Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2025
07:35
Laser Microdissection-Based Protocol for the LC-MS/MS Analysis of the Proteomic Profile of Neuromelanin Granules
Published on: December 16, 2021
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Melanin: Nature's 4th bioorganic polymer
1Center for Photonics and 2D Materials, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Institutsky Lane 9, Dolgoprudny 141701, Moscow Region, Russia. k.a.motovilov@gmail.com.
Soft Matter
|July 16, 2024
Summary
Melanins, crucial biological pigments, are vital across all life, extending beyond UV protection. This review proposes recognizing melanins as a fourth essential biological polymer class alongside nucleic acids, proteins, and polysaccharides.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Polymer Science
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Melanins are recognized for human pigmentation and UV protection.
- Melanins are found across all living kingdoms, except viruses.
- Recent findings show melanin's presence in most human organs and diverse organisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose melanins as a fourth primordial class of biological polymers.
- To compare melanin properties with canonical biological polymers (nucleic acids, proteins, polysaccharides).
- To highlight unique features, functions, and unresolved mysteries of melanins.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and comparative analysis of biological polymers.
- Examination of melanin's structure, function, and distribution across life forms.
- Discussion of melanin's role beyond UV protection and radiation neutralization.
Main Results:
- Melanins exhibit ubiquitous presence and fundamental importance in all life forms.
- Melanins possess unique properties distinct from nucleic acids, proteins, and polysaccharides.
- Evidence supports classifying melanins as a distinct, primordial class of biological polymers.
Conclusions:
- Melanins should be recognized as the fourth fundamental class of biological polymers.
- Further research is needed to fully understand melanin's diverse functions and complexities.
- The study underscores the essential, yet underappreciated, role of melanins in biology.
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