A trial of a method to trace metabolic pathways of nucleic acids in keratinocytes.
It is well known that furocumarins produce a photoaddition compound with DNA, RNA, and certain kinds of amino acids upon exposure to long-wave ultraviolet light (UVA). It is also well known that both psoralens and psoralen photoconjugated compounds are fluorescent. After 8-methoxypsoralen was administered systemically and subsequently activated by UVA exposure, the hair and the epidermis were taken and observed under a fluorescent light microscope. The fluorescent materials appeared to be able to trace the metabolic pathway of psoralen-conjugated compounds such as DNA, RNA, and certain kinds of amino acids. Large amounts of nuclear proteins appeared to be transformed from nuclear proteins into certain structural proteins in keratinocytes.
D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006197:Hair / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008730:Methoxsalen; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D010777:Photochemistry; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D009696:Nucleic Acids; D008730:Methoxsalen