ISIS Neutron and Muon Source Data Journal

A melanin-inspired pro-oxidant system for dopa(mine) polymerization: implication for the biological process and possible technological appli

Abstract: Melanins are the major determinants of pigmentation of skin, hair and eyes in humans. These pigments originate from the tyrosinase-catalyzed oxidation of tyrosine, leading to the unstable 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) quinone that through polymerization produce a black insoluble eumelanins. Nucleophilic addition of cysteine to DOPA quinone produces alkali-soluble pheomelanins via 5-S-cysteinylDOPA (CD). This present study will provide the basis for the development of technologies to use CD-based polymers for implementation of eumelanin/polydopamine coatings. From a biological viewpoint, definition of the described processes will throw light on the mode of formation of melanosomes and melanized granules in neuromelanin and irides, unraveling a natural strategy to mask an oxidant active polymer of potential toxicity by growth of a pigment shell, which is expected to be less toxic.

Principal Investigator: Professor Luigi Paduano
Experimenter: Professor Irene Russo Krauss
Experimenter: Dr Alessandra Luchini
Local Contact: Dr Richard Heenan
Experimenter: Mr Marco Perfetti
Local Contact: Dr Steve King

DOI: 10.5286/ISIS.E.RB1520133

ISIS Experiment Number: RB1520133

Publisher: STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source

Data format: RAW/Nexus
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Data Citation

The recommended format for citing this dataset in a research publication is as:
[author], [date], [title], [publisher], [doi]

For Example:
Professor Luigi Paduano et al; (2016): A melanin-inspired pro-oxidant system for dopa(mine) polymerization: implication for the biological process and possible technological appli, STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, https://doi.org/10.5286/ISIS.E.RB1520133

Data is released under the CC-BY-4.0 license.