Increase of Melanogenesis in the Presence of Fatty Acids

Tyrosinase catalyzes the oxidation of phenolic compounds to the corresponding quinines which are subsequently converted to melanin pigments. Loss of the hair shaft melanin is associated with decrease of tyrosinase activity in the bulb of melanocytes. Activators of tyrosinase with stimulatory effects on melanogenesis are beneficial for the preventation of hair whitening and treatment of hypopigmentation disease such as oculocutaneous albinism 1B. This paper reports activation of polyphenol oxidase activity by fatty acids using dopamine hydrochloride as substrate. The results showed that saturated fatty acids are more potent tyrosinase activators than unsaturated ones. Measuring important kinetic constants, Vmax and Km revealed that tyrosinase activation followed a mixed type mechanism depending on fatty acid concentration, chain length and double bonds.