Chapter title |
The Pigment in Alkaptonuria Relationship to Melanin and Other Coloured Substances: A Review of Metabolism, Composition and Chemical Analysis
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Chapter number | 453 |
Book title |
JIMD Reports, Volume 24
|
Published in |
JIMD Reports, January 2015
|
DOI | 10.1007/8904_2015_453 |
Pubmed ID | |
Book ISBNs |
978-3-66-248226-1, 978-3-66-248227-8
|
Authors |
N. B. Roberts, S. A. Curtis, A. M. Milan, L. R. Ranganath |
Abstract |
The pigments found in plants, animals and humic substances are well described and classified. In humans considerable progress has been made with the main pigment melanin in defining its biochemistry, the different types and function. However, analytical techniques to show these differences in vivo are still not readily available. NMR and IR spectroscopy are relatively insensitive and reveal only major structural differences. Techniques utilising MS are useful in determining elemental content but require further studies to optimise conditions for accurate mass analysis. How the components may be structurally organised seems to be the most problematic with scanning TEM and the improved FTIR of use in this respect. As regards understanding the nature of the pigment related to HGA seen in patients with Alkaptonuria (AKU), it is still thought of as a melaninlike pigment simply because of its colour and likewise thought to be a polymer of undetermined size. It is important that detailed analysis be carried out to define more accurately this pigment. However, observations suggest it to be the same as the HGA-derived pigment, pyomelanin, produced by bacteria and containing both quinone and phenolic groups. The interesting developments in alkaptonuria will be to understand how such a polymer can cause such profound collagen and connective tissue damage and how best to reverse this process. |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
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Unknown | 38 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
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Researcher | 6 | 16% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 6 | 16% |
Student > Bachelor | 4 | 11% |
Student > Master | 3 | 8% |
Professor | 2 | 5% |
Other | 9 | 24% |
Unknown | 8 | 21% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 9 | 24% |
Medicine and Dentistry | 6 | 16% |
Chemistry | 3 | 8% |
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 2 | 5% |
Immunology and Microbiology | 2 | 5% |
Other | 4 | 11% |
Unknown | 12 | 32% |