title: Production of melanins by ceruloplasmin.
abstract: It was shown that ceruloplasmin, apart from the known oxidative conversion of dopamine into melanin, can also produce (DHI)-melanin from 5,6-dihydroxyindole and THP-melanin from tetrahydropapaveroline. Ceruloplasmin acts as an oxidase and the kinetic parameters for these oxidative reactions are reported. Since these ceruloplasmin-catalyzed reactions occur also at pH 7.4, they could have a significant physiological impact. This ceruloplasmin-oxidasic activity is enhanced by copper ions and inhibited by chelators, such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and desferoxamine (DEF). Some possible implication of melanin production in blood are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemical Sciences, University La Sapienza of Rome, Italy. rosei@axcasp.caspur.it
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rosei
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Foppoli
authors.forename: X T
authors.initials: XT
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coccia
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mateescu
mesh_terms: D002570:Ceruloplasmin / Q000378:metabolism*; D002614:Chelating Agents; D003300:Copper; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D013765:Tetrahydropapaveroline / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002614:Chelating Agents; D008543:Melanins; D013765:Tetrahydropapaveroline; D003300:Copper; D002570:Ceruloplasmin