing (QS)-regulated biofilm formation in all strains tested without interfering with their growth [122]. Silver nanoparticles incorporated Yarrowia lipolytica melanin exhibited antimicrobial activity against the pathogen Salmonella paratyphi, and they were also effective at disrupting biofilms on polystyrene as well as glass surfaces [123]. These nanoparticles displayed excellent antifungal properties toward an Aspergillus sp.…”

“…Silver nanostructures synthesized with melanin derived from Y. lipolytica displayed excellent antifungal activity against an Aspergillus sp. isolated from a wall surface, indicating its potential application as effective paint additives [123]. The melanin-mediated nanostructures with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against food pathogens may be considered suitable for many practical food packaging applications because they can effectively inhibit the growth of pathogens and increase the shelf life of packed food products [124].…”

Analysis of Melanin-like Pigment Synthesized from Homogentisic Acid, with or without Tyrosine, and Its Implications in Alkaptonuria

“…Absent in the spectrum of sample 2 are peaks with wavenumbers between 1,500 and 1,540 cm À1 . Such peaks have been assigned to amino functionalities in melanin pigments derived from DOPA (Apte et al 2013;Tu et al 2009). This further suggests that tyrosine was not built into the pigment sample when mixed with HGA.…”

Melanins: Skin Pigments and Much More—Types, Structural Models, Biological Functions, and Formation Routes

“…Uniform flat melanin films can be obtained with dopamine or other similar precursors by spray deposition, and these thin films show a stacked planar structure with interesting electronic and optical properties [205] to be used as semiconductors in electrically qualified devices and other nanotechnological applications [206]. Yarrowia lipolytica is biotechnologically significant yeast that produces a dopa-melanin used for the synthesis of silver and gold nanostructures effective as paint-additives [207].…”