The cyanobacterial UV-absorbing pigment scytonemin displays radical-scavenging activity

Kei Matsui; Ehsan Nazifi; Yosuke Hirai; Naoki Wada; Seiichi Matsugo; Toshio Sakamoto

doi:10.2323/jgam.58.137

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The cyanobacterial UV-absorbing pigment scytonemin displays radical-scavenging activity

Kei Matsui, Ehsan Nazifi, Yosuke Hirai, Naoki Wada, Seiichi Matsugo, Toshio Sakamoto

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Keywords: anhydrobiosis, environmental adaptation, Nostoc commune, terrestrial cyanobacterium, UV-A

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2012 Volume 58 Issue 2 Pages 137-144

DOI https://doi.org/10.2323/jgam.58.137

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Abstract

Scytonemin is a 544-Da hydrophobic pigment that can absorb UV-A radiation. It is present in cyanobacterial sheaths and is thought to function as a UV protectant. In this study, scytonemin was purified from the terrestrial cyanobacterium Nostoc commune, and its radical-scavenging activity was characterized. The purified scytonemin quenched an organic radical in vitro and accounted for up to 10% of the total activity of an ethanol extract of N. commune. These results suggest that the extracellular UV-absorbing pigment scytonemin has multiple roles, functioning as a UV sunscreen and an antioxidant relevant to anhydrobiosis in N. commune.

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