Tyrosinase induction in murine malignant melanocytes by αMSH is well known, but its molecular basis has not been characterized. Treatment of B16 melanoma cells with theophylline or αMSH mediates a larger induction of tyrosine hydroxylase than of dopa oxidase activity in total cell extracts, and in the melanosomal and microsomal fractions. No evidence for the modulation of a tyrosinase effector was found. SDS-PAGE and specific activity stain demonstrated two forms of tyrosinase, with different degrees of induction by theophylline. These results agree with the recent proposal that two tyrosinases, encoded by different genes, are present in murine melanocytes.
