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BIBTEX RIS

Chemiexcitation of melanin derivatives induces DNA photoproducts long after UV exposure

2015; American Association for the Advancement of Science; Volume: 347; Issue: 6224 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1126/science.1256022

ISSN

1095-9203

Autores

Sanjay Premi, Silvia Wallisch, Camila Marinho Mano, Adam B. Weiner, Antonella Bacchiocchi, Kazumasa Wakamatsu, Etelvino José Henriques Bechara, Ruth Halaban, Thierry Douki, Douglas E. Brash,

Tópico(s)

Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies

Resumo

The dark side of melanin exposed Sun worshippers may have more to worry about than the DNA damage that occurs while they're relaxing on the beach. It seems that the DNA photoproducts responsible for cancer-causing mutations in skin cells continue to be generated for hours after sunlight exposure. Premi et al. find that a key mediator of this delayed damage is melanin, a pigment thought to protect against cancer (see the Perspective by Taylor). They propose a “chemiexcitation” model in which reactive oxygen and nitrogen species induced by ultraviolet light excite an electron in melanin fragments. This energy is then transferred to DNA, inducing the same damage as ultraviolet light, but in the dark. Conceivably, this energy could be dissipated by adding quenchers to sunscreens. Science , this issue p. 842 ; see also p. 824

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