Premium
Amino sugars in fungal melanins and soil humic acids
Author(s) -
COELHO R. R. R.,
SACRAMENTO D. R.,
LINHARES L. F.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
european journal of soil science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.244
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2389
pISSN - 1351-0754
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2389.1997.tb00208.x
Subject(s) - chemistry , amino sugar , sugar , hydrolysis , galactosamine , podzol , glucosamine , humus , amino acid , organic matter , chromatography , food science , soil water , biochemistry , organic chemistry , biology , ecology
Summary Humic acids from six Brazilian topsoils (three Latosols and three Podzols) and five soil fungal melanins were hydrolysed and the released amino sugars qualitatively and quantitatively determined by capillary gas‐liquid chromatography. Melanins were obtained from liquid culture media, synthesized with nitrate or asparagine as a source of N, of Stachybotrys atra, Aspergillus glaucus, Eurotium echinulatum and Hendersonula toruloidea. Glucosamine (48–60%), galactosamine (39–52%), and traces of mannosamine were detected in all humic acids. The total amino sugar content ranged from 1351 to 2287 mg kg −1 . In the fungal melanins analysed, mostly glucosamine (80–99%) and trace to small amounts of galactosamine and mannosamine (<10%) were found in amounts ranging from 192 to 635 mg kg −1 . The Occurrence of mannosamine in fungal melanins and fungal polysaccharides had not previously been found. The present study gives additional data to the theory that fungal melanins may play a role, as precursors, in the formation of soil organic matter.