Dissection of melanogenesis with small molecules identifies prohibitin as a regulator

Bioactive compounds can be used to selectively modulate gene function. We utilized a chemical genetic approach to dissect the mammalian pigmentation pathway and identify protein regulators. We screened a tagged library of 1170 small molecules in a cell-based assay and discovered a class of pigment-enhancing chemicals. From this class we characterized the small molecule melanogenin. Using melanogenin bound to an affinity matrix and amino acid sequencing, we identified the mitochondrial protein, prohibitin, as an intracellular binding target. Studies employing siRNA demonstrate that prohibitin is required for melanogenin to exert its propigmentary effects and reveal an unsuspected functional role for this protein in melanin induction. This represents a mechanism by which propigmentary signals are transduced and ultimately provides a potential target for the treatment of pigmentary disorders.