Characterization of the Fe(III)-binding site in Sepia eumelanin by resonance Raman confocal microspectroscopy

Photochem Photobiol. 2004 Jul-Aug:80:84-8. doi: 10.1562/2004-01-18-RA-047.1.

Abstract

The resonance Raman spectrum of Sepia eumelanin is discussed by analogy to model compounds containing catechol (CAT)-like structural units. These data are then compared with the analogous data on Fe(III)-enriched Sepia eumelanin. In contrast to the natural eumelanin, the Fe(III)-enriched samples exhibit absorption features in the visible and near-IR spectral regions, which are attributed to ligand-to-metal charge-transfer (LMCT) bands. Resonance Raman spectra collected by exciting these LMCT bands reveal bands at 580 and 1470 cm(-1); the intensity of these features increases with increasing Fe(III) content. The 580 and 1470 cm(-1) bands are assigned to Fe-OR stretching and ring deformation modes, respectively. These data further substantiate that the Fe(III)-melanin-binding site in melanin is composed of CAT-like structural units.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Iron / metabolism*
  • Melanins / chemistry
  • Melanins / metabolism*
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Mollusca
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman

Substances

  • Melanins
  • eumelanin
  • Iron