Melanoregulin regulates a shedding mechanism that drives melanosome transfer from melanocytes to keratinocytes.

ABSTRACT: Mammalian pigmentation is driven by the intercellular transfer of pigment-containing melanosomes from the tips of melanocyte dendrites to surrounding keratinocytes. Tip accumulation of melanosomes requires myosin Va, because melanosomes concentrate in the center of melanocytes from myosin Va-null (dilute) mice. This distribution defect results in inefficient melanosome transfer and a dilution of coat color. Dilute mice that simultaneously lack melanoregulin, the product of the dilute suppressor locus, exhibit a nearly complete restoration of coat color, but, surprisingly, melanosomes remain concentrated in the center of their melanocytes. Here we show that dilute/dsu melanocytes, but not dilute melanocytes, readily transfer the melanosomes concentrated in their center to surrounding kerati

SUBMITTER: Wu XS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3412008 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature