The Use of Diethylaminoethyl-Cellulose Membrane Filters in a Bioassay to Quantify Melanin Synthesis

Melanins are a class of extremely insoluble granular biopolymers with a yet ill-defined chemical structure, properties which render the isolation and quantification of these molecules very difficult. Based on their strong anionic character, however, a biophysical property shared by all melanins, we have developed a method allowing total recovery of the pigment. Soluble melanin is bound and granular melanin retained by DEAE-cellulose membrane filters. This approach provides an excellent means to quantify melanin synthesis in normal human melanocytes alone and in coculture with normal human keratinocytes.