melanin
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Introduction
Any of the dark brown polymers of indole 5,6-quinone &/or indole- 5,6-dihydroxycarboxylic acid that occur normally in:
- skin
- hair
- retinal pigment epithelium
- adrenal medulla (inconsistently)
- zona reticularis of adrenal cortex
- pars compacta of the substantia nigra (neuromelanin)
It may be formed in vitro or in vivo by enzymatic oxidation of L-tyrosine or L-tryptophan.
L-tyrosine oxidation occurs via L-dopa & L-dopaquinone.
More general terms
References
- ↑ Stedman's Medical Dictionary 27th ed, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, 1999
- ↑ Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 18, American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2018
- ↑ Muller S. Melanin-associated pigmented lesions of the oral mucosa: presentation, differential diagnosis, and treatment. Dermatol Ther. 2010 May-Jun;23(3):220-9. Review. PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20597941