Catecholamine melanins. Structural changes induced by copper ions |
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| Authors: | K B Stepień J P Dworzański B Bilińska M Porebska-Budny A M Hollek T Wilczok |
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| Institution: | Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Silesian Medical Academy, Sosnowiec, Poland. |
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| Abstract: | Melanins synthesized from adrenaline and dopamine in the presence or absence of copper ions were characterized by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and by IR and ESR methods. It was shown that Cu2+ are able to induce changes in the melanin structure. Melanins obtained from adrenaline-Cu2+ and dopamine-Cu2+ complexes are composed mainly from monomeric units of the indole type. Melanins synthesized from these catecholamines without Cu2+ contain additionally large amounts of unindolized monomeric units. The structure differences in both types of melanins are reflected in their sorptive abilities and spectroscopic characteristics. |
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