Mycosporines in extremophilic fungi - Novel complementary osmolytes?

Fungi isolated from hypersaline waters and polar glacial ice were screened for the presence of mycosporines and mycosporine-like amino acids under non-saline and saline growth conditions. Two different mycosporines and three unidentified UV-absorbing compounds were detected by high performance liquid chromatography in fungal isolates from hypersaline waters and polar glacial ice. It was shown for the first time that the mycosporine-glutaminol-glucoside in halophilic and halotolerant black yeasts from salterns was higher on saline growth medium. This substance might act as a supplementary compatible solute in some extremophilic black yeasts exposed to saline growth conditions.