This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Banks, J. Articles by Davidson, E. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Banks, J. Articles by Davidson, E. A.

Anionic Polysaccharide Production and Tyrosinase Activation in Cultured Human Melanoma Cells¹

Departments of Biological Chemistry [J. B., V. P. B., E. A. D.] and Pathology [J. K.], The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033

A human melanoma cell line established in our laboratory was characterized in terms of tyrosinase activity and anionic polysaccharide production. Tyrosinase levels were diluted during the growth phase and increased after the cell culture became confluent. The anionic polysaccharides produced included hyaluronic acid, heparitin sulfate, and a high-molecular-weight chondroitin 4-sulfate. In contrast, a primary culture of human melanocytes derived from embryonic iris produced much greater amounts of hyaluronic acid, about 30-fold less heparitin sulfate, and a mixture of chondroitin 4-sulfate and dermatan sulfate. Saccharides secreted into the culture medium were generally identical to those remaining cell associated except for the melanoma heparitin sulfate, wherein the latter fraction appeared to be of lower molecular weight.

¹ This work was supported in part by Grants CA15483 and CA11097-06 from the NIH, USPHS.

² Career Development Award, 7-K4-CA38,809.

³ To whom all correspondence should be addressed.

Received 8/11/75. Accepted 10/20/75.