Mutagenicity of melanin from human red hair.
The Salmonella typhimurium histidine reversion test of Ames et al. was used to demonstrate the pheomelanin, the red-brown polymeric pigment produced in human skin and hair, becomes mutagenic after exposure to long wave-length UV-light; a finding consistent with the UV-induced somatic mutation hypothesis for the origin of freckles and the high susceptibility of redheads and blonds to sunlight-induced skin cancers.
D006197:Hair / Q000032:analysis*; D006200:Hair Color; D006801:Humans; D008543:Melanins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008548:Melanosis / Q000209:etiology; D009153:Mutagens; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects
D008543:Melanins; D009153:Mutagens; C018362:pheomelanin