Korean J Physiol Pharmacol.  2012 Aug;16(4):287-291. 10.4196/kjpp.2012.16.4.287.

Dipeptides Inhibit Melanin Synthesis in Mel-Ab Cells through Down-Regulation of Tyrosinase

• Lee HE
• Kim EH
• Choi HR
• Sohn UD
• Yun HY
• Baek KJ
• Kwon NS
• Park KC
• Kim DS

• KMID: 2011164
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4196/kjpp.2012.16.4.287

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of proline-serine (PS) and valine-serine (VS) dipeptides on melanogenesis in Mel-Ab cells. Proline-serine and VS significantly inhibited melanin synthesis in a concentration-dependent manner, though neither dipeptide directly inhibited tyrosinase activity in a cell-free system. Both PS and VS down-regulated the expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) and tyrosinase. In a follow-up study also described here, the effects of these dipeptides on melanogenesis-related signal transduction were quantified. Specifically, PS and VS induced ERK phosphorylation, though they had no effect on phosphorylation of the cAMP response element binding protein (CREB). These data suggest that PS and VS inhibit melanogenesis through ERK phosphorylation and subsequent down-regulation of MITF and tyrosinase. Properties of these dipeptides are compatible with application as skin-whitening agents.

Keyword

Dipeptide; ERK; Melanogenesis; MITF; Tyrosinase

MeSH Terms

Cell-Free System
Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein
Dipeptides
Down-Regulation
Follow-Up Studies
Melanins
Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor
Monophenol Monooxygenase
Phosphorylation
Signal Transduction
Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein
Dipeptides
Melanins
Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor
Monophenol Monooxygenase