Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Ni QZ
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8163323 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Ni Qing Zhe QZ Sierra Brianna N BN La Clair James J JJ Burkart Michael D MD
Chemical science 20200709 30
Melanin is a central polymer in living organisms, yet our understanding of its molecular structure remains unresolved. Here, we apply a biosynthetic approach to explore the composite structures accessible in one type of melanin, eumelanin. Using a combination of solid-state NMR, dynamic nuclear polarization, and electron microscopy, we reveal how a variety of monomers are enzymatically polymerized into their corresponding eumelanin pigments. We demonstrate how this approach can be used to unite ...[more]