Editing Melanin (section)

=== Neuromelanin ===
{{main|Neuromelanin}}

Neuromelanin (NM) is an insoluble polymer pigment produced in specific populations of [[Catecholaminergic|catecholaminergic neurons]] in the brain. Humans have the largest amount of NM, which is present in lesser amounts in other primates, and totally absent in many other species.<ref>{{Cite journal |vauthors=Fedorow H, Tribl F, Halliday G, Gerlach M, Riederer P, Double KL |year=2005 |title=Neuromelanin in human dopamine neurons: comparison with peripheral melanins and relevance to Parkinson's disease |journal=Prog Neurobiol |volume=75 |issue=2 |pages=109–124 |doi=10.1016/j.pneurobio.2005.02.001 |pmid=15784302 |s2cid=503902}}</ref> The biological function remains unknown, although human NM has been shown to efficiently bind [[transition metals]] such as iron, as well as other potentially toxic molecules. Therefore, it may play crucial roles in [[apoptosis]] and the related [[Parkinson's disease]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Double KL |year=2006 |title=Functional effects of neuromelanin and synthetic melanin in model systems |journal=J Neural Transm |volume=113 |issue=6 |pages=751–756 |doi=10.1007/s00702-006-0450-5 |pmid=16755379 |s2cid=23096297}}</ref>