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Tyrosinase and related proteins in mammalian pigmentation
Author(s) -
del Marmol Véronique,
Beermann Friedrich
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(96)00109-3
Subject(s) - tyrosinase , melanin , tyrosine , biochemistry , amino acid , enzyme , chemistry , homology (biology) , biology , gene , function (biology) , genetics
Tyrosinase is the key enzyme in pigment synthesis, initiating a cascade of reactions which convert the amino acid tyrosine to the melanin biopolymer. Two other tyrosinase‐related proteins (TRP) are known, TRP‐1 (probably DHICAoxidase) and TRP‐2 (DOPAchrome tautomerase). These proteins show about 40% homology, and recent results have indicated that the genes might be derived from a common ancestor. We will discuss recent findings on genomic organization, and on the proteins and their presumed function, which is important for eumelanin synthesis in mouse and man.