Characterization of tryptophan aminotransferase 1 of Malassezia furfur, the key enzyme in the production of indolic compounds by M. furfur.

Malassezia yeasts are responsible for the widely distributed skin disease Pityriasis versicolor (PV), which is characterized by a hyper- or hypopigmentation of affected skin areas. For Malassezia furfur, it has been shown that pigment production relies on tryptophan metabolism. A tryptophan aminotransferase was found to catalyse the initial catalytic step in pigment formation in the model organism Ustilago maydis.