Using Sepia melanin as a PD model to describe the binding characteristics of neuromelanin – A critical review

• Published in: Journal of chemical neuroanatomy Vol. 64-65; pp. 20 - 32
• Main Authors: Schroeder, Rhiannon L., Double, Kay L., Gerber, Jacobus P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.03.2015
• Subjects: Animals; Binding model; Disease Models, Animal; Melanin; Melanins - chemistry; Melanins - metabolism; Melanins - toxicity; Neuromelanin; Parkinson Disease, Secondary - chemically induced; Parkinson Disease, Secondary - physiopathology; Parkinson's disease; Sepia; Sepia - chemistry; Binding model; Parkinson's disease; Neuromelanin; Melanin; Sepia
• ISSN: 0891-0618; 1873-6300
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2015.02.001

•This review has compared the different organic melanins available, as well as synthetic melanins, to highlight an alternative model to study NM-associated diseases, such as Parkinson's disease.•Synthetic melanins appear to be unsuitable models due to significantly different chemical arrangement to organic melanins, as well as apparent neuronal toxicity.•Biosynthesis, structure and solute interactions were examined for organic melanins in comparison with NM.•Sepia melanin was identified as an alternate NM model due to its chemical composition, size, ease of isolation, and surface characteristics. Parkinson's disease is characterised pathologically by a relatively selective death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the brain. The vulnerability of these neurons appears to be linked to the pigment neuromelanin. However, as yet there is limited understanding behind the mechanisms of this disease process. Complications arise due to the difficulty in obtaining appreciable quantities of neuromelanin. Furthermore, an appropriate model for studying neuromelanin has not been identified. To date there has been many studies looking at the binding and chemical characteristics of neuromelanin. However, a range of different synthetic and organic melanins have been used as models and leading to many varied conclusions being drawn. Therefore, the aim of this review is to present Sepia melanin as the most appropriate study model for the binding characteristics of neuromelanin. Considerations included chemical structure, surface characteristics and structural features of both synthetic and organic melanins.