5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid is incorporated in mammalian melanin

The role of 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (DHICA) in the biosynthesis of melanins has been studied by using the incorporation of specifically radiolabelled melanogenic precursors into melanins formed by melanocytes growing in vitro and in vivo. Extracts of mouse melanocytes and intact viable...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biochemical journal 1992-09, Vol.286 (2), p.491-495
Main Authors: TSUKAMOTO, K, PALUMBO, A, D'ISCHIA, M, HEARING, V. J, PROTA, G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Cell Line
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Heterocyclic compounds, pigments
Indoles - metabolism
Melanins - metabolism
Melanocytes - metabolism
Melanoma
Mice
Miscellaneous
Other biological molecules
Tumor Cells, Cultured
Tyrosine - metabolism
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Summary:The role of 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (DHICA) in the biosynthesis of melanins has been studied by using the incorporation of specifically radiolabelled melanogenic precursors into melanins formed by melanocytes growing in vitro and in vivo. Extracts of mouse melanocytes and intact viable melanocytes were found to incorporate into melanin from 25% to more than 60% of [1-14C]tyrosine. Melanins from melanoma tumours grown in mice were radiolabelled with 3,4-dihydroxy[1-14C]phenylalanine, purified and chemoselectively decarboxylated. Determination of the 14CO2 evolved showed that at least 20% of the precursor incorporated in vivo retains the label in the form of non-aminoacidic aromatic-type carboxyl groups. These results provide the first unambiguous demonstration that DHICA is incorporated in physiologically relevant amounts in mammalian melanins.
ISSN:0264-6021
1470-8728
DOI:10.1042/bj2860491