Role of the cytoskeleton in melanogenesis

This thesis presents a critical analysis of the scientific article entitled “PRP4 Promotes Skin Cancer by Inhibiting Production of Melanin, Blocking Influx of Extracellular Calcium, and Remodeling Cell Actin Cytoskeleton”. The paper's objective was to investigate the mechanism by which the pre-mRNA processing factor 4B (PRP4) regulates melanin synthesis and its role in the progression of skin cancer in a murine melanoma-derived cell line (B16F10). They hypothesized that overexpression of PRP4 impinges on the signaling pathway involved in melanogenesis and underlies skin cancer development. Upregulation of β-arrestin 1 and desensitization of the extracellular calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR), resulting in a reduced influx of extracellular Ca2+ ions, were also affected by PRP4 overexpression. It has also been proposed that PRP4 suppresses the expression of adenylyl cyclase (AC), thereby decreasing the production of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and modifying the actin cytoskeleton by regulating the expression of Ras homolog family member A (RhoA). Based on their experimental findings, the researchers reported that the co-action of PRP4 on Ca2+ influx, melanin suppression and actin cytoskeleton modulation promotes the initiation of skin cancer.