pheomelanin

American  

[fee-oh-mel-uh-nin] / ˌfi oʊˈmɛl ə nɪn /

especially British, phaeomelanin

noun

Biochemistry.

1. a melanin pigment produced in the presence of the amino acid cysteine and adding color to skin, hair, feathers, etc.

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Etymology

Origin of pheomelanin

First recorded in 1920–25; pheo- (from Greek phaiós “gray”) + melanin ( def. )

Example Sentences

Skin color also varies with the kind of pigments: Melanosomes may contain mixtures of a brown-black called eumelanin and a yellow-red called pheomelanin.

From New York Times • Oct. 12, 2017

Eumelanin exists as black and brown, whereas pheomelanin provides a red color.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013