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Query: EC:1.10.3.1 (
tyrosinase
)
9,065
document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)
In human and mouse, cAMP plays a key role in the control of pigmentation. cAMP, through the activation of protein kinase A, increases the expression of
microphthalmia-associated transcription factor
(
MITF
), which in turn stimulates
tyrosinase
gene expression, to allow melanin synthesis. Beyond this simplified scheme, cAMP inhibits phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), and inhibition of PI3K, by a specific inhibitor, stimulates melanogenesis. However, the link between the PI3K pathway and melanogenesis remained to be elucidated. In this report, we showed that cAMP, through a protein kinase A-independent mechanism, led to inhibition of AKT phosphorylation and activity. Consistent with the role of AKT in the regulation of glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK3beta), cAMP decreased the phosphorylation of GSK3beta and stimulated its activity. Further, experiments were performed to investigate the role of GSK3beta in the regulation of
MITF
expression and function. We observed that GSK3beta regulated neither
MITF
promoter activity nor the intrinsic transcriptional activity of
MITF
but synergized with
MITF
to activate the
tyrosinase
promoter. Additionally, lithium, a GSK3beta inhibitor, impaired the response of the
tyrosinase
promoter to cAMP, and cAMP increased the binding of
MITF
to the M-box. Taking into account that GSK3beta phosphorylates
MITF
and increases the ability of
MITF
to bind its target sequence, our results indicate that activation of GSK3beta by cAMP facilitates
MITF
binding to the
tyrosinase
promoter, thereby leading to stimulation of melanogenesis.
...
PMID:Glycogen synthase kinase 3beta is activated by cAMP and plays an active role in the regulation of melanogenesis. 1209 1
Analysis of the nucleotide sequence of human melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) promoter indicated that an E-box (CANNTG) is present immediately upstream of the transcriptional initiation site. The presence of the CATGTG motif suggests that MC1R gene expression may be regulated by a basic helix-loop-helix-leucine-zipper (bHLH-LZ) type transcription factor. The
microphthalmia-associated transcription factor
(
MITF
), which belongs to the family of bHLH-LZ type transcription factors, regulates the transcription of melanogenesis-related enzyme genes such as the
tyrosinase
and TRP-1 genes. We investigated whether
MITF
regulates human MC1R gene expression through the same transcriptional mechanism as
tyrosinase
and TRP-1 genes in melanocytes. For this purpose, the effect of co-expression of cDNA encoding
MITF
on MC1R promoter activity in NIH/3T3 cells was studied. MC1R promoter activity was induced to the extent of approximately 5-fold in the presence of
MITF
. In addition, electrophoretic mobility shift assay indicated that nuclear extracts of human SK-Mel-2 cells contain a protein that binds specifically to the MC1R promoter region containing the CATGTG motif. These results suggested that
MITF
regulates not only the expression of enzymes involved in melanin synthesis, but also the expression of a receptor which plays an essential role in melanocyte functions.
...
PMID:Involvement of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) in expression of human melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R). 1220 75
The effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on the differentiation of immature melanocyte precursors were studied. The NCC-/melb4 cell line is an immature melanocyte cell line established from mouse neural crest cells. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 inhibited the growth of NCC-/melb4 cells at concentrations higher than 10(-8) m. That growth inhibition was accompanied by the induction of
tyrosinase
and a change in L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine reactivity from negative to positive. Electron microscopy demonstrated that melanosomes were in more advanced stages after 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 treatment. In primary cultures of murine neural crest cells, L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine-positive cells were increased after 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 treatment. These findings indicate that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 stimulates the differentiation of immature melanocyte precursors. Moreover, immunostaining and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that endothelin B receptor expression was induced in NCC-/melb4 cells following treatment with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. The induction of endothelin B receptor by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 was also demonstrated in neural crest cell primary cultures, but not in mature melanocytes. The expression of
microphthalmia-associated transcription factor
was induced in NCC-/melb4 cells treated with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and endothelin 3, but not by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 alone, suggesting that endothelin 3 may stimulate the expression of the
microphthalmia-associated transcription factor
gene after binding to the endothelin B receptor induced by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. These findings suggest a regulatory role for vitamin D3 in melanocyte development and melanogenesis, and may also explain the working mechanism of vitamin D3 in the treatment of vitiligo.
