Novel screening method for potential skin-whitening compounds by a luciferase reporter assay.
Measurement of the melanin content by using B16 melanoma cells is generally applied to find novel skin-whitening agents. However, this measurement method using B16 melanoma cells has such disadvantages, as the time taken, its sensitivity, and troublesomeness. We therefore attempted in the present study to establish a reporter assay system by measuring the tyrosinase promoter activity to use for convenient, high-throughput screening of new melanogenesis inhibitors. We first confirmed the validity of this reporter assay system by using such known skin-whitening agents, as arbutin, sulforaphane, and theaflavin 3,3'-digallate. We then compared the effect of 56 compounds on the tyrosinase promoter activity to test this reporter assay system. Carnosol, and rottlerin strongly inhibited the tyrosinase promoter activity. Moreover, carnosol and rottlerin decreased melanin synthesis and tyrosinase expression in a dose-dependent manner when using B16 melanoma cells. These results indicate this new luciferase reported assay system to be an effective and convenient method for screening potential skin-whitening compounds.
Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Agriculture and Engineering, University of Miyazaki, Japan.
Ichiro
I
Shirasugi
Yoichi
Y
Sakakibara
Masao
M
Yamasaki
Kazuo
K
Nishiyama
Takashi
T
Matsui
Ming-Cheh
MC
Liu
Masahito
M
Suiko
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D057886:Bleaching Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods; D057166:High-Throughput Screening Assays / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008156:Luciferases; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000235:genetics; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects*
D057886:Bleaching Agents; D008156:Luciferases; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase