Measurement of Melanin Metabolism in Live Cells by [U-¹³C]-L-Tyrosine Fate Tracing Using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.

ABSTRACT: Melanin synthesis occurs within a specialized organelle called the melanosome. Traditional methods for measuring melanin levels rely on the detection of chemical degradation products of melanin by high-performance liquid chromatography. Although these methods are robust, they are unable to distinguish between melanin synthesis and degradation and are best suited to measure melanin changes over long periods of time. We developed a method that actively measures both eumelanin and pheomelanin synthesis by fate tracing [U-¹³C] L-tyrosine using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Using this method, we confirmed the previous reports of the differences in melanin synthesis between melanocytes derived from individuals with different skin colors and MC1R genotype and uncovered new i

SUBMITTER: Chen Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8830938 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature