Melanocyte deficient in myosin 5a

Fluorescence micrograph of a melanocyte deficient in myosin 5a. Melanocytes are specialised cells which produce melanins, the pigments responsible for colouring skin and hair. The nucleus (blue), F-actin (red), and melanin granules (green) are shown. Myosin 5a is thought to be involved in the movement and distribution of melanosomes (the pigment-producing organelles) along actin filaments in the cell periphery. In its absence, melanosomes are positioned atypically resulting in clustering of the pigment granules around the nucleus. Fluorescence micrograph; x 63; nucleus is approximately 10 micrometers in length.