Microbial Melanin: Renewable Feedstock and Emerging Applications in Food-Related Systems

Melanin is among the most important natural pigments produced by various organisms, from microbes to plants and mammals. Melanins possess great properties such as radioprotective antioxidant activity, heavy metal chelation absorption of organic compounds. The biosynthesis melanin through DOPA metabolic pathway and/or DHN mainly involves tyrosinase laccase enzymes that catalyze oxidation phenolic indolic substrates form classes, namely eumelanin, pheomelanin, allomelanins pyomelanin. cost-efficient production at a large scale, with chemically specified composition, constitutes major technical challenge. Alternative routes including highly efficient microbial stains cultivated on renewable resources could sustain up-scale capacity. strategy valorizing low-cost abundant agro-industrial waste byproduct streams complies concepts sustainable development circular economy, thus eliminating environmental footprint. Genetic engineering tools substantially contribute enhancing melanogenesis in producers via target gene overexpression recombination novel strains. biobased films for food packaging applications reinforced nanoparticles market segment high interest due societal concerns around end-of-life management conventional plastics, gradual depletion fossil resources, sustainability issues performance.