Abstract
Neuromelanin (NM) isolated from the substantia nigra region of the human brain was studied by scanning probe and photoelectron emission microscopies. Atomic force microscopy reveals that NM granules are comprised of spherical structures with a diameter of ≈30 nm, similar to that observed for Sepia cuttlefish, bovine eye, and human eye and hair melanosomes. Photoelectron microscopy images were collected at specific wavelengths of UV light between 248 and 413 nm, using the spontaneous-emission output from the Duke OK-4 free electron laser. Analysis of the data establishes a threshold photoionization potential for NM of 4.5 ± 0.2 eV, which corresponds to an oxidation potential of -0.1 ± 0.2 V vs. the normal hydrogen electrode (NHE). The oxidation potential of NM is within experimental error of the oxidation potential measured for human eumelanosomes (-0.2 ± 0.2 V vs. NHE), despite the presence of a significant fraction of the red pigment, pheomelanin, which is characterized by a higher oxidation potential (+0.5 ± 0.2 V vs. NHE). Published kinetic studies on the early chemical steps of melanogenesis show that in the case of pigments containing a mixture of pheomelanin and eumelanin, of which NM is an example, pheomelanin formation occurs first with eumelanin formation predominantly occurring only after cysteine levels are depleted. Such a kinetic model would predict a structural motif with pheomelanin at the core and eumelanin at the surface, which is consistent with the measured surface oxidation potential of the ≈30-nm constituents of NM granules.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 14785-14789 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |
| Volume | 103 |
| Issue number | 40 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 3 2006 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Free electron laser
- Oxidative stress
- Parkinson's disease
- Photoelectron imaging
- Substantia nigra
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Genetics
- General
Cite this
The surface oxidation potential of human neuromelanin reveals a spherical architecture with a pheomelanin core and a eumelanin surface. / Bush, William D.; Garguilo, Jacob; Zucca, Fabio A.; Albertini, Alberto; Zecca, Luigi; Edwards, Glenn S.; Nemanich, Robert; Simon, John D.
In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol. 103, No. 40, 03.10.2006, p. 14785-14789.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The surface oxidation potential of human neuromelanin reveals a spherical architecture with a pheomelanin core and a eumelanin surface
AU - Bush, William D.
AU - Garguilo, Jacob
AU - Zucca, Fabio A.
AU - Albertini, Alberto
AU - Zecca, Luigi
AU - Edwards, Glenn S.
AU - Nemanich, Robert
AU - Simon, John D.
PY - 2006/10/3
Y1 - 2006/10/3
N2 - Neuromelanin (NM) isolated from the substantia nigra region of the human brain was studied by scanning probe and photoelectron emission microscopies. Atomic force microscopy reveals that NM granules are comprised of spherical structures with a diameter of ≈30 nm, similar to that observed for Sepia cuttlefish, bovine eye, and human eye and hair melanosomes. Photoelectron microscopy images were collected at specific wavelengths of UV light between 248 and 413 nm, using the spontaneous-emission output from the Duke OK-4 free electron laser. Analysis of the data establishes a threshold photoionization potential for NM of 4.5 ± 0.2 eV, which corresponds to an oxidation potential of -0.1 ± 0.2 V vs. the normal hydrogen electrode (NHE). The oxidation potential of NM is within experimental error of the oxidation potential measured for human eumelanosomes (-0.2 ± 0.2 V vs. NHE), despite the presence of a significant fraction of the red pigment, pheomelanin, which is characterized by a higher oxidation potential (+0.5 ± 0.2 V vs. NHE). Published kinetic studies on the early chemical steps of melanogenesis show that in the case of pigments containing a mixture of pheomelanin and eumelanin, of which NM is an example, pheomelanin formation occurs first with eumelanin formation predominantly occurring only after cysteine levels are depleted. Such a kinetic model would predict a structural motif with pheomelanin at the core and eumelanin at the surface, which is consistent with the measured surface oxidation potential of the ≈30-nm constituents of NM granules.
AB - Neuromelanin (NM) isolated from the substantia nigra region of the human brain was studied by scanning probe and photoelectron emission microscopies. Atomic force microscopy reveals that NM granules are comprised of spherical structures with a diameter of ≈30 nm, similar to that observed for Sepia cuttlefish, bovine eye, and human eye and hair melanosomes. Photoelectron microscopy images were collected at specific wavelengths of UV light between 248 and 413 nm, using the spontaneous-emission output from the Duke OK-4 free electron laser. Analysis of the data establishes a threshold photoionization potential for NM of 4.5 ± 0.2 eV, which corresponds to an oxidation potential of -0.1 ± 0.2 V vs. the normal hydrogen electrode (NHE). The oxidation potential of NM is within experimental error of the oxidation potential measured for human eumelanosomes (-0.2 ± 0.2 V vs. NHE), despite the presence of a significant fraction of the red pigment, pheomelanin, which is characterized by a higher oxidation potential (+0.5 ± 0.2 V vs. NHE). Published kinetic studies on the early chemical steps of melanogenesis show that in the case of pigments containing a mixture of pheomelanin and eumelanin, of which NM is an example, pheomelanin formation occurs first with eumelanin formation predominantly occurring only after cysteine levels are depleted. Such a kinetic model would predict a structural motif with pheomelanin at the core and eumelanin at the surface, which is consistent with the measured surface oxidation potential of the ≈30-nm constituents of NM granules.
KW - Free electron laser
KW - Oxidative stress
KW - Parkinson's disease
KW - Photoelectron imaging
KW - Substantia nigra
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33749520640&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33749520640&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1073/pnas.0604010103
DO - 10.1073/pnas.0604010103
M3 - Article
C2 - 17001010
AN - SCOPUS:33749520640
VL - 103
SP - 14785
EP - 14789
JO - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
SN - 0027-8424
IS - 40
ER -