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Melanin and Other Pigments: Function, Synthesis and Characterization
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Melanin and Other Pigments: Function, Synthesis and Characterization

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Biochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2025 | Viewed by 3097

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Koen P. Vercruysse

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN 37209, USA
Interests: melanin; eumelanin; pheomelanin; spectroscopy; catechols; amino acids

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Melanins remain an enigmatic class of biomolecules as their chemical structure and an explanation of their physicochemical properties are not fully understood. Although DOPA or dopamine are most frequently used as precursors for the synthesis and study of melanins, other catecholic or phenolic compounds can serve as precursors for melanin-like materials or related pigments. This Special Issue aims to provide an overview of the current status of the synthesis, characterization, and functionality of melanins and related pigments derived from a range of precursors.

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue. The aims of this Special Issue are to highlight (a) the chemical and physical properties melanins or related pigments have in common and (b) the chemistry or properties which make any pigment unique. An expansive overview of the current status in melanin and related pigment research would benefit the understanding and highlight the potential of any individual type of melanin or pigment.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome and research areas may include, but are not limited to, the following: chemistry and the characterization or function of melanin or related pigments built from catecholic, phenolic, or indolic precursors.
We look forward to receiving your contribution.

Dr. Koen P. Vercruysse
Guest Editor

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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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.

Keywords

  • melanin
  • eumelanin
  • pheomelanin
  • allomelanin
  • catechol
  • indole
  • phenol

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 3631 KiB  
Article
Metal Ion Supplementation to Boost Melanin Production by Streptomyces nashvillensis
by Odile Francesca Restaino, Talayeh Kordjazi, Francesco Tancredi, Paola Manini, Fabiana Lanzillo, Francesca Raganati, Antonio Marzocchella, Raffaele Porta and Loredana Mariniello
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(1), 416; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26010416 - 6 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 871
Abstract
As Streptomycetes might produce melanin to survive in stressful environmental conditions, like under metal exposure, supplementing metal ions to the growth medium could be a wise strategy for boosting the production of the pigment. The aim of this study was to test, for [...] Read more.
As Streptomycetes might produce melanin to survive in stressful environmental conditions, like under metal exposure, supplementing metal ions to the growth medium could be a wise strategy for boosting the production of the pigment. The aim of this study was to test, for the first time, the possibility of boosting S. nashvillensis DSM40314 melanin biosynthesis by adding to the growth medium singularly or, at the same time, different concentrations (1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 g∙L−1) of CuSO4 or/and Fe2(SO4)3. A maximum melanin production of 4.0 ± 0.1 g·L−1 was obtained in shake flasks with a 2.0 g∙L−1 coupled addition of the two metals, while the extracellular tyrosinase activities ranged values between 5.4 and 11.6 ± 0.1 U·L−1. The pigments produced in different conditions were precipitated from the broth supernatants under acidic conditions, purified, and characterized by UV-VIS, FT-IR, and NMR analyses that determined structures like eumelanin pigments. Fermentation experiments in stirred tank reactors allowed to scale up the process in more controlled conditions, further boosting the pigment production up to 4.9 ± 0.1 g·L−1, with an increase of about 22.0% compared to the results obtained in shake flasks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Melanin and Other Pigments: Function, Synthesis and Characterization)
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16 pages, 3367 KiB  
Article
The Invisible Fraction within Melanin Capable of Absorbing UV Light and with Fluorescent Properties: Is It Lacking Consideration?
by Aaliyah Flake and Koen Vercruysse
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(15), 8490; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25158490 - 3 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1433
Abstract
Expanding on earlier observations, we show that many melanin materials, in vitro synthesized from a wide range of precursors, can be fractionated into a dark-colored precipitate and a near-colorless, dispersible fraction. The dispersible fractions exhibited absorbance in the UVA and UVB range of [...] Read more.
Expanding on earlier observations, we show that many melanin materials, in vitro synthesized from a wide range of precursors, can be fractionated into a dark-colored precipitate and a near-colorless, dispersible fraction. The dispersible fractions exhibited absorbance in the UVA and UVB range of the electromagnetic spectrum, but none in the visible range. In addition, fluorescent properties were associated with all dispersible fractions obtained. FT-IR spectroscopic analyses were performed to compare both types of fractions. Overall, it appears that some of the properties associated with melanin (UV absorbance, fluorescence) may not necessarily reside in the dark-colored portion of melanin, but in a colorless fraction of the material. It remains to be seen whether any of these in vitro observations have any relevance in vivo. However, we raise the possibility that the presence of a colorless fraction within melanin materials and their associated properties may have received inadequate attention. Given the important association between melanin, UV protection, and skin cancer, it is worthwhile to consider this additional aspect of melanin chemistry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Melanin and Other Pigments: Function, Synthesis and Characterization)
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