Monoclonal antibodies produced against murine tyrosinase identify pigmented human melanocytes.

Three monoclonal antibodies were recently produced in our laboratory that specifically identify murine tyrosinase, the enzyme critical to the production and regulation of melanin pigment in mammals. These antibodies are now shown with indirect immunofluorescence to cross-react with human tyrosinase in normal, preneoplastic, and transformed melanocytes. All epitopes specifically recognized on the mature, glycosylated form of murine tyrosinase are also present on the human enzyme, which suggests that mammalian tyrosinase is a highly conserved protein. These monoclonal antibody reagents are useful as sensitive, highly specific probes to identify pigmented human melanocytes both in vivo and in vitro.