A newly discovered pathway of melanin formation in cultured retinal pigment epithelium of cattle.
According to a recent hypothesis the melanin granules in the retinal pigment epithelium of mammals originate from photosensory membrane degradation. To test this hypothesis the retinal pigment epithelium of cattle was kept in tissue culture and exposed to gold-labelled rod outer segments. Gold granules were later detected inside phagosomes, melanosomes and mature melanin granules. Tyrosinase, the key enzyme in melanogenesis, was additionally localized inside phagosomes. These results indicate that in cultured retinal pigment epithelium the matrix of the melanosome can originate from phagosomes. Therefore, the melanosome is a specialized lysosome.
Institut für Biologie II (Zoologie), RWTH Aachen, Germany.
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Schraermeyer
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Stieve
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D002417:Cattle; D002450:Cell Communication; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D006046:Gold; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000502:physiology*; D008543:Melanins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008954:Models, Biological; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000032:analysis; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000032:analysis; D010587:Phagocytosis; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012374:Rod Cell Outer Segment / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D005136:Eye Proteins; D008543:Melanins; D006046:Gold; D009195:Peroxidase; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase