Effects of ORF14 gene on melanin expression, fermentation conditions and properties of melanin production in modified strains.

Melanin with antioxidant and antibacterial properties can be used in food, cosmetics, biotechnology, and other fields, but its insolubility become a main challenge hindering for its application. In this study, water-soluble melanin produced by the novel species Streptomyces vilmorinianum YP1 was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UVvisible spectroscopy (with an absorption peak at 220 nm), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The glycosyltransferase gene ORF14 was knocked out, which improved the production of water-soluble melanin by inhibiting competitive pathway.