Melanoma is a cancer with a rising incidence, and metastatic disease is almost always lethal. We investigated the feasibility of targeting melanin, an intracellular melanocyte pigment, to deliver cytotoxic radiation to human melanoma cells in vivo by using a melanin-binding mAb (6D2). Nude mice bearing MNT1 pigmented human melanoma tumors were treated with mAb 6D2 labeled with 1.5 mCi (1 Ci = 3...

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS Melanin is a pigmented polymer with a known role in dermal solar protection. In vertebrates, melanogenesis has been reported in leukocyte populations, suggesting a potential role in innate immunity. In this study, we report the novel finding of melanin associated with chronic inflammation and speculate on its potential role in the middle ear and mastoid. STUDY DESIGN Ret...

The huge development of bioengineering during the last years has boosted the search for new bioinspired materials, with tunable chemical, mechanical, and optoelectronic properties for the design of semiconductors, batteries, biosensors, imaging and therapy probes, adhesive hydrogels, tissue restoration, photoprotectors, etc. These new materials should complement or replace metallic or organic p...

A recombinant plasmid, pYL-1, containing a tyrosinase gene whose expression is under the control of a phage T5 promoter and 2 lac operators, was constructed. Escherichia coli JM109 harboring pYL-1 was used for production of bacterial melanin. A simple procedure for the isolation and purification of melanin was developed. The ultraviolet (UV)-visible light absorption spectra of melanin prepared ...

Melanin pigment from natural sources like microorganisms was an attractive choice for commercial scale production. In this study, marine bacterium capable of melanin production on marine broth/agar was isolated and identified as Pseudomonas sp. (closely related to guinea) on phenotypic characterization. Melanin production activity of the isolate was studied in liquid mediums such as pure marine...

The contribution of 1,8-dihydroxy naphthalene (DHN) melanin to cadmium (Cd) tolerance in two dark septate endophytes (DSE) the genus Cadophora with different content was investigated vitro. DSE isolate Cad#148 higher showed Cd than less melanised Cad#149. Melanin synthesis significantly reduced by both isolates uninhibited synthesis, a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition tricyclazole relative gro...

introduction: dark or black coloured gingiva is an esthetic concern especially in subjects with high lip line or gummy smile. gingival depigmentation procedure is a type of perioplastic surgery where the gingival epithelium is excised with various techniques to lighten the colour of the gingiva. the aim of this study was to compare the clinical efficacy of gingival depigmentation procedure with...

Using techniques developed to study melanization in other fungi, we demonstrate that Coccidioides posadasii arthroconidia, spherules, and endospores produce melanin or melanin-like compounds in vitro and tissue forms synthesize pigment in vivo. Since melanin is an important virulence factor in other pathogenic fungi, it may affect the pathogenesis of coccidioidomycosis.

retinal pigment epithelium is responsible for maintaining the structural integrity of the retina by an efficient defense against free radicals, photo-oxidative exposure and light energy. for this purpose the main rpe line of defense is melanosomes. melanin content of retinal pigment epithelium cells in adults and neonates reveals remarkable variations. in the current study we compared melanogen...