Dipeptides Inhibit Melanin Synthesis in Mel-Ab Cells through Down-Regulation of Tyrosinase.
This study investigated the effects of proline-serine (PS) and valine-serine (VS) dipeptides on melanogenesis in Mel-Ab cells. Proline-serine and VS significantly inhibited melanin synthesis in a concentration-dependent manner, though neither dipeptide directly inhibited tyrosinase activity in a cell-free system. Both PS and VS down-regulated the expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) and tyrosinase. In a follow-up study also described here, the effects of these dipeptides on melanogenesis-related signal transduction were quantified. Specifically, PS and VS induced ERK phosphorylation, though they had no effect on phosphorylation of the cAMP response element binding protein (CREB). These data suggest that PS and VS inhibit melanogenesis through ERK phosphorylation and subsequent down-regulation of MITF and tyrosinase. Properties of these dipeptides are compatible with application as skin-whitening agents.
Department of Biochemistry, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul 156-756, Korea.
Hyun-E
HE
Lee
Eun-Hyun
EH
Kim
Hye-Ryung
HR
Choi
Uy Dong
UD
Sohn
Hye-Young
HY
Yun
Kwang Jin
KJ
Baek
Nyoun Soo
NS
Kwon
Kyoung-Chan
KC
Park
Dong-Seok
DS
Kim