...
PMID:Differentiation of murine melanocyte precursors induced by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 is associated with the stimulation of endothelin B receptor expression. 1223 Apr 99
The
microphthalmia-associated transcription factor
is implicated in melanocyte development and in the regulation of melanogenesis.
Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor
is thought to bind to the M-box promoter elements of
tyrosinase
, tyrosinase-related protein-1 and dopachrome tautomerase/tyrosinase-related protein-2 and transactivate these genes, resulting in increased pigmentation. Using a luciferase reporter construct driven by the
microphthalmia-associated transcription factor
promoter, we identified agents that modulate
microphthalmia-associated transcription factor
promoter activity. Changes in endogenous
microphthalmia-associated transcription factor
expression levels upon treatment with these agents were confirmed using northern and western blots, and their pigmentary modulating activities were demonstrated. Ultraviolet B irradiation and traditional Chinese medicine-1, a natural extract used in traditional Chinese medicine, upregulated
microphthalmia-associated transcription factor
gene expression and enhanced
tyrosinase
activity in vitro. Dihydrolipoic acid, lipoic acid, and resveratrol reduced
microphthalmia-associated transcription factor
and
tyrosinase
promoter activities. These agents also inhibited the forskolin- and ultraviolet B-stimulated promoter activities of these genes and significantly reduced
tyrosinase
activity in melanocyte cultures, resulting in depigmentation. Overexpressed
microphthalmia-associated transcription factor
was capable of rescuing the repressive effects of these compounds on the cotransfected
tyrosinase
promoter. Dark-skinned Yucatan swine treated with these agents showed visible skin lightening, which was confirmed histologically, whereas ultraviolet B-induced tanning of light-skinned swine was inhibited using these agents. Our findings suggest that modulation of
microphthalmia-associated transcription factor
expression can alter skin pigmentation and further confirm the central role of
microphthalmia-associated transcription factor
in melanogenesis.
...
PMID:Modulation of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor gene expression alters skin pigmentation. 1248 19
In this study, we used melb-a melanoblasts as a model to study mechanisms involved in stimulating melanocyte function in vitiliginous skin following exposure to 8-methoxypsoralen (8MOP). Melanin content and
tyrosinase
activity increased 3- and 7-fold, respectively, in melanoblasts treated with 8MOP for 6 d compared with untreated controls. The intracellular signal pathways involved in 8MOP-induced effects on melanoblasts were investigated, particularly the roles of protein kinase A and protein kinase C. Forskolin, a protein kinase A activator, mimicked and enhanced the 8MOP stimulation of melanoblast pigmentation whereas a protein kinase C activator, 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol, had no effect, indicating that the protein kinase A pathway is involved rather than the protein kinase C pathway. Those observations were confirmed using inhibitors of the protein kinase A or protein kinase C pathways. Western blot and semiquantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction were performed to assess the protein and mRNA expression levels of
microphthalmia-associated transcription factor
and
tyrosinase
in melanoblasts treated with 8MOP for 3 h, 6 h, 1 d, 3 d, or 6 d. Incubation with 8MOP stimulated
microphthalmia-associated transcription factor
protein and mRNA levels within 3 h, but, in contrast, tyrosinase mRNA and protein levels did not increase following 8MOP treatment until 1 d after treatment. The proteasome inhibitor lactacystin blocked the proteasome-mediated proteolysis of
tyrosinase
, and its effect on proteasomal function was enhanced by 8MOP. Taken together, these results show that 8MOP functions by initially stimulating levels of
microphthalmia-associated transcription factor
expression via activation of the protein kinase A pathway, which thereby stimulates
tyrosinase
expression and function and eventually leads to dramatic increases in melanin production by melanoblasts.
