A Basic Domain-Derived Tripeptide Inhibits MITF Activity by Reducing its Binding to the Promoter of Target Genes

Dongyoung Lim, Kyoung Jin Lee, Yuri Kim, Minseo Kim, Hyun Mi Ju, Myoung Ju Kim, Dong Hwa Choi, Jiwon Choi, Suree Kim, Dongmin Kang, Kyoungyul Lee, Jang Hee Hahn

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13 Scopus citations

Abstract

The keratinocytes in UV-irradiated skin produce and secrete α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. α-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone upregulates the expression of MITF in melanocytes through the cAMP‒protein kinase A‒CREB signaling pathway. Thereafter, MITF induces the expression of melanogenic genes, including the tyrosinase gene TYR and TYRP-1 and TYRP-2 genes, which leads to the synthesis and accumulation of melanin. In this study, we examined whether MITF basic region-derived tripeptides can bind to the DNA-binding domain of MITF and inhibit MITF-induced melanogenesis through the inhibition of MITF‒DNA binding. MITF-KGR, a representative MITF-derived tripeptide, suppressed the transcriptional activity of MITF by disrupting its binding to the promoter region of the target genes, which resulted in the inhibition of skin epidermis thickness and melanin synthesis in vivo and in vitro. Our results indicate that MITF-KGR exerts an inhibitory effect on melanogenesis by targeting MITF.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2459-2469
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Investigative Dermatology
Volume141
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2021

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