Methods of modulating melanin synthesis
AssigneeTrustees of Boston University
InventorsBarbara A. Gilchrest, Hee-Young Park
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Abstract
Methods are described whereby vertebrate skin, hair, wool or fur may be lightened, or darkened, in color by administration of a substance, e.g., peptide, antibody, antibody fragment or DNA sequence encoding a peptide, that modulates the protein kinase C-beta-mediated activation of tyrosinase, the rate-limiting enzyme in melanogenesis.
Claims19
A method of reducing activation of tyrosinase in vertebrate epidermal melanocytes comprising introducing into the melanocytes a tyrosinase phosphorylation site mimic which reduces phosphorylation of tyrosinase, thereby reducing the activation of tyrosinase.
A method of reducing activation of tyrosinase in vertebrate epidermal melanocytes comprising introducing into the melanocytes a tyrosinase phosphorylation site mimic which binds to protein kinase C-beta, thereby reducing protein kinase C-beta binding to tyrosinase and thereby reducing the activation of tyrosinase.
A method of reducing activation of tyrosinase in vertebrate epidermal melanocytes, comprising inhibiting protein kinase C-beta-mediated phosphorylation of a serine residue of the tyrosinase cytoplasmic domain wherein the phosphorylation of serine residue 505 is inhibited.
A method of reducing activation of tyrosinase in vertebrate epidermal melanocytes, comprising inhibiting the protein kinase C-beta-mediated phosphorylation of a serine residue of the tyrosinase cytoplasmic domain wherein the phosphorylation of serine residue 509 is inhibited.
A method of reducing activation of tyrosinase in vertebrate epidermal melanocytes comprising introducing into the melanocytes a peptide that specifically interferes with the protein kinase C-beta-mediated phosphorylation of serine residues in the cytoplasmic domain of tyrosinase.
A method of decreasing pigmentation in vertebrate skin, hair, wool or fur comprising inhibiting the protein kinase C-beta-mediated phosphorylation of a serine residue in the cytoplasmic domain of tyrosinase contained in epidermal melanocytes.
A method of decreasing pigmentation in vertebrate skin, hair, wool or fur comprising inhibiting the phosphorylation of tyrosinase in vertebrate epidermal melanocytes contained in skin or hair, wool or fur bulbs comprising topically applying to the skin or skin surrounding hair, wool or fur bulbs of the vertebrate, a peptide encapsulated into liposomes wherein the peptide comprises an amino acid sequence homologous to the amino acid sequence comprising the site of the cytoplasmic domain of tyrosinase where protein kinase C-beta-mediated phosphorylation occurs, whereby the peptide is introduced into the melanocytes and phosphorylation of tyrosinase is inhibited, thereby decreasing pigmentation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.