Molecular mechanism for catalysis by a new zinc-enzyme, dopachrome tautomerase.

Dopachrome tautomerase (DCT; EC 5.3.3.12) catalyses the conversion of L-dopachrome into 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid in the mammalian eumelanogenic biosynthetic pathway. This enzyme, also named TRP2, belongs to a family of three metalloenzymes termed the tyrosinase-related proteins (TRPs). It is well known that tyrosinase has copper in its active site. However, the nature of the metal ion in the active site of DCT is under discussion. Whereas theoretical predictions based on similarity between the protein sequences of the TRPs suggest the presence of copper, the different inhibition pattern of DCT with some metal chelators compared with that of tyrosinase suggests that the nature of the metal ion could differ. Direct estimations of the metal content in purified DCT preparations show the presence of around 1.5 Zn atoms/molecule and the absence of copper. Apoenzyme preparation by treatment of DCT with cyanide or o-phenanthroline followed by reconstitution experiments of tautomerase activity in the presence of different ions confirmed that the metal cofactor for the DCT active site is zinc. Our results are consistent with Zn2+ chelation by the highly conserved histidine residues homologous to the histidines at the classical copper-binding sites in tyrosinase. This finding accounts for the reaction catalysed by DCT, i.e. a tautomerization, versus the copper-mediated oxidations catalysed by tyrosinase. Based on the predicted tetrahedrical coordination of the zinc ions in the enzyme active site, a molecular mechanism for the catalysis of L-dopachrome tautomerization is proposed. From the present data, the existence of additional ligands for metal ions other than zinc in the DCT molecule, such as the proposed cysteine iron-binding sites, cannot be completely ruled out. However, if such sites exist, they could be subsidiary binding sites, whose function would be likely to stabilize the protein.

Alpha-MSH and other melanogenic activators mediate opposite effects on tyrosinase and dopachrome tautomerase in B16/F10 mouse melanoma cells.

alpha-MSH was found to decrease the recently characterized dopachrome tautomerase activity in cultures of B16/F10 mouse melanoma cells. Other stimulating agents of melanogenesis, like dibutyryl cyclic AMP, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, theophylline, retinol, and retinoic acid, caused the same effect. The grade of inhibition depended on the nature of the agent and the time of exposure. In all cases, both melanin production and tyrosinase activity were activated by these treatments, although the grade of tyrosine hydroxylase and dopa oxidase stimulation was different. Moreover, no correlation among the intensities of dopachrome tautomerase inhibition and tyrosinase activation by the tested agents could be obtained. The significance of these results in the regulation of mammalian melanogenesis is discussed.

Inhibition by analogues of L-tyrosine transport by B16/F10 melanoma cells.

The effect of a number of L-tyrosine (L-Tyr) analogues on L-Tyr uptake by B16/F10 malignant melanocytes is reported. This amino acid can be taken up by two of the most ubiquitous transport systems found in animals cells, L and presumably ASC. L-Tyr analogues devoid of the amino group, like p-hydroxyphenyl pyruvic acid and related compounds, and L-Tyr analogues devoid of the carboxyl group, such as tyramine, do not affect L-Tyr uptake. The other aromatic amino acids, L-Phe and L-Trp, and the L-Tyr analogues DL-m-Tyr, L-diiodotyrosine and L-dopa, strongly inhibit the uptake of L-Tyr. This suggests that these chemicals are transported more efficiently than L-Tyr. The ASC system does not show stereospecificity, but the L system has greater affinity for L-Tyr than for D-Tyr. The ASC system also has greater affinity for tyrosine isomers with the hydroxyl group in the ortho and meta positions. The presence of a methyl group at the alpha-carbon of L-Tyr and L-dopa also increases the affinity of the ASC system for these agents. In contrast, alpha-methylation decreases the affinity of the L system in comparison to L-Tyr. Finally, L-Tyr esters do not inhibit, but stimulate the transport of L-Tyr, mainly by the ASC system.

Transport of L-tyrosine by B16/F10 malignant melanocytes: characterization of the process.

The main characteristics of L-tyrosine (L-Tyr) uptake by B16/F10 malignant melanocytes are reported. This amino acid can be taken up by two systems, both of them being saturable. The first one would be system L. This system can be studied in cells preloaded with amino acids that are a good substrate for system L, such as L-methionine or L-tryptophan. The kinetic parameters for L-Tyr uptake by this transport system are Vm = 6.5 pmol L-Tyr/10(3) cells.min and Km around 130 microM. The second system, probably the system ASC, shows lower capacity but higher affinity than the former. This system can be detected only in cells previously depleted of amino acids, showing approximate kinetic values of Vm 0.05 pmol L-Tyr/10(3) cells.min and Km around 5 microM. It is shown that the increase in cell density yields a decrease in the rate of L-Tyr uptake by system L, but this increase does not affect the high affinity system, alpha-MSH does not affect significantly the L-Tyr uptake by both systems. 2-Amino bicyclo-(2,2,1)-heptane-2-carboxylic acid produces a remarkable inhibition of the rate of L-Tyr uptake, but alpha-methylaminoisobutyric acid does not affect the rate of transport of this amino acid. The absence of sodium produces a slight but reliable decrease in the rate of L-Tyr uptake, supporting the involvement of two different transport systems. The ionophores monensin and nigericin enhance the transport by system L, but this effect is suppressed by the presence of ouabain. This finding indicates that the (Na+ -K+)-ATPase is essential for the stimulating action of ionophores.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Transport of L-tyrosine by B16/F10 melanoma cells: the effect of the intracellular content of other amino acids.

The uptake of L-Tyr by B16/F10 malignant melanocytes in culture has been studied. These melanoma cells can either be depleted of amino acids by 1 h preincubation in Hanks' isotonic medium or preloaded with a specific amino acid by 1 h preincubation in the same solution containing 2 mM of the amino acid to be preloaded. By means of these pretreatments, it is shown that the rate of L-Tyr uptake is greatly dependent on the content of other amino acids inside the cells. The L-Tyr uptake is higher in cells preloaded with amino acids transported by the L and ASC systems than in cells depleted of amino acids or preloaded with amino acids transported by the A system. It is concluded that L-Tyr is mainly taken up by an exchange mechanism with other amino acids mediated by the L1 system, although the ASC system can also participate in the process. In agreement with that, the homo-exchange performed by cells preloaded with unlabelled L-Tyr is more efficient than any other hetero-exchange, although L-Dopa, the product of tyrosine hydroxylation in melanin synthesis, is almost as efficient as L-Tyr. Apart from aromatic amino acids, melanoma cells preloaded with L-Met and L-His also yield a high initial rate of L-Tyr uptake. The results herein suggest that melanoma cells do not have transport systems specific for L-Tyr, even if this amino acid is needed to carry out the differential pathway of this type of cells, melanosynthesis.

Regulation of mammalian melanogenesis. II: The role of metal cations.

Melanogenesis can be divided into two phases. The first one involves two tyrosinase-catalyzed oxidations from tyrosine to dopaquinone and a very fast chemical step leading to dopachrome. The second phase, from dopachrome to melanin, can proceed spontaneously through several incompletely known reactions. However, some metal transition ions and protein factors different from tyrosinase might regulate the reaction rate and determine the structure and relative concentrations of the intermediates. The study of the effects of some divalent metal ions (Zn, Cu, Ni and Co) on some steps of the melanogenesis pathway has been approached using different radiolabeled substrates. Zn(II) inhibited tyrosine hydroxylation whereas Ni(II) and Co(II) were activators. Ni(II), Cu(II) and Co(II) accelerated chemical reactions from dopachrome but inhibited its decarboxylation. Dopachrome tautomerase also decreased decarboxylation. When metal ions and this enzyme act together, the inhibition of decarboxylation was greater than that produced by each agent separately, but amount of carboxylated units incorporated to the melanin was not higher than the amount incorporated in the presence of only cations. The amount of total melanin formed from tyrosine was increased by the presence of both agents. The action of Zn(II) was different from other ions also in the second phase of melanogenesis, and its effect on decarboxylation was less pronounced. Since tyrosine hydroxylation is the rate-limiting step in melanogenesis, Zn(II) inhibited the pathway. This ion seems to be the most abundant cation in mammalian melanocytes. Therefore, under physiological conditions, the regulatory role of metal ions and dopachrome tautomerase does not seem to be mutually exclusive, but rather complementary.

A reexamination of the melanin formation assay of tyrosinase and an extension to estimate phaeomelanin formation.

This paper presents some modifications of the melanin formation assay for tyrosinase from the point of view of both eu- and phaeomelanosynthesis. On the one hand, eumelanosynthesis can be estimated using neutral paper filters, such as the 3MM Whatman filters so far employed. The main advantages of this sort of paper are the very low blank values obtained in the absence of tyrosinase and its greater mechanical resistance in the successive washing steps. It is shown that the sensitivity of the assay can be enhanced by the addition of 1 mM Ni(II) to the incubation mixture or of NaOH to stop the enzymatic reaction and allow the incorporation of indolic intermediates into the polymer. Furthermore, the accuracy is also enhanced by the proposed modifications, since all reactions from dopaquinone are standardized, and the assay becomes only dependent on the tyrosinase activity. On the other hand, phaeomelanosynthesis cannot be estimated using neutral paper because of the slow rate of polymerization of the intermediates and the poor absorption of thiol-dopa conjugates to this kind of paper. It is shown that synthesis of this type of melanin can be estimated in the presence of glutathione by means of a cationic filter paper and by washing the excess of the radioactive substrate with distilled water instead of acidic media. Thus, the assay may be adapted to measure eu- or phaeomelanosynthetic activity by introducing slight modifications. This assay must be used with caution if detergent-solubilized tyrosinase is used, because detergents strongly inhibit melanin absorption to paper filters.

