THE BIOCHEMISTRY OF SKIN PIGMENTATION AND ITS RELATION TO MELANOMA

The biochemistry of melanogenesis has been under investigation for mor e than 100 years. In the mouse, some 130 coat colour mutations exist a t more than 50 genetic loci. This vast array of genes, many of them in teracting with one another, attests both to the evolutionary importanc e of the pigmentary system as well as to the difficulties encountered in unravelling the underlying biochemical processes. In addition, the pigmentary system, which provides protection from solar radiation, is ironically the same system from which melanomas are generated. This ar ticle, dedicated to Professor D. P. Chakraborty, summarises some of th e progress from our laboratory in this complex and fascinating field o f research.