Neuromelanins of human brain have soluble and insoluble components with dolichols attached to the melanic structure.

ABSTRACT: Neuromelanins (NMs) are neuronal pigments of melanic-lipidic type which accumulate during aging. They are involved in protective and degenerative mechanisms depending on the cellular context, however their structures are still poorly understood. NMs from nine human brain areas were analyzed in detail. Elemental analysis led to identification of three types of NM, while infrared spectroscopy showed that NMs from neurons of substantia nigra and locus coeruleus, which selectively degenerate in Parkinson's disease, have similar structure but different from NMs from brain regions not targeted by the disease. Synthetic melanins containing Fe and bovine serum albumin were prepared to model the natural product and help clarifying the structure of NMs. Extensive nuclear magnetic resonance spectrosc

SUBMITTER: Engelen M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3489676 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature