ISOLATION OF A MELANOLYTIC FUNGUS AND ITS HYDROLYTIC ACTIVITY ON MELANIN

In our screening program for microorganisms capable of producing hydro lytic activity on melanin, a fungal strain has been isolated from a so il sample and morphologically identified as an Acrostaphylus sp. desig nated as strain NDMC-101. Its production of the melanolytic activity i s remarkably affected by the divalent cations. Among the divalent cati ons tested, magnesium exhibits the most positive effect on the product ion of the melanolytic activity at its optimal concentration (13 mM) i n submerged liquid culture and on agar. Furthermore, this fungal strai n can utilize melanin as a nitrogen source for supporting its growth.