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Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Expression and Purification of Nuclease-Free Oxygen Scavenger Protocatechuate 3,4-Dioxygenase
Published on: November 8, 2019
Scavenging or quenching effect of melanin on superoxide anion and singlet oxygen
Mika Tada1, Masahiro Kohno, Yoshimi Niwano
1New Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Tohoku University, 6-6-10 Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8579, Japan.
Abstract:
Although photoprotective properties of skin melanin have been well documented, a few studies on the effect of melanin on reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation have been reported. To study the interaction of melanin with ROS, scavenging or quenching effect of melanin on O(2) (*-) and (1)O(2) was examined by electron spin resonance (ESR)-spin trapping methods and a spectrophotometric method, respectively. Melanin potently interacted with O(2) (*-) generated in a hypoxanthine (HPX)-xanthine oxidase (XOD) reaction, and with (1)O(2) generated from a peroxidase, H(2)O(2), and halide system. In the HPX-XOD reaction, it was proved that melanin doses not interfere with the enzyme reaction. It is confirmed that one of the mechanisms by which melanin protects UV-induced skin damage is likely scavenging or quenching activity against ROS such as O(2) (*-) and (1)O(2).
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