Work

Current Understanding of the Binding Sites, Capacity, Affinity, and Biological Significance of Metals in Melanin

Year: 2007

Type: article

Abstract: Metal chelation is often invoked as one of the main biological functions of melanin. In order to understand the interaction between metals and melanin, extensive studies have been carried out to determine the nature of the metal binding sites, binding capacity, and affinity. These data are central to efforts aimed at elucidating the role metal binding plays in determining the physical, structural, biological, and photochemical properties of melanin. This article examines the current state of understanding of this field.

Source: The Journal of Physical Chemistry B

DOI: 10.1021/jp071439h

Authors: Lian Hong, John D. Simon

Institution: Duke University

Language: English

Topic: melanin and skin pigmentation

Subfield: Cell Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute of General Medical Sciences

Award: PHOTODYNAMICS OF ULTRAVIOLET EPIDERMAL CHROMOPHORES