Malignant melanoma of the skin (Cmm) is associated with ultraviolet radiation exposure, butthe mechanisms and even the wavelengths responsible are unclear. Here we use a mammalianmodel to investigate melanoma formed in response to precise spectrally defined ultravioletwavelengths and biologically relevant doses. We show that melanoma induction by ultravioletA (320–400nm) requires the presence of melanin pigment and is associated with oxidativeDnA damage within melanocytes. In contrast, ultraviolet B radiation (280–320nm) initiatesmelanoma in a pigment-independent manner associated with direct ultraviolet B DnA damage.Thus, we identified two ultraviolet wavelength-dependent pathways for the induction ofCmm and describe an unexpected and significant role for melanin within the melanocyte inmelanomagenesis.
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