Control of Melanogenesis In the Human Epidermis by the Redox-Status of Tetrahydrobiopterins
Activity of tyrosinase directly controls melanogenesis in the human epidermis. Recently, it has been shown that the biosynthesis and recycling of (6R)L-erythro 5,6,7,8 tetrahydrobiopterin (6-BH4) plays a central role in regulating the supply of L-tyrosine, the substrate for tyrosinase. In this repor...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
De Gruyter
1995-08-01
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| Series: | Pteridines |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1515/pteridines.1995.6.3.101 |
| Summary: | Activity of tyrosinase directly controls melanogenesis in the human epidermis. Recently, it has been shown that the biosynthesis and recycling of (6R)L-erythro 5,6,7,8 tetrahydrobiopterin (6-BH4) plays a central role in regulating the supply of L-tyrosine, the substrate for tyrosinase. In this report, we present evidence that 6-BH4 and other tetrahydropterins, have the capacity to regulate tyrosinase activity directly by a specific uncompetitive mechanism. This fine control of tyrosinase activity/melanogenesis in the human epiidermis depends on the redox equilibrium 6-BH4 ↔ dihydropterin ↔ 6-biopterin. The accumulation of 6-biopterin is cytotoxic to normal human melanocytes. |
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| ISSN: | 0933-4807 2195-4720 |