Description

ABSTRACT

Organisms have evolved mechanisms to preserve selves from harmful ultraviolet radiation embracing from the earth’s crust. One of such classes is the UV engrossing compounds such as mycosporine-like amino acids. Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) are a faction of small secondary metabolites, found in the cytoplasm of organisms that are bare to high light intensity. They are usually colorless, uncharged, water solvent ampholytes that display sub-atomic weight ranging from 188 to 1050 Da. They are well known for Photoprotection.  However, their role is not limited only to photoprotection but there is evidence for additional functioning of these molecules. This review is on the multifunction of MAAs as antioxidant, inflammation, photoaging, oxidative stress, desiccation stress, thermal stress, nitrogen storage, and other functions.

Key words: Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs), Multifunction