Abstract
The pigment of substantia nigra human brain has been extracted by a mild procedure consisting of washes with phosphate buffer, methanol and incubation with SDS-proteinase. Pyrolisis gas chromatography mass spectrometry infrared spectrometry, termogravimetric analysis and elemental analysis were the techniques used for the chemical characterization. An indole moiety bound to a sulfur containing amino acid and to palmitic acid were the main aspects found in the structure. The presence of a 7% inorganic component was observed. This probably contains Fe, Cu, Zn and Cr which are also relevant, for the formation and the role of melanin in substantia nigra neurons. The fatty acid moiety is chemically bound to the indole structure as it was not eliminated by repeated methanol washing. The same situation occurs for the sulfur containing gropu. Considering these data and the most abundant molecules present in substantia nigra the precursor of neuromelanin seems to be a cysteinyl-cethecol, to which is then bound a palmityl group.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 6-10 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Molecular Basis of Disease |
| Volume | 1138 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 16 1992 |
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Keywords
- (Human brain)
- Melanin
- Neuromelanin
- Parkinson diseases
- Substantia nigra
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biophysics
- Molecular Biology
- Molecular Medicine
Cite this
The chemical characterization of melanin contained in substantia nigra of human brain. / Zecca, Luigi; Mecacci, Claudio; Seraglia, Roberta; Parati, Eugenio.
In: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Molecular Basis of Disease, Vol. 1138, No. 1, 16.01.1992, p. 6-10.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The chemical characterization of melanin contained in substantia nigra of human brain
AU - Zecca, Luigi
AU - Mecacci, Claudio
AU - Seraglia, Roberta
AU - Parati, Eugenio
PY - 1992/1/16
Y1 - 1992/1/16
N2 - The pigment of substantia nigra human brain has been extracted by a mild procedure consisting of washes with phosphate buffer, methanol and incubation with SDS-proteinase. Pyrolisis gas chromatography mass spectrometry infrared spectrometry, termogravimetric analysis and elemental analysis were the techniques used for the chemical characterization. An indole moiety bound to a sulfur containing amino acid and to palmitic acid were the main aspects found in the structure. The presence of a 7% inorganic component was observed. This probably contains Fe, Cu, Zn and Cr which are also relevant, for the formation and the role of melanin in substantia nigra neurons. The fatty acid moiety is chemically bound to the indole structure as it was not eliminated by repeated methanol washing. The same situation occurs for the sulfur containing gropu. Considering these data and the most abundant molecules present in substantia nigra the precursor of neuromelanin seems to be a cysteinyl-cethecol, to which is then bound a palmityl group.
AB - The pigment of substantia nigra human brain has been extracted by a mild procedure consisting of washes with phosphate buffer, methanol and incubation with SDS-proteinase. Pyrolisis gas chromatography mass spectrometry infrared spectrometry, termogravimetric analysis and elemental analysis were the techniques used for the chemical characterization. An indole moiety bound to a sulfur containing amino acid and to palmitic acid were the main aspects found in the structure. The presence of a 7% inorganic component was observed. This probably contains Fe, Cu, Zn and Cr which are also relevant, for the formation and the role of melanin in substantia nigra neurons. The fatty acid moiety is chemically bound to the indole structure as it was not eliminated by repeated methanol washing. The same situation occurs for the sulfur containing gropu. Considering these data and the most abundant molecules present in substantia nigra the precursor of neuromelanin seems to be a cysteinyl-cethecol, to which is then bound a palmityl group.
KW - (Human brain)
KW - Melanin
KW - Neuromelanin
KW - Parkinson diseases
KW - Substantia nigra
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0026544108&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/0925-4439(92)90144-C
DO - 10.1016/0925-4439(92)90144-C
M3 - Article
C2 - 1737070
AN - SCOPUS:0026544108
VL - 1138
SP - 6
EP - 10
JO - Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Molecular Basis of Disease
JF - Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Molecular Basis of Disease
SN - 0925-4439
IS - 1
ER -