Here, STTM-miR508-3p overexpression in alpaca melanocytes blocked the expression of miR-508-3p and up-regulated SOX6 expression at both the mRNA and protein levels, resulting in increasing the expression of key melanogenic genes, including cAMP responsive element (CRE) binding protein (CREB), MITF, tyrosinase (TYR) and tyrosinase-related protein 1 and 2 (TYRP1 and TYRP2).
Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses of SOX6-overexpressing melanocytes revealed increased mRNA and protein expression of Cyclin D1, CDK5, microphthalmia transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase (TYR), tyrosine related protein-1 (TYRP1), and dopachrome-tautomerase (DCT), whereas β-catenin levels decreased in SOX6-overexpressing melanocytes.