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  • Stimulation of pheomelanogenesis in cultured B16 melanoma cells by 4-tertiary butylcatechol.

Stimulation of pheomelanogenesis in cultured B16 melanoma cells by 4-tertiary butylcatechol.

Biochemical pharmacology (1985-10-01)
T Kawashima, M M Halldin, K Fukuyama, N Castagnoli, G A Gellin, W L Epstein
ABSTRACT

Intermediates of pheomelanin in tissue cultured B16 melanoma cells were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography, and reduced glutathione (GSH), L-dopa, 2-[(L)-S-cysteinyl]-L-dopa (2-SCD) and 5-[(L)-S-cysteinyl]-L-dopa (5-SCD) were quantified. The effects of 4-tertiary butylcatechol (TBC), an antioxidant which causes skin depigmentation, on the levels of the intermediate were then examined. A concentration of 10(-4) M TBC increased the intracellular levels of GSH, 2-SCD and 5-SCD, whereas the L-dopa level was unchanged. The time-course of the increased intermediates corresponded to the elevation of glutathione-metabolizing enzyme activities previously reported by Kawashima et al. [J. invest. Derm. 82, 53 (1984)] in the same cell line exposed to 10(-4) M TBC. The findings establish chemical evidence that TBC stimulates pheomelanogenesis in melanocytes.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
4-tert-Butylcatechol, ≥97.0% (HPLC)
Sigma-Aldrich
4-tert-Butylcatechol, SAJ first grade, ≥98.0%
Sigma-Aldrich
4-tert-Butylcatechol, ≥99.0%