X-ray and Moessbauer investigation of iron-containing melanosomes

Melanosomes from bovine eyes have been studied by Moessbauer spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction as a function of temperature and of degree of hydration. The partially disordered structure of melanin is not modified by the interaction with the proteic matrix. The obtained values of indicate that high water contents stabilize the melanin structure, decreasing the amplitude of the atomic displacements. (Auth.)