Activation of melanogenesis by vacuolar type H(+)-ATPase inhibitors in amelanotic, tyrosinase positive human and mouse melanoma cells.

Abstract

In this study, we describe the activation of melanogenesis by selective vacuolar type H(+)-ATPase inhibitors (bafilomycin A1 and concanamycin A) in amelanotic human and mouse melanoma cells which express tyrosinase but show no melanogenesis. Addition of the inhibitors activated tyrosinase within 4 h, and by 24 h the cells contained measurable amounts of melanin. These effects were not inhibited by cycloheximide (2 microgram/ml) which is consistent with a post-translational mechanism of activation. Our findings suggest that melanosomal pH could be an important and dynamic factor in the control of melanogenesis in mammalian cells.

• Authors: J Ancans, A J Thody
• Journal: FEBS letters (FEBS Lett) Vol. 478 Issue 1-2 Pg. 57-60 (Jul 28 2000) ISSN: 0014-5793 [Print] England
• PMID: 10922469 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Enzyme Inhibitors
• Macrolides
• Melanins
• RNA, Messenger
• concanamycin A
• bafilomycin A1
• Cycloheximide
• Monophenol Monooxygenase
• Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases
• Proton-Translocating ATPases

Topics

• Animals
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (pharmacology)
• Cycloheximide (pharmacology)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Enzyme Activation (drug effects)
• Enzyme Inhibitors (pharmacology)
• Humans
• Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
• Macrolides
• Melanins (biosynthesis, metabolism)
• Melanoma (enzymology, metabolism, pathology)
• Melanosomes (drug effects, metabolism)
• Mice
• Monophenol Monooxygenase (genetics, metabolism)
• Protein Processing, Post-Translational
• Proton-Translocating ATPases (antagonists & inhibitors, metabolism)
• RNA, Messenger (genetics, metabolism)
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Time Factors
• Tumor Cells, Cultured
• Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases