Biology, Evolution and Application of Melanins – New Perspectives for Old Problems

Dear Colleagues,

I invite you to contribute to a Special Issue of the journal Applied Sciences entitled “Biology, Evolution and Application of Melanins—New Perspectives for Old Problems”, which aims to present recent developments in the field, with futuristic perspectives resulting from the recent, more or less unexpected (or just the opposite—long expected) discoveries and generalizations on melanin and related biopolymers of unusual properties and applications.

The study of melanins dates back to ancient Greece or even earlier, but the actual precise definition of these substances is still imprecise, particularly when comparing animals with other organisms from various domains and kingdoms. Much more can be said about their synthesis in animals, in particular at the biochemical level. However, melanins are organized differently than other macromolecular biopolymers, revealing a different hierarchy: instead of the primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures, they are described in micro- meso-, and macroscopic measures. The precise genetic regulation of the pigment phenotype has become quite satisfactorily understood, but still, understanding its role in the development of diseases related to pigmentation (e.g., melanoma) demands improvement and supplementations. There have been surprising new discoveries regarding the actual role of melanins in physiology and their biological functions (e.g., as virulence agents, but also immunogenic antigens), which particularly concerns fungal and bacterial melanins. It may even be necessary to expand the general paradigm concerning the possible primary source of bioavailable energy with ionizing radiation (radiotrophy). Melanins, being so far considered mainly as photoprotectors, in some cases seem to play the role of photosensitizers, including even the spectrum of visible light. They may reveal toxicity towards normal cells even in the dark. Their unusual physical properties, which make them resemble inorganic rather than organic substances, turn out to specifically affect cellular functions such as cellular movement, migration, etc. This changing view of the nature and functions of melanins may in the future result in totally new technological ideas (e.g., using them as light-gathering substances in solar panels). The view of the evolution of melanin may finally change our understanding of the evolution of living organisms, enriching our knowledge of the evolution of pigmented cells and organisms. Finally, melanin-like environmental pigments constitute humus and deep-sea sediments, and their engagement in the functioning of ecosystems, when facing threats of climatic changes, is of primary importance. They may also become “life’s fingerprint” when seeking extraterrestrial life.

I thus invite you to submit your research on these topics, in the form of original research papers, mini-reviews, and perspective articles.

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• Melanin
• Eumelanin
• Neuromelanin
• Pheomelanin
• Allomelanin
• Pyomelanin
• DHN-melanin
• Humic acids
• Polyphenols
• Quinone
• Tyrosinase
• Melanogenesis
• Melanomagenesis