title: [Inhibitory mechanism of melanin synthesis by glutathione].
abstract: Glutathione dose dependently inhibited melanin synthesis in the reaction of tyrosinase and L-DOPA. The inhibition of melanin synthesis was recovered by increasing the concentration of L-DOPA, but not recovered by increasing tyrosinase. Glutathione inhibited the binding between tyrosinase and L-DOPA. Although the synthesized melanin was aggregated within 1 h, the aggregation was inhibited by the addition of glutathione. These results indicate that glutathione inhibits the synthesis and agglutination of melanin by interrupting the function of L-DOPA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Tohoku Pharmaceutical University, Sendai, Japan.
authors.forename: Mitsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsuki
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Ayako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ogasawara
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mikami
authors.forename: Tatsuji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
mesh_terms: D000371:Agglutination; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005978:Glutathione / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007980:Levodopa; D008543:Melanins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D008543:Melanins; D007980:Levodopa; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase; D005978:Glutathione