Advances in the Design of Genuine Human Tyrosinase Inhibitors for Targeting Melanogenesis and Related Pigmentations

J Med Chem. 2020 Nov 25;63(22):13428-13443. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00994. Epub 2020 Aug 17.

Abstract

Human tyrosinase (hsTYR) is the key enzyme ensuring the conversion of l-tyrosine to dopaquinone, thereby initiating melanin synthesis, i.e., melanogenesis. Although the protein has long been familiar, knowledge about its three-dimensional structure and efficient overexpression protocols emerged only recently. Consequently, for decades medicinal chemistry studies aiming at developing skin depigmenting agents relied almost exclusively on biological assays performed using mushroom tyrosinase (abTYR), producing a plethoric literature, often of little useful purpose. Indeed, several recent reports have pointed out spectacular differences in terms of interaction patterns and inhibition values between hsTYR and abTYR, including for widely used standard tyrosinase inhibitors. In this review, we summarize the last developments regarding the potential role of hsTYR in human pathologies, the advances in recombinant expression systems and structural data retrieving, and the pioneer generation of true hsTYR inhibitors. Finally, we present suggestions for the design of future inhibitors of this highly attractive target in pharmacology and dermocosmetics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Agaricales*
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Biological Factors / administration & dosage
  • Biological Factors / chemistry
  • Biological Factors / isolation & purification
  • Drug Delivery Systems / methods
  • Drug Delivery Systems / trends*
  • Drug Design
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / administration & dosage*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Melanins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Melanins / chemistry
  • Melanins / metabolism
  • Melanocytes / drug effects
  • Melanocytes / enzymology
  • Melanocytes / pathology
  • Melanoma / drug therapy
  • Melanoma / enzymology
  • Melanoma / pathology
  • Monophenol Monooxygenase / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Monophenol Monooxygenase / metabolism
  • Pigmentation / drug effects*
  • Pigmentation / physiology
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Skin Lightening Preparations / administration & dosage
  • Skin Lightening Preparations / chemistry

Substances

  • Biological Factors
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Melanins
  • Skin Lightening Preparations
  • Monophenol Monooxygenase