Advances in 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene melanin of plant fungal pathogens

Abstract:

Melanin, a phenolic polymer hydrophobic pigment, produced via the 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN) pathway, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) pathway or both pathways, is widely distributed in organisms and the DHN melanin mainly exists in the plant pathogenic fungi of ascomycetes. With the development of genomic and transcriptome technologies and the studies of functional genomes, key genes of DHN melanin biosynthesis pathway have been identified in different pathogenic fungi, and the relationship between melanin and fungal resistance, development and pathogenicity has attracted more and more attention. This article reviewed the DHN melanin synthesis pathway and its role in the fungal resistance against radiation and extreme temperature, the influence for fungal infection and development, to deepen the understanding of melanin mediated coevolution of fungi and environment or hosts, which has great importance for the basic research of DHN melanin and its utilization.