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. 1995 Dec;61(12):4167–4171. doi: 10.1128/aem.61.12.4167-4171.1995

Polymer production by Klebsiella pneumoniae 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid hydroxylase genes cloned in Escherichia coli.

A Gibello 1, E Ferrer 1, J Sanz 1, M Martin 1
PMCID: PMC167727  PMID: 8534083

Abstract

The expression of Klebsiella pneumoniae hpaA and hpaH genes, which code for 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid hydroxylase in Escherichia coli K-12 derivative strains, is associated with the production of a dark brown pigment in the cultures. This pigment has been identified as a polymer which shows several of the characteristics reported for microbial melanins and results from the oxidative activity of 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid hydroxylase on some dihydroxylated compounds to form o-quinones. A dibenzoquinone is formed from the oxidation of different mono- or dihydroxylated aromatic compounds by the enzyme prior to polymerization. We report a hydroxylase activity, other than tyrosinase, that is associated with the synthesis of a bacterial melanin.

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Selected References

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