Analysis of the structure of synthetic and natural melanins by solid-phase

Journal Article · Tue Sep 06 00:00:00 EDT 1988 · Biochemistry; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/bi00418a067· OSTI ID:6469031

Duff, G A; Roberts, J E; Foster, N

The structures of one synthetic and two natural melanins are examined by solid-state NMR using cross polarization, magic angle sample spinning, and high-power proton decoupling. The structural features of synthetic dopa malanin are compared to those of melanin from malignant melanoma cells grown in culture and sepia melanin from squid ink. Natural abundance /sup 13/C and /sup 15/N spectra show resonances consistent with known pyrrolic and indolic structures within the heterogeneous biopolymer; /sup 13/C spectra indicate the presence of aliphatic residues in all three materials. These solid-phase experiments illustrate the promise of solid-phase NMR for elucidating structural from insoluble biomaterials.

• Research Organization: Lehigh Univ., Bethlehem, PA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6469031
• Journal Information: Biochemistry; (United States), Vol. 27:18
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
MELANIN
NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE
CARBON 13
ELECTRON SPIN RESONANCE
MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
NITROGEN 15
PROTONS
BARYONS
CARBON ISOTOPES
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FERMIONS
HADRONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MAGNETIC RESONANCE
NITROGEN ISOTOPES
NUCLEI
NUCLEONS
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PIGMENTS
RESONANCE
STABLE ISOTOPES
550601* - Medicine- Unsealed Radionuclides in Diagnostics