Pigment metabolism

In pigment metabolism two tyrosinase related proteins have been identified; TRP1 and TRP2.
The action of the TRP1 protein is essential for production of black rather than brown eumelanin and was classified as a protein with catalase activity. It is encoded by the b locus in mice and shows great resemblance with the cinnamon locus in birds.
The TRP2 protein was identified as Dopachrome Tautomerase (see fig.) and maps to the mouse slaty locus.
Mutant alleles of this locus result in a consequent change in the color of the pigmentation to a dark slaty/brown eumelanin.

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©Inte Onsman
MUTAVI Research & Advice Group