Structure of melanins and melanogenesis

✍ Scribed by Nicolaus, R. A. ;Piattelli, M.

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1962
• Weight: 395 KB
• Volume: 58
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0022-3832
• DOI: 10.1002/pol.1962.1205816670

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Melanin from Sepia officinalis is a natural high polymer present in the ink sack of the animal as calcium and magnesium salt. Sepiomelanin loses carbon dioxide on heating and reacts with diazomethane yielding a methylated compound. With methanol and hydrogen chloride an ester is obtained. Analytical data suggest that polymerization occurs with the participation of a compound containing more hydrogen than 5,6‐dihydroxyindole and carrying a carboxyl group, probably dopachrome. Furthermore, pyrrole nuclei resulting from the breakdown of the benzenoid part of some indolequinone units are present in the pigment.