Skip to main content
Log in

Freeze-fracture study of melanosomes in mammalian epidermis and the distribution of intramembrane particles in the melanosome membrane

  • Original Contributions
  • Published:
Archives of Dermatological Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The ultrastructure of melanosomes in mammalian epidermis has been studied using the freeze-fracture technique. The internal structure of the melanosome, as seen in cross-fractured granules, consists of a very fine particulate matter. There is no evidence of an internal membranous structure in melanosomes, indicating that the internal matrix which is characteristic of ultrathin sectioned material most likely represents cross-linked protein fibers.

Fracture ‘en-face’ of the melanosome limiting membrane reveals a random distribution of intramembrane particles on both the P- and E-faces of the membrane. There is a significantly higher density of IMPs on the P-face. The IMPs of the melanosome membrane may be involved in (a) selective passage of ions through the membrane, (b) membrane transducing events, and/or (c) anchoring sites for cytoplasmic fibrils and microfilaments.

Zusammenfassung

Wir haben die Ultrastruktur der Melanosomen in der Epidermis von Säugetieren mittels der Gefrierbruchtechnik studiert. Die innere Struktur der Melanosomen besteht in diesen Präparaten aus feinem, granulärem Material. Wir haben keinen Beweis für eine innere Membranstruktur der Melanosomen gefunden. Dies bedeutet, daß die innere Matrize, die für elektronenmikroskopische Schnitte charakteristisch ist, aus kreuzweise angeordneten Proteinfibrillen besteht.

Die “en-face”-Fraktur der Melanosomenmembran zeigt eine gleichmäßige Verteilung von intramembranösen Partikeln an der P- und E-Seite der Membran mit signifikant höherer Verteilungdichte an der P-Seite. Es wird angenommen, daß diese intramembranösen Partikel der Melanosomen (a) an dem selektiven Ionentransport durch die Membran und (b) an intramembranösen Übermittlerreaktionen beteiligt sind, bzw. (c) zur Verankerung von cytoplasmatischen Fibrillen und Mikrofilamenten dienen.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Branton D, Bullivant S, Gilula NB, Karnovsky MJ, Moor H, Mühlethaler K, Northcote DH, Packer L, Satir B, Satir P, Speth V, Staehelin LA, Steere RL, Weinstein RS (1975) Freeze-etching nomenclature. Science 190:54–56

    Google Scholar 

  2. Breathnach AS (1973) Application of the freeze-fracture replication technique to investigative dermatology. Br J Dermatol 88:563–574

    Google Scholar 

  3. Breathnach AS, Gross M, Martin B (1973) Freeze-fracture replication of melanocytes and melanosomes. J Anat 116:303–320

    Google Scholar 

  4. Bretscher MS (1974) Some general principles of membrane structure. In: Moscona AA (ed) The cell surface in development. Wiley, New York, pp 17–27

    Google Scholar 

  5. Clark WH Jr, ten Heggeler B, Bretton R (1972) Electron-microscopic observations of human cutaneous melanomas correlated with their biologic behavior. In: Melanoma and skin cancer. International Union Against Cancer and Australian Cancer Society, Sydney, pp 121–141

    Google Scholar 

  6. Edwards HH, Mueller TJ, Morrison M (1979) Distribution of transmembrane polypeptides in freeze-fracture. Science 203:1343–1346

    Google Scholar 

  7. García RI, Flynn EA, Szabó G (1976) Autophagocytosis of melanosomes in cultured retinal pigment cells. In Vitro 12:294–295

    Google Scholar 

  8. Garcia RI, Flynn EA, Szabó G (1978) Ultrastructure of melanocyte-kerationocyte interactions and pigment transfer in vitro. In: Sturgess JN (ed) Electron microscopy, 1978. Proc. IXth Int. Cong. Electron Microscopy, vol. 2. Microscop. Soc. Canada, Toronto, pp 650–651

