Melanin monomers within coated vesicles and premelanosomes in melanin synthesizing cells

We have found substantial amounts (6.6-143 and 0.5-13 micrograms/mg. protein, respectively) of 5,6-dihydroxyindole (5,6-DHI) and 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (5,6-DHI2C), which are key intermediate monomers for the formation of the eumelanin polymer, within coated vesicle fraction of pigment cells. In addition, the amounts of these eumelanin monomers have been found to decrease along with the process of eumelanin polymer formation from coated vesicles to premelanosomes and finally to melanosomes among melanogenic subcellular compartments. Our present findings seem to indicate that coated vesicles transfer not only highly glycosylated T1-tyrosinase but also eumelanin monomers into premelanosomes.