Premium
Tyrosinase: a developmentally specific major determinant of peripheral dopamine
Author(s) -
Eisenhofer Graeme,
Tian Hua,
Holmes Courtney,
Matsunaga Jun,
Roffler-Tarlov Suzanne,
Hearing Vincent J.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fj.02-0736com
Subject(s) - tyrosinase , dopamine , melanin , tyrosine hydroxylase , endocrinology , medicine , catecholamine , dopaminergic , tyrosine , chemistry , biology , enzyme , biochemistry
L‐3,4‐dihydroxyphenylalanine, the immediate precursor of dopamine, can be formed by two enzymes: tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in catecholamine‐producing neurons and chromaffin cells and tyrosinase in melanocytes. In this study we examined whether tyrosinase contributes to production of dopamine. Deficiency of TH caused marked reductions in norepinephrine in albino and pigmented 15‐day‐old mice. In contrast, peripheral levels of dopamine were reduced only in albino TH‐deficient mice and were higher in pigmented than in albino mice, regardless of the presence or absence of TH. We next examined age‐related changes in dopamine and cutaneous expression of tyrosinase and melanin in albino and pigmented TH wild‐type mice. We found that the differences in peripheral dopamine between pigmented and albino mice disappeared with advancing age following changes in expression and function of tyrosinase. In young animals, tyrosinase was present in epidermis but did not produce detectable melanin. With advancing age, tyrosinase was localized only around hair follicles, melanin synthesis became more pronounced, and dopamine synthesis decreased. The data reveal a previously unrecognized TH‐independent major pathway of peripheral dopamine synthesis in young, but not adult, mice. The transient nature of this source of dopamine reflects a developmental switch in tyrosinase‐dependent production of dopamine to production of melanin.—Eisenhofer, G., Tian, H., Holmes, C., Matsunaga, J., Roffler‐Tarlov, S., Hearing, V.J. Tyrosinase: a developmentally specific major determinant of peripheral dopamine. FASEB J. 17, 1248–1255 (2003)