Structural dynamics of melanin investigated by Rayleigh scattering of Mössbauer radiation

✍ Scribed by G. Albanese; M. G. Bridelli; A. Deriu

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 1984
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 904 KB
• Volume: 23
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0006-3525
• DOI: 10.1002/bip.360230805

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Measurements of Rayleigh scattering of Mössbauer radiation (RSMR) have been performed on synthetic L‐Dopa melanin as a function of the scattering vector, Q, and temperature, T, and are compared with the results of X‐ray diffraction analyses. The data obtained allow us to derive a radial distribution function for the atomic positions not affected by the dynamic disorder and determined only by the distribution of equilibrium interatomic distances. The mean‐square atomic displacements, <u^2^>, derived from the RSMR measurements, evidence a strong anisotropy of the atomic vibrations: even at room temperature, <u^2^> reaches fairly high values for off‐plane displacements, as compared with those for motions within the planes of the structure. A connection is suggested between the observed dynamics and the biological screening action of melanins.