...
PMID:Stimulation of melanoblast pigmentation by 8-methoxypsoralen:the involvement of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, the protein kinase a signal pathway, and proteasome-mediated degradation. 1248 19
Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) has emerged as a bioactive lipid modulator that mediates a variety of cell functions. However, the effects of S1P on melanogenesis are not well known. Therefore, we investigated the actions of S1P on melanin synthesis using a spontaneously immortalized mouse melanocyte cell line, Mel-Ab. This study shows that S1P significantly inhibits melanin synthesis in a concentration-dependent manner, and also that the activity of
tyrosinase
was reduced in S1P-treated cells. In contrast, a specific extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) pathway inhibitor, PD98059, increased
tyrosinase
activity and melanin production, and PD98059 also restored the S1P-induced reduction of
tyrosinase
activity and pigmentation. In addition, we found that S1P induces the sustained activation of ERK and the subsequent degradation of
microphthalmia-associated transcription factor
(
MITF
), which plays a key role in melanogenesis. Thus, we further studied the relationship between the ERK pathway and melanin synthesis. PD98059 was found to prevent the S1P-induced
MITF
phosphorylation and degradation and to abrogate the S1P-induced downregulation of
tyrosinase
and of tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP1) production. These results indicate that the ERK pathway is potently involved in the melanogenic signaling cascade, and that S1P-induced ERK activation contributes to reduced melanin synthesis via
MITF
degradation. Therefore, we suggest that S1P reduces melanin synthesis by ERK activation,
MITF
phosphorylation and degradation, and by the subsequent downregulation of
tyrosinase
and TRP-1 production.
...
PMID:Sphingosine-1-phosphate decreases melanin synthesis via sustained ERK activation and subsequent MITF degradation. 1266 51
Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor
(
MITF
) plays a pivotal role in melanocyte survival and differentiation. Nevertheless, until now it has not been possible to show that
MITF
regulates the expression of the endogenous
tyrosinase
or Tyrp1. Further, a direct involvement of
MITF
in the regulation of melanin synthesis, a key parameter of melanocyte differentiation, remains to be demonstrated. In the present report, using recombinant adenovirus encoding the wild-type or a dominant negative form of
MITF
, as well as stable cell lines expressing tetracycline inducible wild-type
MITF
, we reassessed the role of
MITF
in melanocyte differentiation and in the regulation of melanin synthesis. Immunofluorescence studies, as well as Western blot analyses, show that infection of B16 mouse melanoma cells or human melanocytes with adenovirus encoding wild-type
MITF
does not increase the expression of the endogenous melanogenic enzymes. However, infection with the
MITF
dominant negative mutant inhibits the expression of endogenous
tyrosinase
and Tyrp1 proteins and blocks cAMP-induced melanin synthesis. Thus,
MITF
is required but does not seem to be sufficient to induce the expression of melanogenic enzymes and we show for the first time a direct involvement of
MITF
in the regulation of melanin pigment synthesis. As a whole, our data point to the existence of still unknown regulatory mechanisms that co-operate or synergize with
MITF
to control melanogenic gene expression and melanin synthesis. The identification of such mechanisms will greatly improve our understanding of the melanocyte differentiation processes.
...
