Pyrolytic GC-MS analysis of melanin from black, gray and yellow strains ofDrosophila melanogaster

Properties of melanins depend strongly on their chemical constitution. Mela nins from differently colored strains of Drosophila melanogaster demonstrat e various proprieties, and biological activity in the presence of toxic ion s or radiation. In the presented work, we analyzed chemical constitution of the melanins derived from black, gray and yellow D. melanogaster strains. Analysis of the products forming during thermal degradation of the biopolym ers by pyrolitic gas chromatography followed by mass spectrometry allowed u s to determine chemical composition of these biopolymers and classified mel anins derived from black and gray strains as eumelanins and derived from ye llow strains as pheomelanins. These findings allow us to determine chemical and biological properties of the melanins in vivo, and can explain suscept ibility of differently colored strains of D. melanogaster to metal ions. (C ) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.