Abstract
MEASUREMENTS of tyrosinase (EC 1.10.3.1) in animals with oculocutaneous albinism have led to contradictory conclusions. Using the incorporation of 14C-DL- or L-tyrosine into melanin, one investigator found no, or questionable, activity in albino mouse skin1,2 while another3 reported very low, but significant activity in particles from albino mouse eyes treated with Triton X-100. When the production of 3HOH from 3,5-3H-L-tyrosine was used as an assay, albino hamsters4 were found to have no detectable activity, while albino rats5 were reported to have minimal, but real activity. We report clear evidence for a tyrosine hydroxylase with tyrosinase characteristics in the skin of two strains of albino hamster and one strain of albino mouse. The method used permits quantitative comparison with tyrosinase in pigmented skin. A distinct dopa oxidase is present in extracts of albino mouse.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Coleman, D. L., Arch. Biochem. Biohys., 69, 562–568 (1962).
Wolfe, H. G., and Coleman, D. L., in Biology of the laboratory mouse (edit. by Green, E. L.), 405–425 (McGraw Hill, New York, 1966).
Hearing, V., Nature new Biol., 245, 81–83 (1973).
Pomerantz, S. H., Science, 164, 838–839 (1969).
Gaudin, D., and Fellman, J. H., Biochim. biophys. Acta, 141, 64–70 (1967).
Atfield, G. N., and Morris, C. J. O. R., Biochem. J., 81, 606–614 (1961).
Pomerantz, S. H., J. biol. Chem., 238, 2351–2357 (1963).
Pomerantz, S. H., and Li, J. P.-C, Yale J. Biol. Med., 46, 541–552 (1973).
Pomerantz, S. H., and Chuang, L., Endocrinology, 87, 302–310 (1970).
Nagatsu, T., Levitt, M., and Udenfriend, S., J. biol. Chem., 239, 2910–2917 (1964).
Van Woert, M. H., Korb, B. S., and Prasod, K. N., J. Invest. Dermatol., 56, 343–348 (1971).
Witkop, C. J., in Adv. human Genetics, 2 (edit. by Harris, H., and Hirschhorn, K.), 61–142 (Plenum, New York, 1971).
Menon, I. A., and Haberman, H. F., Experientia, 27, 644–645 (1971).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
POMERANTZ, S., LI, JC. Tyrosinase in the skin of albino hamsters and mice. Nature 252, 241–243 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/252241a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/252241a0
This article is cited by
-
Tyrosinase activity in photosensitive individuals inin-vitro study
Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry (1996)
-
White Mutants in Mice Shedding Light on Humans
Journal of Investigative Dermatology (1993)
-
Chymotrypsin activation of melanosome tyrosinase in hamster melanotic melanoma
Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology (1979)
-
In vivo inhibition of the tyrosinase of hamster melanoma with sodium diethyldithiocarbamate
Experientia (1979)
-
Tyrosinase positive oculocutaneous albinism in the goldfish, Carassius auratus L., an ultrastructural and biochemical study of the eye
Cell and Tissue Research (1977)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
