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Glynis Scott, M.D.
Discipline: Dermatology |
BiographyThe effective transfer of melanosomes, specialized organelles for melanin production, from melanocytes to keratinocytes, is an absolute requirement for photoprotection in the skin. Melanocytes are pigment producing cells that reside in the basal layer of the epidermis, and form multiple long dendritic processes that transport melanosomes from the melanocyte cell body to the dendritic tips, and then to keratinocytes. The long term goal of our research effort is to determine 1) the upstream signaling intermediates involved in dendrite formation and 2) the molecular mediators and regulatory factors involved in melanosome transfer. Rac1 is a monomeric GTP-binding protein that orchestrates actin reorganization with the formation of lamellipodia and dendrite-like structures in other cell types and is activated by several different hormonally regulated second messenger systems. Based on our studies, we hypothesize that rac1 is a central convergence point for the protein kinase A (PKA) , protein kinase C (PKC) and Ca+2 second messenger systems, and that melanosome transfer to keratinocytes is closely linked to activation of rac1. We have also recently shown that melanosomes contain several members of the SNARE family of proteins. These proteins are involved in vesicle fusion with the plasma membrane, and with vesicle fusion between different membranous compartments within the cell. We are exploring the role of these proteins, as well as rab3a, in melanosome transfer to keratinocytes.
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