MAT-1, a monoclonal antibody that specifically recognizes human tyrosinase.

There is no available monoclonal antibody which reacts specifically recognizes human tyrosinase. Employing a synthetic peptide, MEKEDYHSLYQSHL, corresponding to the carboxyl terminus of human tyrosinase as an immunogen, we produced a mouse monoclonal antibody MAT-1 of the IgG1 isotype. The epitope for MAT-1 was determined to be EDYH, the sequence of which is not present in human tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1) or tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2). By transient expression assays and immunofluorescence technique, we show that MAT-1 reacts specifically with cells expressing human tyrosinase cDNA but not with cells expressing TRP-1 or TRP-2 cDNA. The results of immunohistochemical staining also confirmed that MAT-1 reacts specifically with epidermal melanocytes in human skin sections. MAT-1 should be invaluable for studying the interaction between tyrosinase and TRPs and for detecting the changes in the levels of tyrosinase expression. In addition, MAT-1 should be useful as a sensitive immunohistochemical tool for investigation of various pigmentary disorders and possibly for the diagnosis of melanoma.