Black microscopic fungi, resistant to several stresses such as ionizing radiation, low nutrient and water content, temperature fluctuations etc., are widely distributed in various extremophilic habitats such as Arctic, Antarctic, Atakama desert, the International Space Station, places contaminated by toxic metals and ionizing radiation, and the host cells (pathogens of plants, animals and humans). Stress-resistance of these polyextremophilic fungi is provided mainly by melanin pigments, the products of polymerization of phenolic and indolic compounds. High diversity of melanin precursors as well as the biosynthesis pathways determine high variability of these pigments in different fungal species. Though formed via different precursors, polymerized melanins possess common properties. Unique melanin properties include an ability to absorb the energy of electromagnetic radiation in a wide wavelength range, permanent free radical signal, hybrid ionic -electronic conductance resulting in efficient electromagnetic energy dissipation, metal chelation, free radical -scavenging , expression of antioxidant activities. These properties determine the main functions of fungal melanins: protection against stressful environments, and its potential role in radiation energy capture and utilization in biochemical reactions. This review provides some examples of stress resistance of black microscopic fungi from various extreme ecological nishes and the properties of melanins allowing extremophilic fungi to survive in destructive to the majority of other species habitats.
extremophilic microscopic fungi, stress tolerance, melanin pigments
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