Difference Between Melanin and Melatonin

Thekey differencebetween melanin and melatonin is thatmelanin is one of the major pigments found in human skin, hair and eye, while melatonin is a hormone produced by thepineal glandand plays a role in somnolence and in the regulation of the sleep-wake cycle.

Melanin and melatonin are two chemically related substances, but with many different characteristic features. Their origin, function, chemical composition and location in the human body vary widely. Hence, this article attempts to discuss the difference between melanin and melatonin.

内容

1.Overview and Key Difference
2.What is Melanin
3.What is Melatonin
4.Similarities Between Melanin and Melatonin
5.并排比较 - 黑色素与褪黑激素的表格形式
6。概括

What is Melanin?

Melanin is one of the major pigments found in human skin, which determines the skin colour. Its production occurs inmelanocyteslocated in the skin, eye, ear, hair, andcentral nervous systemof the human body. In addition to providing colour, melanin fulfils some other functions as well. Of those, the most important function is the protection of skin from solar UV radiation, which causes skin cancer in humans. Also, melanin shields the cell’s nuclei; thus, preventing DNA damage due to radiation. In addition, melanin has a role in hearing as well.

此外，人黑色素基本上还含有两种聚合物：eumelanin和pheomelanin。Eumelanin是深棕色/黑色的，其产生发生在Eumelanosomes中。苯烷酸是红色/黄色的，其产生发生在芬氏素体中。通常，一个人皮肤的最后颜色取决于产生的黑色素的类型和量以及皮肤中黑色素体的形状，大小和分布。

什么是褪黑激素？

Melatonin is a hormone produced mainly from the cells in the gastrointestinal tract, retina, and pineal gland. Melatonin is responsible for maintaining sleep-wake cycles, biological rhythms, and the modulation and inhibition of melanin synthesis. In addition, melatonin can repair damaged cells by stress and disease, and stop the secretion of MSH and ACTH hormones. Most importantly, melatonin is an antioxidant. It can destroy microorganisms by acting as a disease-fighting hormone.

褪黑激素是一种最惠ex molecules in the brain, liver, intestines, blood, and muscles. Melatonin originates from tryptophan, and catecholamines stimulate the synthesis and secretion of melatonin.

What are the Similarities Between Melanin and Melatonin?

• 褪黑激素和黑色素是活生物体中存在的两种物质。
• Amino acids produce both these substances.

What is the Difference Between Melanin and Melatonin?

The key difference between melanin and melatonin is that melanin is a pigment produced by tyrosine while melatonin is a hormone produced by tryptophan. Melanin provides skin colour and involves in photoprotection and hearing. On the other hand, melatonin has a major role in the modulation of the synthesis of melanin, maintaining the sleep-wake cycle and biological rhythms in the body. So, this is also a significant difference between melanin and melatonin.

此外，黑色素和褪黑激素之间的进一步差异是它们的合成。黑色素合成发生在黑素细胞中发现的黑素体中，而褪黑激素合成发生在胃肠道，视网膜和松果体的细胞中。此外，黑色素存在于皮肤，眼睛，耳朵，头发和中枢神经系统中，而褪黑激素存在于大脑，肝脏，肠，血液和肌肉中。

概括– Melanin vs Melatonin

In brief, melanin and melatonin are two chemicals present in our body. Melanin is a pigment while melatonin is a hormone while amino acids are the precursor of both these molecules. Furthermore, melanin is a polymer while melatonin is not a polymer. Melanin is responsible for providing skin colour, photoprotection, and involves in hearing. On the other hand, melatonin is responsible for modulation of the synthesis of melanin, maintaining the sleep-wake cycle and biological rhythms in the body. Thus, this summarizes the difference between melanin and melatonin.

Reference:

1. “Melanin.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database, U.S. National Library of Medicine,Available here.
2. “Melatonin.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database, U.S. National Library of Medicine,Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Melanin” By ClickChemist – Own work(CC BY-SA 4.0)viaCommons Wikimedia
2. “Melatonin-structure” By[电子邮件保护]– Own work (Public Domain) viaCommons Wikimedia