    Google Scholar 

  9. García RI, Flynn EA, Szabó G (1978) Freeze-fracture study of mammalian skin: melanocytekeratinocyte interactions. In: Sturgess JN (ed) Electron microscopy, 1978. Proc. IXth Int. Cong. Electron Microscopy, vol 2, pp 652–653

  10. Glimcher ME, Szabó G (1978) Giant pigment granules in dermal melanocytes of rat scrotal skin. Experientia 34:1079–1080

    Google Scholar 

  11. Ito S, Karnovsky MJ (1968) Formaldehyde-glutaraldehyde fixatives containing trinitro compounds. J Cell Biol 39: 168a

    Google Scholar 

  12. Jimbow K, Fitzpatrick TB (1974) Characterization of a new melanosomal structural component —the vesiculo-globular body — by conventional transmission, high voltage, and scanning E. M. J Ultrastruct Res 48:269–283

    Google Scholar 

  13. Jimbow K, Pathak MA, Szabó G, Fitzpatrick TB (1974) Ultrastructual changes in human melanocytes after ultraviolet radiation. In: Fitzpatrick TB (ed) Sunlight and man. Univ. of Tokyo Press, Tokyo, pp 195–216

    Google Scholar 

  14. Jimbow K, Szabó G, Fitzpatrick TB (1973) Ultrastructure of giant pigment granules (macromelanosomes) in the cutaneous pigmented macules of neurofibromatosis. J Invest. Dermatol 61:300–309

    Google Scholar 

  15. Martinez-Palomo A, Chavez B, Gonzalez-Robles A (1978) The freeze-fracture technique: application to the study of animal plasma membranes. In: Sturgess JN (ed) Electron microscopy, 1978. Proc. IXth Int. Cong. Electron Microscopy, vol 3. Microscop. Soc. Canada, Toronto, pp 503–515

    Google Scholar 

  16. Martinez-Palomo A, Pinto da Silva P, Chavez B (1976) Membrane structure of Entamoeba histolytica: fine structure of freeze-fractured membranes. J Ultrastruct Res 54:148–158

    Google Scholar 

  17. Moellmann GE, Varga JM, Godawska E, Lerner AB (1977) Internalization of melanotropin (MSH) into cytoplasmic vesicles and premelanosomes of cultivated murine melanoma cells. Yale J Biol Med 50:570

    Google Scholar 

  18. Moyer FH (1963) Genetic effects on melanosome fine structure and ontogeny in normal and malignant cells. Ann N Y Acad Sci 100:584–606

    Google Scholar 

  19. Parakkal PF (1967) The fine structure of melanocytes in the hair follicles of the guinea pig. In: Montagna W, Hu F (eds) Advances in biology of skin, vol 8. Pergamon Press, Oxford, pp 179–188

    Google Scholar 

  20. Pricam, C, Fisher KA, Friend DS (1977) Intramembranous particle distribution in human erythrocytes: effects of lysis, glutaraldehyde, and poly-l-lysine. Anat Rec 189:595–608

    Google Scholar 

  21. Seiji M, Iwashita S (1965) Intracellular localization of tyrosinase and site of melanin formation in melanocyte. J Invest Dermatol 45:305–314

    Google Scholar 

  22. Van Woert MH (1973) Some properties of the outer melanosomal membrane. In: Riley V (ed) Pigment cell, vol 1. Karger, Basel, pp 125–133

    Google Scholar 

  23. Van Woert MH, Korb F, Prasad KN (1971) Regulation of tyrosinase activity in mouse melanoma and skin by changes in melanosomal membrane permeability. J Invest Dermatol 56:343–348

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Research supported by USPHS Grant AM-20669 from the National Institute of Arthritis, Metabolism, and Digestive Diseases

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

García, R.I., Szabó, G. Freeze-fracture study of melanosomes in mammalian epidermis and the distribution of intramembrane particles in the melanosome membrane. Arch Dermatol Res 270, 1–6 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00417143

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00417143

Key words

Schlüsselwörter

Navigation