Glycosylation inhibitors, glucosamine or tunicamycin, have been found to be specific inhibitory modulators for melanogenesis, which is accentuated generally in malignant melanoma cells. Exposure to glucosamine (1 mg/ml) or tunicamycin (0.2 to 0.4 micrograms/ml) induces a marked pigment loss within melanoma cells in vitro with a decrease in their grown curves. This melanogenic inhibition occurs without a substantial decrease in the synthesis of DNA, RNA, and protein in comparison with a

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... marked suppression of carbohydrate synthesis as revealed by suppressed mannose incorporation into these cells. Assay of tyrosinase of glucosamine- or tunicamycin-induced unpigmented melanoma cells has revealed a selective and marked decrease in the melanosome-rich large-granule fraction, but no substantial decrease in the total activity of remaining subcellular fractions. Electrophoresis of tyrosinase in the 30,000 X g supernatant fraction demonstrates an increase in the T1 form of soluble tyrosinase, while a disappearance of or marked decrease in membrane-bound tyrosinase, T3, is seen in the small- and large-granule fractions. Glycoprotein synthesis in the melanogenic subcellular compartments of pigment cells seems to play an integral role in melanogenesis which is principally enhanced in their carcinogenic status.