title: TRP-ing up melanophores: TRPM7, melanin synthesis, and pigment cell survival.
abstract: McNeill et al. (2007, this issue) dissect the potential role of TRPM7 ion channels in pigment cells by studying the phenotype of zebrafish trpm7 mutant embryos. They demonstrate that 1-phenyl-2-thiourea, a known melanin synthesis inhibitor, prevents melanophore cell death in these mutants. This suggests a potential functional link between TRPM7 signaling and the detoxification of melanin synthesis intermediates.
authors.affiliation: Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Aurel O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Iuga
authors.forename: Ethan A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Lerner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology; D008543:Melanins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008547:Melanophores / Q000166:cytology*; D010670:Phenylthiourea / Q000494:pharmacology; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D015398:Signal Transduction; D050053:TRPM Cation Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D015027:Zebrafish; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D008543:Melanins; D050053:TRPM Cation Channels; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; D010670:Phenylthiourea; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; C501875:Trpm7 protein, zebrafish