melanin

Two types of pigments are responsible for the pumage coloration: melanins, which produce a range of black, grey, brown, and orange colors, and carotenoids, which are used by specialized feather structures to generate brighter color hues.

To minimize the potential harm of future ingestible devices, Bettinger's team at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) decided to turn to melanins and other naturally occurring compounds.

However, recent work has shed light on the fact that melanins can be significant indicators of health and vigor in insects (Dolenska et al., 2009; Blount et al., 2012).

Melanocytes that lie at the junction of the dermis and epidermis of the skin play a central role in skin pigmentation by producing melanins which are transferred to neighboring keratinocytes (Hirobe, 2011).

Melanins and melanosomes; biosynthesis, biogenesis, physiological, and pathological functions

One of the major problems in studying melanins is the lack of adequate methods for the isolation of pure melanin pigments.

After melanins were extracted, the mixed melanins in different hair colors appeared and looked different (Figure 2).

And while the shape of the granules is evidence of black pigment, yellow and red melanins also exist--such as in the freckles of fair-skinned humans.

Melanins are most noticeable in humans as dark moles, in black dermal pigment cells and as brown spots in the epidermis.

It is composed of 65-95% protein, 1-9% lipids, 0.1-5% pigments (melanins), and small amounts of trace elements, polysaccharides, and water.

Topically applied dihydroxyacetone and melanins have been shown to provide some photoprotection.

Krol tested the melanins' ability to oxidize lipid molecules.