title: Current understanding of the binding sites, capacity, affinity, and biological significance of metals in melanin.
abstract: Metal chelation is often invoked as one of the main biological functions of melanin. In order to understand the interaction between metals and melanin, extensive studies have been carried out to determine the nature of the metal binding sites, binding capacity, and affinity. These data are central to efforts aimed at elucidating the role metal binding plays in determining the physical, structural, biological, and photochemical properties of melanin. This article examines the current state of understanding of this field.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA.
authors.forename: Lian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Simon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D008543:Melanins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D020460:Melanosomes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress
chemical_list: D008543:Melanins; D008670:Metals; C014121:neuromelanin; C041877:eumelanin; D002118:Calcium