The Influence of MGST1 Expression on Tyrosinase Activity In Melanoma Cells
School Name
South Carolina Governor's School for Science & Mathematics
Grade Level
12th Grade
Presentation Topic
Cell and Molecular Biology
Presentation Type
Mentored
Abstract
Melanoma is one of the most common skin cancers in the world, affecting one million people in the U.S annually. Melanoma is caused when melanocytes, melanin synthesizing cells, become mutated due to overexposure to sunlight. Tyrosinase catalyzes the degradation of L-Dopa into Dopaquinone during melanin synthesis. MGST-1 is a protein that we discovered has effects on Tyrosinase activity in melanoma cells. When MGST1 is knocked-out in melanoma cells, Tyrosinase activity decreases and melanin synthesis is halted. We hypothesized that MGST deficiency blocks melanin synthesis by inhibiting tyrosinase activity. We assessed tyrosinase activity in two melanoma cell lines, B16 (mouse) and human MNT-1, after knock-down of MGST1. Tyrosinase activity was diminished. UV treated MNT-1 cells had no activity while the B16 cells had lower activity than the untreated cells. MGST-1 expression was measured by western blot analysis at various passages of growth. Two melanoma cell lines, SKmel and Wm9 had expression in earlier passages rather than later ones; on the other hand, the other two cells, 1205Lu and 501 mel had no expression. These data show MGST levels are inversely proportional to tyrosinase activity and may be leveraged to predict susceptibility to skin cancer. Further studies are necessary to determine the steps in the melanin synthesis pathway that is influenced by MGST. If our hypothesis is correct, a drug could be produced to target the MGST-1 protein to treat melanoma patients.
Recommended Citation
Locklear, Isabella, "The Influence of MGST1 Expression on Tyrosinase Activity In Melanoma Cells" (2020). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 122.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2020/all/122
Location
Furman Hall 107
Start Date
3-28-2020 11:15 AM
Presentation Format
Oral Only
Group Project
No
The Influence of MGST1 Expression on Tyrosinase Activity In Melanoma Cells
Furman Hall 107
Melanoma is one of the most common skin cancers in the world, affecting one million people in the U.S annually. Melanoma is caused when melanocytes, melanin synthesizing cells, become mutated due to overexposure to sunlight. Tyrosinase catalyzes the degradation of L-Dopa into Dopaquinone during melanin synthesis. MGST-1 is a protein that we discovered has effects on Tyrosinase activity in melanoma cells. When MGST1 is knocked-out in melanoma cells, Tyrosinase activity decreases and melanin synthesis is halted. We hypothesized that MGST deficiency blocks melanin synthesis by inhibiting tyrosinase activity. We assessed tyrosinase activity in two melanoma cell lines, B16 (mouse) and human MNT-1, after knock-down of MGST1. Tyrosinase activity was diminished. UV treated MNT-1 cells had no activity while the B16 cells had lower activity than the untreated cells. MGST-1 expression was measured by western blot analysis at various passages of growth. Two melanoma cell lines, SKmel and Wm9 had expression in earlier passages rather than later ones; on the other hand, the other two cells, 1205Lu and 501 mel had no expression. These data show MGST levels are inversely proportional to tyrosinase activity and may be leveraged to predict susceptibility to skin cancer. Further studies are necessary to determine the steps in the melanin synthesis pathway that is influenced by MGST. If our hypothesis is correct, a drug could be produced to target the MGST-1 protein to treat melanoma patients.
