What is the precursor of melanin?

Tyrosine and phenylalanine were found to be the main melanin precursors: about 64.5% of total melanin labeling was due to tyrosine incorporation and 27.4% to phenylalanine incorporation.Click to see full answer. People also ask, where does melanin originate from?The melanin in the skin is produced by melanocytes, which are found in the basal layer of the epidermis.Subsequently, question is, what is melanin synthesis? Melanin is produced by melanocytes situated in the basal layer of the epidermis. Both types of melanin are synthesized from tyrosine by hydroxylation to dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) and subsequent oxidation to dopaquinone, both reactions are catalyzed by the enzyme tyrosinase, which is the rate limiting step. Also know, how can I increase melanin in my skin? There aren’t any studies that prove vitamin C increases melanin production. However, anecdotal evidence suggests vitamin C might increase melanin levels. Eating vitamin C–rich foods like citrus, berries, and leafy green vegetables may optimize melanin production. Taking a vitamin C supplement may help as well.What race has the most melanin?African and Indian skin had the highest total amount of melanin in the epidermis (t-test; P < 0.001), with no significant differ- ence between them.