Melanins and lipids in Lycoperdon perlatum fruit bodies

Abstract

After sequential degradation with sodium persulphate and potassium permanganate, the characteristics of the dark pigments from the soil gasteromycete Lycoperdonperlatum were described. Several aromatic acids (phenolic and benzenecarboxylic) were detected by glc-ms of the degradation products, but the aliphatic content of these polymer fractions was predominant, containing a high proportion of protein and showing fatty acids similar to those previously found in the lipid fraction. An acid soluble fraction of melanin, of a highly aliphatic nature, was also present in Lycoperdon fruit bodies.