title: Transformation of albumin into melanin by hydroxyl radicals.
abstract: Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was exposed to hydroxyl radicals generated by the Fenton reaction. The reaction of the BSA solution with hydroxyl radicals resulted in a colour change from clear transparent to dark brown. The reaction was followed spectrophometrically. It was observed that during the reaction of BSA with hydroxyl radicals, a melanin-like absorption spectrum developed. The reaction with ferricyanide and the dark brown BSA solution resulted in the same dark blue-green colour as is typical for melanin. The results suggest that, by the reaction of BSA with hydroxyl radicals, melanin was formed.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biologie II (Zoologie), RWTH Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schraermeyer
mesh_terms: D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical; D008543:Melanins / Q000737:chemistry*; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000737:chemistry*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000737:chemistry; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D008543:Melanins; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical; D014443:Tyrosine; D014364:Tryptophan