ISOLATION OF A MELANOLYTIC FUNGUS AND ITS HYDROLYTIC ACTIVITY ON MELANIN

In our screening program for microorganisms capable of producing hydrolytic activity on melanin, a fungal strain has been isolated from a soil sample and morphologically identified as an Acrostaphylus sp. designated as strain NDMC-101. Its production of the melanolytic activity is remarkably affected by the divalent cations. Among the divalent cations tested, magnesium exhibits the most positive effect on the production of the melanolytic activity at its optimal concentration (13 mM) in submerged liquid culture and on agar. Furthermore, this fungal strain can utilize melanin as a nitrogen source for supporting its growth.