Tyrosine hydroxylase, dopa oxidase, and peroxidase activities were studied in soluble fractions of B16 melanoma tumor homogenates by polyacrylamide gel disc electrophoresis. Stained gels were scanned photometrically and gel slices were assayed radiometrically. In these preparations, the two bands of tyrosine hydroxylating activity were completely separated from the peroxidase activity but coincided with two major bands of dopa oxidase activity. The third dopa oxidase band coincided with the single band of peroxidase activity. The soluble fraction of cultured cell homogenates had no peroxidase activity, but the two tyrosine hydroxylase bands coincided exactly with the two dopa oxidase bands. Therefore, in the soluble fraction of the murine melanoma bifunctional tyrosinase does exist as two electrophoretically separable forms which are independent of peroxidase.

We have studied the effects of theophylline treatment on pigmentation characteristics and growth of two B16 melanoma cell lines, HFH-18 and P/140. Cell counts of control and theophylline-treated cultures confirmed that the drug inhibits cell growth. Light and electron microscope cytochemistry with the L-dopa reaction indicated that the two cell lines differ in their ability to transfer Golgi-associated tyrosinase to developing premelanosomes. The results of these experiments, considered with results of electrophoretic analyses and activity measurements by the Pomerantz method, also provide evidence that increased tyrosinase synthesis occurs in response to theophylline treatment. In addition, results indicate that theophylline induces changes in the rate of synthetic or degradative posttranslational modification of tyrosinase. Measurements of intracellular cyclic AMP levels by radioimmunoassay in control cultures and in theophylline- and alpha-MSH-treated cultures were made. Although the hormone induced spectacular increases in cyclic AMP levels, theophylline produced no detectable change. These results indicate that theophylline differs from alpha-MSH because theophylline-induced changes in pigmentation may not require the participation of intracellular cyclic AMP.

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In cytochemical studies of B16 melanoma cells with the dopa reaction for tyrosinase, a false positive result that can easily be confused with authentic reactions has been observed. A preliminary characterization of this false reaction in comparison to authentic reactions with respect to stereospecificity, morphological characteristics, and subcellular localization has been conducted. Modifications of the classic dopa method have been devised that minimize occurrence of the false reaction.

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