<p>We investigated the
synthesis of melanin-like materials from DOPA, dopamine, norepinephrine and
epinephrine in the presence of L-cysteine. We observed that L-cysteine delayed
the formation of pigment from these catecholamines and that the presence of
L-cysteine yielded darker-colored reaction mixtures. No reddish pigment was
observed that would indicate the synthesis of pheomelanin-like material. The
reactions were performed in the presence of Na<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub> and
through the addition of CaCl<sub>2</sub> at the end of the reaction; the black,
eumelanin-like material was co-precipitated with CaCO<sub>3</sub>. The
remaining supernatant solutions were observed to be light-yellow to
rusty-orange in color depending on the catecholamine used in the reaction. Size
exclusion chromatography (SEC) analyses indicated that the removal of the black
pigment left behind an oligomeric material that exhibited a strong absorbance
band around 280nm. Our experimental and analytical observations prompt us to
raise a number of points of discussion or hypotheses. 1) The
presence of L-cysteine during the air-mediated oxidation of catecholamines
leads to darker-colored pigments; not reddish or lighter-colored pigments that
would visually resemble pheomelanin-like pigments, 2) SEC analyses suggested
that the black pigment generated during the air-mediated oxidation of
catecholamines is not necessarily the main reaction product, 3) The pre-formed,
dark-colored pigments obtained through the air-mediated oxidative melanogenesis
process can readily be deposited on insoluble mineral surfaces using an <i>in situ</i> co-precipitation procedure, 4)
The air-mediated oxidation of catecholamines leads to a binary product that
contains an insoluble, melanin-like substance and a soluble, oligo- or
polymeric substance containing unoxidized precursor units, 5) The melanogenesis
process leads to a binary product involving a non-covalently bonded combination
of dark-colored pigment and a lighter-colored or colorless substance; the
latter being understudied or ignored in the <i>in
vitro</i> or <i>in vivo</i> studies of the
melanogenesis process, 6) The kinetics of the melanogenesis process may
determine the balance between insoluble and soluble components of the binary
product generated; the slower the reaction the more dark-colored, insoluble
pigment generated, 7) One should consider the possibility of intermolecularly,
N-to-C, bonded units of catecholamines when evaluating the structure of
melanins, polydopamines, etc. and 8) There is a need for a systematic study of
the effect of amino acids (beyond just L-cysteine) and amines in general on the
melanogenesis process.</p>