Enzyme That Darkens Skin Could Prevent Skin Cancer Risk

A recent Healio article discussed an enzyme discovered by a team at Massachusetts General Hospital that could help reduce the risk of skin cancer. The enzyme is a skin pigment mechanism that darkens skin, increasing its capability to protect skin from ultraviolet radiation damage. It’s called nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (NNT), and located in the mitochondria where it regulates melanin production. In a study, the team determined that skin with a darker pigment was protected from DNA damage caused by UV radiation.