Opsin 3 involved in the regulation of melanoma mitochondria energy metabolism by red light

Summary: Abstract Body: Background：Melanoma is one of the most malignant skin carcinoma, and the metabolic reprogramming of melanoma cells is a deep-seated factor that sustains their proliferation and invasion. Red light can interfere with the metabolism of melanoma cells through photobiomodulation, although the specific mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to determine the regulatory role of opsin in the metabolic processes of melanoma under red light conditions. Objective: To explore the specific molecular mechanisms by which OPN3 participates in melanoma cell metabolism under red light conditions, thereby providing potential targets and strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma. Method：The expression of CoxIV in melanoma cells was examined by transfecting overexpression plasmids OPN1-5 to screen for the OPN molecule most strongly correlated with CoxIV. Immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy were used to verify whether OPN molecules are localized in mitochondria and to examine changes in ATP levels. The impact of OPN3 on melanoma metabolic capacity was measured using a Seahorse metabolic analyzer, followed by extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) and maximum oxygen consumption rate (OCR) assays after collecting transfected melanoma cells to confirm the metabolic regulation of melanoma by OPN. Results: The results indicate that compared to overexpression of OPN1, OPN2, OPN4, and OPN5, overexpression of OPN3 significantly increased the expression of CoxIV protein. Moreover, melanoma cells overexpressing OPN3 produced significantly more ATP upon red light stimulation, along with increased expression in mitochondria. These findings suggest that OPN3 may be involved in the regulation of red light on melanoma cell metabolism. Additionally, further experiments using a Seahorse system demonstrated that red light increased OCR through Opsin3, while EACR did not show significant changes. It is speculated that OPN3 influences the oxidative phosphorylation process in melanoma through red light. Conclusion: OPN3 participates in the metabolic regulation of melanoma cells through red light. Yushen Su¹, Hongguang Lu¹ 1. Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China. Pigmentation, Melanoma, and Melanoma Immune Surveillance