PMID: 2122048Jul 1, 1990Paper

Eumelanin and pheomelanin contents in hairs of healthy Japanese and patients with oculocutaneous albinism, and 5-S-cysteinyldopa and 5-hydroxy-6-methoxyindole-2-carboxylic acid levels in urine of oculocutaneous albinism

Nihon Hifuka Gakkai zasshi. The Japanese journal of dermatology
N Saito, T Morishima

Abstract

The contents of eumelanin and pheomelanin in the scalp hairs of 4 Japanese patients with total albinism (3 tyrosinase-positive and one negative) and 100 healthy Japanese were measured by the melanin microquantitation method of Ito and Fujita. The urinary 5-S-Cysteinyldopa (5-S-CD) and 5-Hydroxy-6-Methoxyindole-2-Carboxylic acid (5H6MI2C) contents in the 4 albino subjects were also determined. Our findings included that (1) Regardless of ge, black hairs of all the healthy subjects contained phemelanin at a level of about 5% of the total melanin contents. The hair color of the 3 tyrosinase-positive subjects was pale-yellow, and their hairs contained only pheomelanin. The hair color of the one tyrosinase-negative subject was white, and neither eumalanin nor pheomelanin could be detected. (2) Urinary 5H6M12C, an indicator of eumelanin production in the body, could not be detected in either the tyrosinase-positive or tyrosinase-negative subjects, while the urinary 5-S-CD content of the tyrosinase-negative subject was much lower than that of the tyrosinase-positive subjects. These results suggested that the yellow hair color of patients with tyrosinase-positive albinism is attributable to the production of only pheomelanin and that t...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.