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melanin

Any of the dark brown polymers of indole 5,6-quinone &/or indole- 5,6-dihydroxycarboxylic acid that occur normally in: 1) skin 2) hair 3) retinal pigment epithelium 4) adrenal medulla (inconsistently) 5) zona reticularis of adrenal cortex 6) 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.

General

pigment

Database Correlations

PUBCHEM cid=5319334

References

  1. Stedman's Medical Dictionary 27th ed, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, 1999
  2. Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 18, American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2018
  3. 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: 20597941