Diversity of human hair pigmentation as studied by chemical analysis of eumelanin and pheomelanin

@article{Ito2011DiversityOH,
  title={Diversity of human hair pigmentation as studied by chemical analysis of eumelanin and pheomelanin},
  author={Shosuke Ito and Kazumasa Wakamatsu},
  journal={Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology},
  year={2011},
  volume={25}
}
  • S. Ito, K. Wakamatsu
  • Published 1 December 2011
  • Biology
  • Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology
Hair colour is one of the most conspicuous phenotypes in humans, ranging from black, brown, blond to red. [] Key Method Pheomelanin can also be analysed as 4-amino-3-hydroxyphenylalanine (4-AHP) after hydroiodic acid hydrolysis. Using those methods, we evaluated the contents of eumelanin and pheomelanin (the 'chemical' phenotype) in human hairs of black, dark brown, brown, light brown, blond and red colour (the 'visual' phenotype). Eumelanin contents decrease in that order, with a trace but constant level of…
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Highly Influential Citations
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92 Citations

Properties of melanin pigments for the definition of mechanisms of (photo)toxicity in red hair phenotype and development of strategies of (photo)protection.

TLDR
The research work carried out during the PhD course and reported in this thesis was directed at investigating the light-independent effects of purified human hair melanins on keratinocyte cell cultures with particular attention to their pro-oxidant properties and at defining the origin of the broadband absorption spectrum of eumelanin, which underpins their protective shielding effect.

Neutral pH and copper ions promote eumelanogenesis after the dopachrome stage

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The results indicate that an acidic pH greatly suppresses the late stages of eumelanogenesis and that Cu2+ ions accelerate the conversion of DC to DHICA and its subsequent oxidation.

Chemical and biochemical control of skin pigmentation with special emphasis on mixed melanogenesis

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Various factors affecting mixed melanogenesis are focused on including chemical regulation of melanin synthesis, melanosomal pH regulation during normal melanogenesis and effect on Mixed melanogenesis, and mechanisms of melanosomes pH control (proton pumps, channels, transporters, and signaling pathways).

Genome-wide association analysis identifies potential regulatory genes for eumelanin pigmentation in chicken plumage.

TLDR
It is inferred that genes, including NUAK family kinase 1 (NUAK1) and sonic hedgehog (SHH) may play roles in the development of neural crest cells or melanoblasts during the embryonic period, which may also affect the eumelanin pigmentation.

Red human hair pheomelanin is a potent pro‐oxidant mediating UV‐independent contributory mechanisms of melanomagenesis

TLDR
The unprecedented property of purified red human hair pheomelanin (RHP) is disclosed to promote the oxygen‐dependent depletion of major cell antioxidants, for example glutathione and NADH; and the autoxidative formation of melanin pigments from their precursors.

Pheomelanin‐induced oxidative stress: bright and dark chemistry bridging red hair phenotype and melanoma

TLDR
A detailed discussion of the possible UV‐dependent and UV‐independent chemical mechanisms underlying pheomelanin‐mediated oxidative stress, with special reference to the oxygen‐dependent depletion of glutathione and other cell antioxidants, and possible concerted strategies for melanoma prevention in the red hair phenotype are proposed.

A Melanin-Related Phenolic Polymer with Potent Photoprotective and Antioxidant Activities for Dermo-Cosmetic Applications

TLDR
Protective effect of a polymer obtained starting from the methyl ester of DHICA (MeDHICA-melanin) against Ultraviolet A (UVA)-induced oxidative stress in immortalized human keratinocytes (HaCaT).

Metabolomics reveals dopa melanin involved in the enzymatic browning of the yellow cultivars of East Asian golden needle mushroom (Flammulina filiformis).

The Genetics of Human Skin and Hair Pigmentation.

TLDR
The responsible polymorphisms within these pigmentation genes appear at different population frequencies, can be used as ancestry-informative markers, and provide insight into the evolutionary selective forces that have acted to create this human diversity.

Evolution of human skin pigmentation. Genetic factors underlying variability and association with eye and hair color.

In this review we present an updated overview of the main current hypotheses for the evolution of skin color and the genetic factors underlying its variability, as well as a brief remark of the…
...

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