[Melanin pigment of Actinomyces umbriferus]

Properties of a dark-brown pigment complex isolated from the spores, mycelium and cultural broth of Actinomyces umbriferus by a conventional technique were compared. The complex consists of three fractions: one is a true melanin while two other fractions differ by several characteristics from melanins and from each other. The fraction which is most similar to melanin prevails in the spores, is contained, in a relatively small amount, in the mycelium, and is absent from the cultural broth. Melanin isolated from the spores has a low relative content of carbon and nitrogen and a higher ash content as compared to melanin isolated from the vegetative mycelium. The pigment complex of the spores is characterized also by differences in properties of the first isolated fraction. The pigment complex from the cultural broth differs from the complex of the mycelium and spores by properties of the studied fractions.