title: Pathogenesis of the platinum (cp) mutation, a model for oculocutaneous albinism.
abstract: The platinum mutation at the C (albino) locus in the mouse is a potential model for oculocutaneous albinism in humans other than type IA (tyrosinase-negative) albinism. Although tissues from mice homozygous for the mutation display substantial tyrosinase activity, cutaneous and ocular pigmentation is severely restricted in affected animals. Using specific antipeptide antisera, we demonstrate that ocular extracts from wild-type mice contain two isoforms of tyrosinase bearing either the amino-terminal PEP5 epitope or the carboxy-terminal PEP7 epitope. The latter isoform participates in a high-molecular-weight complex detectable on sucrose density gradients. In platinum mice, antiserum to the PEP7 epitope fails to recognize any protein species, and the high-molecular-weight form of tyrosinase is not detectable. Our results support a key role for this high-molecular-weight complex in melanogenesis, and suggest that mutations that interfere with the ability of tyrosinase to participate in a multimeric complex may be a cause of oculocutaneous albinism in people.
authors.affiliation: Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, New York University School of Medicine, NY 10016.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Orlow
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lamoreux
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pifko-Hirst
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D016115:Albinism, Oculocutaneous / Q000209:etiology*; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000939:Epitopes; D005123:Eye / Q000737:chemistry; D015151:Immunoblotting; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases; D007535:Isomerases / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains / Q000276:immunology; D008970:Molecular Weight; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D010984:Platinum / Q000502:physiology*; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D014020:Tissue Extracts; D010984:Platinum; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase; D007535:Isomerases; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases; C042501:dopachrome isomerase