Orange-hued hair may shield cells by balancing cysteine, study finds
New research shows the orange-red pigment pheomelanin, which creates orange hair in humans and birds, may protect health by lowering excess cysteine in cells, reducing potential damage. In a zebra finch experiment, birds given cysteine alongside a blocker of pheomelanin synthesis (ML349) showed more cellular damage, while pheomelanin production helped balance cysteine levels. This provides the first experimental evidence of a physiological role for pheomelanin and may shed light on melanoma risk factors linked to pheomelanin-related traits.