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The enzyme p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate hydroxylase (HPPH) is involved in pigmentation (pyomelanin) via homogentisic acid (HGA). Pyomelanin formation is correlated with HGA production and expression of HPPH in three disparate marine species: Vibrio cholerae, a Hyphomonas strain, and Shewanella colwelliana. Induction of pigmentation in V. cholerae 569B by nutrient limitation also correlated with production of HGA.
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Kotob et al. (1995) studied this question.
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