The hidden rainbow: the extensive biotechnological potential of Antarctic fungi pigments

Abstract

The Antarctic continent is an extreme environment recognized mainly by its subzero temperatures. Fungi are ubiquitous microorganisms that stand out even among Antarctic organisms, primarily due to secondary metabolites production with several biological activities. Pigments are examples of such metabolites, which mainly occur in response to hostile conditions. Various pigmented fungi have been isolated from the Antarctic continent, living in the soil, sedimentary rocks, snow, water, associated with lichens, mosses, rhizospheres, and zooplankton. Physicochemical extreme environments provide a suitable setup for microbial pigment production with unique characteristics. The biotechnological potential of extremophiles, combined with concerns over synthetic pigments, has led to a great interest in natural pigment alternatives. Besides biological activities provided by fungal pigments for surviving in extreme environments (e.g., photoprotection, antioxidant activity, and stress resistance), it may present an opportunity for biotechnological industries. This paper reviews the biotechnological potential of Antarctic fungal pigments, with a detailed discussion over the biological role of fungal pigments, potential industrial production of pigments from extremophilic fungi, pigments toxicity, current market perspective and published intellectual properties related to pigmented Antarctic fungi.

Keywords: Antarctica; Carotenoid; Fungi; Melanin; Microbial pigments.

Fig. 1

Typical hypha fungal cell structure and pigment production. General chemical structures of (a) carotenoids, and melanins (b)

Fig. 2

Number of publications of fungal pigments (2010–2021, PubMed)

Fig. 3

Number of publications by species of fungi (2010–2021, PubMed)

Fig. 4

Number of Antarctic fungi pigment patents