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Microbial Melanin: Renewable Feedstock and Emerging Applications in Food-Related Systems

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  • Erminta Tsouko

    (Laboratory of Physico-Chemical & Biotechnological Valorization of Food By-Products, Department of Food Science & Nutrition, School of the Environment, University of the Aegean, Leoforos Dimokratias 66, 81400 Myrina, Lemnos, Greece
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Eirini Tolia

    (Laboratory of Physico-Chemical & Biotechnological Valorization of Food By-Products, Department of Food Science & Nutrition, School of the Environment, University of the Aegean, Leoforos Dimokratias 66, 81400 Myrina, Lemnos, Greece
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Dimitris Sarris

    (Laboratory of Physico-Chemical & Biotechnological Valorization of Food By-Products, Department of Food Science & Nutrition, School of the Environment, University of the Aegean, Leoforos Dimokratias 66, 81400 Myrina, Lemnos, Greece)

Abstract

Melanin is among the most important natural pigments produced by various organisms, from microbes to plants and mammals. Melanins possess great properties such as radioprotective and antioxidant activity, heavy metal chelation and absorption of organic compounds. The biosynthesis of melanin through the DOPA metabolic pathway and/or the DHN pathway mainly involves the tyrosinase and laccase enzymes that catalyze the oxidation of phenolic and indolic substrates to form melanin classes, namely eumelanin, pheomelanin, allomelanins and pyomelanin. The cost-efficient production of melanin at a large scale, with a chemically specified composition, constitutes a major technical challenge. Alternative production routes including highly efficient microbial stains cultivated on renewable resources could sustain and up-scale melanin production capacity. The strategy of valorizing low-cost and abundant agro-industrial waste and byproduct streams complies with concepts of sustainable development and circular economy, thus eliminating the environmental footprint. Genetic engineering tools could substantially contribute to enhancing melanogenesis in natural producers via target gene overexpression and the recombination of novel strains. The production of biobased films for food packaging applications reinforced with melanin nanoparticles constitutes a market segment of high interest due to environmental and societal concerns around the end-of-life management of conventional plastics, gradual depletion of fossil resources, sustainability issues and high performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Erminta Tsouko & Eirini Tolia & Dimitris Sarris, 2023. "Microbial Melanin: Renewable Feedstock and Emerging Applications in Food-Related Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-20, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:9:p:7516-:d:1139038
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mena Ritota & Pamela Manzi, 2019. "Pleurotus spp. Cultivation on Different Agri-Food By-Products: Example of Biotechnological Application," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-26, September.
    2. Helberth Júnnior Santos Lopes & Nemailla Bonturi & Everson Alves Miranda, 2020. "Rhodotorula toruloides Single Cell Oil Production Using Eucalyptus urograndis Hemicellulose Hydrolysate as a Carbon Source," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-11, February.
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