earticle

영어

The pink-eyed dilution protein (P-protein or OCA2) plays a critical role in melanin synthesis in melanocytes and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. Mutation in this protein may cause complete or partial albinism. The workers claimed on bioactivities of P-protein ranges from synthesis of melanin to maturation and trafficking of the melanosome. The aim of the study is to compare the shape, size and count of melanosomes in melan-p1 and melan-a treated or not by SiRNA (siRNA for OCA2 mRNA). The above cells were examined by In vitro DOPA staining, and the melanosomes were characterized by the Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). The results suggest significant changes in melanosomal morphology and their respective numbers. We are also trying to find out the role in trafficking of melanosome by co-culture method. The study is in progress. These results suggest that the P-protein can control the synthesis melanin as well as melanosome biology. Thus, we anticipate the role of P-protein in skin pigmentation can be exploiting for the development of new class of cosmetics as mutation or deletion of this protein does not cause any pathogenic effect.