Biochemical sites of gene action for melanogenesis in mammals.docVIP

Biochemical sites of gene action for melanogenesis in Instituto di Chimica organica, Univevsitd di Na!oli, Via Mezzocannone z6, Napoli, Italy (*) Medical Research Council Radiobiology Unit, Harwell, Oxon. OXn ORD, Great Britain Current information is reviewed on the biochemical and genetic basis for coat pigmentation in mammals. While the dark eumelanin pigments are regarded as a fairly homogeneous the lighter phaeomelanins are more diverse, including the trichochromes low molecular weight) (of as well as more complex sulphur-containing compounds. However, both eumelanins and phaeo-