Melanin is produced by specialized cells called melanocytes. These cells contain a protein called tyrosinase, which is essential for the production of melanin. Tyrosinase is an enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of the amino acid tyrosine to DOPA, which is then further processed to form melanin.
The MC1R gene provides instructions for making a protein called the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), which plays a role in determining the type of melanin produced. Melanocytes make two forms of melanin, eumelanin and pheomelanin. Eumelanin is a dark brown or black pigment, while pheomelanin is a reddish-yellow pigment.
The amount and type of melanin produced by melanocytes determine a person's skin, hair, and eye color.