PMID:Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) is required but is not sufficient to induce the expression of melanogenic genes. 1285 21
The teleost Xiphophorus provides a genetically well-described model system to study the molecular processes underlying melanoma formation. As transcriptional deregulation is a widespread phenomenon in many tumors, we have studied the regulation of melanoma-specific gene expression in this fish. A central regulator of melanocyte specific gene expression, which is also a marker for melanomas, is the transcription factor
microphthalmia-associated transcription factor
(
MITF
). One of its targets, the
tyrosinase
gene, codes for a key enzyme in the melanin synthesis pathway. We could show that the promoter of the medaka
tyrosinase
gene is highly active in the Xiphophorus melanoma cell line PSM (platyfish-swordtail melanoma) but not in non-melanoma cells. Functional dissection of the promoter revealed that three E-boxes are essential for its pigment cell-specific activity. These binding sites for basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors are recognized by a nuclear protein from the melanoma cell line PSM, most likely
MITF
, as its exogenous delivery could activate the promoter in non-melanoma cells. The use of specific signalling inhibitors demonstrated that the activity of the
tyrosinase
promoter is negatively regulated by the melanoma-inducing receptor tyrosine kinase Xmrk in PSM cells. This repression is mediated by MAPkinase and dependent on E-box integrity, again implicating the involvement of
MITF
. The cumulative evidence indicates that in Xiphophorus, Xmrk suppresses differentiation signals relayed by
MITF
as part of the transformation process finally resulting in melanoma formation.
...
PMID:MITF-M plays an essential role in transcriptional activation and signal transduction in Xiphophorus melanoma. 1459 95
As lysosphingolipids have multiple bio-modulator functions in various types of cells, we measured the biological effects of sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) on cultured human melanocytes to determine whether these lysosphingolipids have the potential to activate these cells. The addition of SPC to cultured human melanocytes significantly stimulated DNA synthesis assessed by [3H]thymidine and melanogenesis assessed by the release of [3H]H2O (
tyrosinase
activity), the incorporation of [14C]thiouracil (melanin synthesis) and dopa-oxidase activity. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction of RNA isolated from human melanocytes exposed to SPC revealed an upregulation of mRNA transcripts for
tyrosinase
,
microphthalmia-associated transcription factor
-M, endothelin B receptor and the stem cell factor receptor, c-kit. An increase in expression of
tyrosinase
and c-kit proteins was also demonstrated by Western blot analysis. This stimulation of melanogenesis by SPC was associated with a marked increase in the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2. These results suggest that SPC may be a melanogenic stimulator of human melanocytes inducing the coordinated upregulated expression of various melanogenic molecules, including c-kit.
...
PMID:Sphingosylphosphorylcholine is a Melanogenic Stimulator for Human Melanocytes. 1462 25
The
microphthalmia-associated transcription factor
(
Mitf
) is a basic-helix-loop-helix-leucine zipper (bHLH-ZIP) transcription factor essential for the development and function of all melanin-producing pigment cells in vertebrates. To elucidate the evolutionary history of
Mitf
and the antiquity of its association with pigment cells, we have isolated and characterized HrMitf, a sole member of the
Mitf
-TFE bHLH-ZIP subfamily in the ascidian Halocynthia roretzi. Maternal HrMitf mRNA is detected in the fertilized egg and in the animal hemisphere from 4-cell stage through the gastrula stage. From the neurula through the early tailbud stage, HrMitf is preferentially expressed in the pigment-lineage cells that express the lineage-specific melanogenesis genes
tyrosinase
(HrTyr) and Tyrp. Overexpression of HrMitf induced ectopic expression of HrTyr enzyme activity in mesenchymal cells where the same enzyme activity was induced by overexpression of HrPax3/7, suggesting that a part(s) of the Pax3-
Mitf
-
tyrosinase
gene regulatory cascade seen in vertebrate melanocytes is operative during ascidian embryogenesis. We also show HrMitf and mouse
Mitf
-A, a
Mitf
isoform abundantly expressed in pigmented epithelial cells, share similar functional characteristics. These results suggest antiquity of the association of the
Mitf
-TFE subfamily with pigment cells and may support the idea that acquisition of multiple promoters (isoforms) by an ancestral
Mitf
gene has allowed the evolution of multiple pigment cell types.
...
PMID:Cloning and functional analysis of ascidian Mitf in vivo: insights into the origin of vertebrate pigment cells. 1465 21
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