Biomaterial Database

In situ and in vitro expression of protein kinase C alpha in human melanocytes. 1998

T Shoji, and H Y Park, and N Jalbert, and J Bhawan, and H R Byers

Department of Dermatology, Boston University School of Medicine, Massachusetts 02118, USA.

Protein kinase C (PKC) is a multigene family of at least 12 isoforms involved in the transduction of extracellular signals. We investigated whether PKC-alpha, a major isoform known to be relatively abundant in brain tissue, is increased in human melanocytes relative to keratinocytes in vitro and in situ. Immunohistochemical staining for PKC-alpha in frozen neonatal human foreskin exhibited intermittent 2-3 + staining along the basal cell layer consistent with melanocytes, and 0-1 + staining of keratinocytes (on a scale of 0-3). Microscopic densitometry of the intermittent cellular staining was at least 3-fold greater than that of adjacent keratinocyte cell cytoplasm. Sequential frozen sections revealed similar intermittent cell staining with PKC-alpha and Mel-5 (tyrosinase related protein-1), known to specifically react with melanocytes. Northern blot analysis with a specific cDNA probe for PKC-alpha showed strong PKC-alpha mRNA expression in cultured melanocytes, whereas PKC-alpha mRNA in cultured non-stratifying keratinocytes was expressed at low levels. Western blot analysis revealed a prominent PKC-alpha band at approximately 80 kDa in melanocytes as opposed to a weak band in keratinocytes. Densitometry of the northern and western blots revealed that melanocytes had at least 10-fold more PKC-alpha mRNA and approximately 6-fold more PKC-alpha protein expression than keratinocytes. Total PKC activity measured in vitro revealed that melanocytes had 5-fold more activity than keratinocytes. The marked difference in melanocyte and keratinocyte expression of PKC-alpha provides further evidence for cell type specificity in the balance of PKC-alpha expression and may implicate differential PKC isoform signaling pathways in neuro-ectodermally derived cells.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007150	Immunohistochemistry	Histochemical localization of immunoreactive substances using labeled antibodies as reagents.	Immunocytochemistry,Immunogold Techniques,Immunogold-Silver Techniques,Immunohistocytochemistry,Immunolabeling Techniques,Immunogold Technics,Immunogold-Silver Technics,Immunolabeling Technics,Immunogold Silver Technics,Immunogold Silver Techniques,Immunogold Technic,Immunogold Technique,Immunogold-Silver Technic,Immunogold-Silver Technique,Immunolabeling Technic,Immunolabeling Technique,Technic, Immunogold,Technic, Immunogold-Silver,Technic, Immunolabeling,Technics, Immunogold,Technics, Immunogold-Silver,Technics, Immunolabeling,Technique, Immunogold,Technique, Immunogold-Silver,Technique, Immunolabeling,Techniques, Immunogold,Techniques, Immunogold-Silver,Techniques, Immunolabeling
D007231	Infant, Newborn	An infant during the first 28 days after birth.	Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D008297	Male		Males
D008544	Melanocytes	Mammalian pigment cells that produce MELANINS, pigments found mainly in the EPIDERMIS, but also in the eyes and the hair, by a process called melanogenesis. Coloration can be altered by the number of melanocytes or the amount of pigment produced and stored in the organelles called MELANOSOMES. The large non-mammalian melanin-containing cells are called MELANOPHORES.	Melanocyte
D011493	Protein Kinase C	An serine-threonine protein kinase that requires the presence of physiological concentrations of CALCIUM and membrane PHOSPHOLIPIDS. The additional presence of DIACYLGLYCEROLS markedly increases its sensitivity to both calcium and phospholipids. The sensitivity of the enzyme can also be increased by PHORBOL ESTERS and it is believed that protein kinase C is the receptor protein of tumor-promoting phorbol esters.	Calcium Phospholipid-Dependent Protein Kinase,Calcium-Activated Phospholipid-Dependent Kinase,PKC Serine-Threonine Kinase,Phospholipid-Sensitive Calcium-Dependent Protein Kinase,Protein Kinase M,Calcium Activated Phospholipid Dependent Kinase,Calcium Phospholipid Dependent Protein Kinase,PKC Serine Threonine Kinase,Phospholipid Sensitive Calcium Dependent Protein Kinase,Phospholipid-Dependent Kinase, Calcium-Activated,Serine-Threonine Kinase, PKC
D002478	Cells, Cultured	Cells propagated in vitro in special media conducive to their growth. Cultured cells are used to study developmental, morphologic, metabolic, physiologic, and genetic processes, among others.	Cultured Cells,Cell, Cultured,Cultured Cell
D004817	Epidermis	The external, nonvascular layer of the skin. It is made up, from within outward, of five layers of EPITHELIUM: (1) basal layer (stratum basale epidermidis); (2) spinous layer (stratum spinosum epidermidis); (3) granular layer (stratum granulosum epidermidis); (4) clear layer (stratum lucidum epidermidis); and (5) horny layer (stratum corneum epidermidis).
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012333	RNA, Messenger	RNA sequences that serve as templates for protein synthesis. Bacterial mRNAs are generally primary transcripts in that they do not require post-transcriptional processing. Eukaryotic mRNA is synthesized in the nucleus and must be exported to the cytoplasm for translation. Most eukaryotic mRNAs have a sequence of polyadenylic acid at the 3' end, referred to as the poly(A) tail. The function of this tail is not known for certain, but it may play a role in the export of mature mRNA from the nucleus as well as in helping stabilize some mRNA molecules by retarding their degradation in the cytoplasm.	Messenger RNA,Messenger RNA, Polyadenylated,Poly(A) Tail,Poly(A)+ RNA,Poly(A)+ mRNA,RNA, Messenger, Polyadenylated,RNA, Polyadenylated,mRNA,mRNA, Non-Polyadenylated,mRNA, Polyadenylated,Non-Polyadenylated mRNA,Poly(A) RNA,Polyadenylated mRNA,Non Polyadenylated mRNA,Polyadenylated Messenger RNA,Polyadenylated RNA,RNA, Polyadenylated Messenger,mRNA, Non Polyadenylated
D012867	Skin	The outer covering of the body that protects it from the environment. It is composed of the DERMIS and the EPIDERMIS.