Red hair (or ginger hair) occurs naturally in 1–2% of the human population. It occurs more frequently (2–6%) in people of northern or western European ancestry, and less frequently in other populations. Red hair appears most commonly in people with two copies of a recessive allele on chromosome 16 which produces an altered version of the MC1R protein.
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DEFINITION
MC1R Protein
The melanocortin 1 receptor, also known as melanocyte-stimulating hormone receptor (MSHR), melanin-activating peptide receptor, or melanotropin receptor, is a G protein–coupled receptor that binds to a class of pituitary peptide hormones known as the melanocortins, which include adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and the different forms of melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH).
MC1R is one of the key proteins involved in regulating mammalian skin and hair color. It is located on the plasma membrane of specialized cells known as melanocytes, which produce the pigment melanin through the process of melanogenesis. It works by controlling the type of melanin being produced, and its activation causes the melanocyte to switch from generating the yellow or red phaeomelanin by default to the brown or black eumelanin in replacement.
Agouti-signaling protein (ASIP_HUMAN)
ASIP is involved in the regulation of melanogenesis. The binding of ASP to MC1R precludes alpha-MSH initiated signaling and thus blocks production of cAMP, leading to a down-regulation of eumelanogenesis (brown/black pigment) and thus increasing synthesis of pheomelanin (yellow/red pigment). In higher primates, agouti may affect the quality of hair pigmentation rather than its pattern of deposition. Could well play a role in neuroendocrine aspects of melanocortin action. May have some functional role in regulating the lipid metabolism with adipocytes.
5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid oxidase (TYRP1_HUMAN)
Catalyzes the oxidation of 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (DHICA) into indole-5,6-quinone-2-carboxylic acid in the presence of bound Cu2+ ions (PubMed:28661582). May regulate or influence the type of melanin synthesized (PubMed:22556244, PubMed:16704458). Also to a lower extent, capable of hydroxylating tyrosine and producing melanin
L-dopachrome tautomerase (DCT gene, TYRP2_HUMAN)
This protein is involved in the pathway melanin biosynthesis, which is part of Pigment biosynthesis.
View all proteins of this organism that are known to be involved in the pathway melanin biosynthesis and in Pigment biosynthesis.
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THE GENE
CHEMICAL STRUCTURE AND IMAGES
When relevant for the function
- Primary structure
- Secondary structure
- Tertiary structure
- Quaternary structure
Protein Aminoacids Percentage (Width 700 px)
Melanin Synthesis Proteins
SYNTHESIS AND TURNOVER
pheomelanin+and+glutathione PubMed
mRNA synthesis
protein synthesis
post-translational modifications
degradation
CELLULAR FUNCTIONS
cellular localization,
biological function
- Cell signaling and Ligand transport
- Structural proteins
REGULATION
DIAGNOSTIC USE
