title: Regulation of mammalian melanogenesis by tyrosinase inhibition.
abstract: Melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH) specifically induces differentiation of mammalian melanocytes. To further define the biochemical events elicited by this stimulus, we have cloned murine melanoma cells which are either highly responsive or nonresponsive to MSH, and have examined their ultrastructural appearance, their melanogenic activities, and also their expression of tyrosinase. We have found that the basal levels of melanogenic activity in pigmented and nonpigmented cells correlate with expression of surface MSH receptors rather than with production of tyrosinase. Nonpigmented cells produce a potent, highly stable inhibitor of melanogenesis; this inhibitor acts directly on tyrosinase to dramatically and abruptly suppress melanin production. This posttranslational control of tyrosinase activity may represent a critical regulatory point in mammalian pigmentation.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Department, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kameyama
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jiménez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Hearing
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004156:Catechol Oxidase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D008543:Melanins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011979:Receptors, Pituitary Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D008543:Melanins; D011979:Receptors, Pituitary Hormone; C029446:MSH receptor; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones; D004156:Catechol Oxidase; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase