Specific incorporation of 4-S-cysteinylphenol into human melanoma cells.

Abstract

The incorporation of 4-S-cysteinylphenol (4-S-CP), a tyrosine analog, into malignant melanoma cells was evaluated. 4-S-CP was specifically incorporated into the melanotic melanoma cells (HMV-II), which have activity for melanin synthesis, but was scarcely incorporated into HeLA S3 or HMV-I cells, which have no activity for melanin synthesis. Electron microscopic autoradiography revealed that the intracellular localization of 4-S-CP was closely correlated with melanogenesis and that 4-S-CP served as an initial substrate for tyrosinase and was utilized in melanin synthesis. On the basis of these findings we hypothesize that tyrosinase is required for intracellular incorporation of 4-S-CP. This specific incorporation of 4-S-CP into melanoma cells should be useful in the development of an effective procedure for chemotherapy of malignant melanomas and in analysis of melanin synthesis.

• Authors: T Nakamura, S Seki, O Matsubara, S Ito, T Kasuga
• Journal: The Journal of investigative dermatology (J Invest Dermatol) Vol. 90 Issue 5 Pg. 725-8 (May 1988) ISSN: 0022-202X [Print] United States
• PMID: 3361142 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• 4-S-cysteinylphenol
• Cysteine

Topics

• Autoradiography
• Cysteine (analogs & derivatives, metabolism)
• Humans
• Melanoma (metabolism, pathology, ultrastructure)
• Microscopy, Electron
• Time Factors
• Tumor Cells, Cultured