title: Demonstration of melanosome transfer by a shedding microvesicle mechanism.
abstract: The process of melanosome transfer has fascinated pigment cell biologists for decades. Whole-organelle transfer is a unique property of melanocytes, suggesting that the biologic underpinnings of the process reflect melanocyte- and keratinocyte-specific proteins and pathways. Although several mechanisms of melanosome transfer are likely to occur in the skin, Ando et al. focused on a new mechanism of melanosome transfer that involves release of melanosome-containing globules, similar to shedding vesicles into the extracellular space, followed by uptake by keratinocytes. This model adds further complexity to the process of melanosome transfer in the skin.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Dermatology and Pathology, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, New York 14618, USA. glynis_scott@urmc.rochester.edu
authors.forename: Glynis
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scott
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D020460:Melanosomes / Q000502:physiology*; D022161:Transport Vesicles / Q000502:physiology*