R. Schmidt et al., THE USE OF DIETHYLAMINOETHYL-CELLULOSE MEMBRANE FILTERS IN A BIOASSAYTO QUANTIFY MELANIN SYNTHESIS, Analytical biochemistry, 235(2), 1996, pp. 113-118
Melanins are a class of extremely insoluble granular biopolymers with
a yet ill-defined chemical structure, properties which render the isol
ation and quantification of these molecules very difficult. Based on t
heir strong anionic character, however, a biophysical property shared
by all melanins, we have developed a method allowing total recovery of
the pigment. Soluble melanin is bound and granular melanin retained b
y DEAE-cellulose membrane filters. This approach provides an excellent
means to quantify melanin synthesis in normal human melanocytes alone
and in coculture with normal human keratinocytes. (C) 1996 Academic P
ress, Inc.