title: Tyrosinase gene transcription and its control by melanogenic inhibitors.
abstract: The levels of tyrosinase mRNA and tyrosinase activity were analyzed in two amelanotic melanoma cell lines, D1(178) (hamster) and G-361 (human). Neither tyrosinase mRNA nor tyrosinase activity were detected in D1(178) cells. On the other hand, both tyrosinase mRNA and weak tyrosinase activity were detected in G-361 cells. Assuming that the different types of melanogenic inhibitors affected melanogenesis in these two amelanotic melanoma cells in different manners, we performed a screening of melanogenic inhibitors in these two cell lines. As an isolated tyrosinase suppressive melanogenic inhibitor, ascorbic acid and glutathione were identified from D1(178) cells and G-361 cells, respectively. Furthermore, lactic acid was identified from D1(178) cells as an isolated tyrosinase non-suppressive melanogenic inhibitor. B-16 mouse melanotic melanoma cells were depigmented by treatment with lactic acid. The melanogenesis suppression by lactic acid in B-16 cells was found to be due to inhibition of tyrosinase gene expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kobe University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suemoto
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mishima
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D006224:Cricetinae; D005978:Glutathione / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007773:Lactates / Q000494:pharmacology; D019344:Lactic Acid; D008543:Melanins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000201:enzymology; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D007773:Lactates; D008543:Melanins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019344:Lactic Acid; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase; D005978:Glutathione; D001205:Ascorbic Acid