{
  "abstract": "Plant-derived phytochemicals exhibit significant pharmacological potential in chronic diseases, including melanoma. Since hyperactive melanogenesis is closely linked to melanoma progression, targeting this pathway with natural bioactive agents represents a major therapeutic strategy. The plant-derived terpene linalool induces cancer-specific oxidative stress in colon cancer cells, as we have previously reported. Here, we characterized the effects of linalool on B16-F10 melanoma cells to establish a transcriptomic baseline of hypopigmentation networks using phenotypic assays and high-throughput RNA-seq profiling. Non-toxic doses of linalool significantly inhibited melanin synthesis, accompanied by a marked reduction in tyrosinase protein abundance. RNA-seq identified 31 significantly upregulated and 48 significantly downregulated genes (p < 0.05), with PCA and cluster analysis demonstrating a distinct transcriptomic profile. Functional GO enrichment revealed candidate regulatory networks involving lysosomal components, the neurofilament cytoskeleton, and cell-cycle checkpoints. While core melanogenesis transcripts (Mitf, Tyr, Dct) showed only minor, non-significant variations, key stress-adaptation and cell-plasticity regulators (Mir210, Dll1) were significantly suppressed. This profile indicates a state of latent molecular vulnerability, mirroring the oxidative responses in colon cancer cells. Taken together, these findings provide a foundational transcriptomic repository of linalool-responsive networks, uncovering critical candidate pathways that modulate melanin production and antioxidant defenses to guide future functional validation and therapeutic exploration of botanical bioactives in melanoma research.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Faculty of Science and Technology, Sophia University, Chiyoda City 102-8554, Tokyo, Japan",
    "Institute of Life and Environmental Science, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba City 305-8572, Ibaraki, Japan",
    "Alliance for Research on the Mediterranean and North Africa (ARENA), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba City 305-8572, Ibaraki, Japan"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 2,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Myra O. Villareal"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Hiroko Isoda",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-1399-9541"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/40fbcqm9yhdkq.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3390/ijms27208956",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13704213",
  "id": "40fbcqm9yhdkq",
  "issns": [
    "1422-0067"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/20/8956",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "1307|melanin and skin pigmentation"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7221167177",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13704213?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13704213",
  "pmid": "42941731",
  "published": "2026-10-09",
  "publisher": "MDPI AG",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/40fbcqm9yhdkq.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:55Z",
      "native_id": "10.3390/ijms27208956",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/20/8956"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:22:24Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42941731",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42941731"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "openalex:1307|melanin and skin pigmentation",
      "subfield": "cell-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Transcriptome Analysis of Linalool-Induced Hypopigmentation in B16 Melanoma Cells",
  "title_text": "Transcriptome Analysis of Linalool-Induced Hypopigmentation in B16 Melanoma Cells",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:22:24Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/40fbcqm9yhdkq",
  "venue": "International Journal of Molecular Sciences",
  "versions": []
}