title: Fluorescent quantification of melanin.
abstract: Melanin quantification is reportedly performed by absorption spectroscopy, commonly at 405 nm. Here, we propose the implementation of fluorescence spectroscopy for melanin assessment. In a typical in vitro assay to assess melanin production in response to an external stimulus, absorption spectroscopy clearly overvalues melanin content. This method is also incapable of distinguishing non-melanotic/amelanotic control cells from those that are actually capable of performing melanogenesis. Therefore, fluorescence spectroscopy is the best method for melanin quantification as it proved to be highly specific and accurate, detecting even small variations in the synthesis of melanin. This method can also be applied to the quantification of melanin in more complex biological matrices like zebrafish embryos and human hair.
authors: CEB - Center of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
authors: Bruno
authors: B
authors: Fernandes
authors: CEB - Center of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.|CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
authors: Teresa
authors: T
authors: Matamá
authors: CEB - Center of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
authors: Diana
authors: D
authors: Guimarães
authors: CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
authors: Andreia
authors: A
authors: Gomes
authors: CEB - Center of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
authors: Artur
authors: A
authors: Cavaco-Paulo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008543:Melanins
keywords: absorption spectroscopy; melanin; melanin fluorescence; melanin oxidation; pigment quantification