Occurrence of melanin granules and melanosynthesis in the kidney of Sparus auratus.

An optical, ultrastructural, and biochemical study of the melanin accumulation nodules found in the kidney of the teleost fish Sparus auratus is presented. These nodules are randomly distributed in the interstitium of the renal tissue. They are formed by large aggregates of cells replete with melanin granules. The melanin granules occur singly or also in aggregates inside the cells. Most of the granules are electron-dense, but sometimes small electron-lucent spaces within them can be seen. Some secondary lysosomes and dendritic processes can also be observed. Biochemical studies have proved for the first time the existence of measurable tyrosinase activity in those nodules. That activity was assayed using three methods: tyrosine hydroxylation, dopa oxidation, and melanin formation. Furthermore, inhibitors of well-characterized plant and animal skin tyrosinases were effective agents for inhibiting those activities in fish kidney preparations. This finding supports the notion of the existence of true tyrosinase in the melanin accumulation nodules of this tissue. Taking into account the results obtained, the origin and functions of the melanin-containing cells found in the teleost fish kidney are discussed.

The role of sulfhydryl compounds in mammalian melanogenesis: the effect of cysteine and glutathione upon tyrosinase and the intermediates of the pathway.

The effect of cysteine and glutathione on mammalian melanogenesis has been studied. It has been shown that their action is mediated by two different mechanisms. (a) The reaction of the thiol groups with dopaquinone after the tyrosinase-catalyzed oxidation of tyrosine and dopa. This mechanism leads to the formation of sulfhydryl-dopa conjugates and finally sulfur-containing pigments, phaeomelanins instead of eumelanins. This fact might produce an inhibition of melanogenesis due to the slower rate of chemical reactions involved in the polymerization of such thiol-conjugates when compared to that of indoles. (b) The direct interaction between the sulfhydryl compounds and the tyrosinase active site. This interaction may regulate the activity of the enzyme. It is shown that Harding-Passey mouse melanoma tyrosinase is more sensitive to sulfhydryl compounds than mushroom tyrosinase. Cysteine always produces an inhibition of the tyrosinase hydroxylase and dopa oxidase activities of melanoma tyrosinase, this inhibition becoming greater as the cysteine concentration increases. On the other hand, glutathione produces an activation of the tyrosine hydroxylase activity below 3 mM and an inhibition at higher concentrations. The limit between the enzymatic activation and inhibition appears at glutathione concentrations similar to the physiological levels of this compound found in melanocytes. Although the switch from eumelanogenesis to phaeomelanogenesis occurs at much lower concentrations of glutathione, taking into account these data it is discussed that this sulfhydryl compound may regulate not only the type but also the amount of melanin formed inside melanocytes.

Assays for mammalian tyrosinase: a comparative study.

This work describes a comparative study of the tyrosinase activity determined using three methods which are the most extensively employed; two radiometric assays using L-tyrosine as substrate (tyrosine hydroxylase and melanin formation activities) and one spectrophotometric assay using L-dopa (dopa oxidase activity). The three methods were simultaneously employed to measure the activities of the soluble, melanosomal, and microsomal tyrosinase isozymes from Harding-Passey mouse melanoma through their purification processes. The aim of this study was to find any correlation among the tyrosinase activities measured by the three different assays and to determine whether that correlation varied with the isozyme and its degree of purification. The results show that mammalian tyrosinase has a greater turnover number for L-dopa than for L-tyrosine. Thus, enzyme activity, expressed as mumol of substrate transformed per min, is higher in assays using L-dopa as substrate than those using L-tyrosine. Moreover, the percentage of hydroxylated L-tyrosine that is converted into melanin is low and is affected by several factors, apparently decreasing the tyrosinase activity measured by the melanin formation assay. Bearing these considerations in mind, average interassay factors are proposed. Their values are 10 to transform melanin formation into tyrosine hydroxylase activity, 100 to transform tyrosine hydroxylase into dopa oxidase activity, and 1,000 to transform melanin formation into dopa oxidase activity. Variations in these values due to the presence in the tyrosinase preparations of either inhibitors or regulatory factors in melanogenesis independent of tyrosinase are also discussed.