<![CDATA[Abstract: Melanocyte, an important component of the skin pigmentation system, has the ability to produce and distribute melanin. This skin pigmentation system consists of melanocytes, melanosomes, tyrosinase enzymes, and the melanogenesis process. The biochemical process of the skin pigmentation (melanogenesis) is very complex, and produces eumelanin and pheomelanin pigments, both are tyrosine derivates. Melanocortins are found in the forms of a-MSH, b-MSH, g-MSH, and ACTH. Melanocortins play some important roles in certain physiologic responses of human beings, such as: the skin pigmentation, adrenal function, sexual function, analgesia, temperature controle, cardiovascular controle, inflammatory process, energy homeostasis, endocrine secretion, diet-intake controle, and autonomic function. In general, the responses are proceeded by binding of melanocortins to their receptors. Key words: melanocyte, melanin, melanocortin, melanogenesis.   Abstrak: Melanosit merupakan komponen penting dalam sistem pigmentasi kulit melalui kemampuannya dalam menghasilkan dan mendistribusikan melanin. Sistem pigmentasi kulit melibatkan melanosit, melanosom, melanin, enzim tirosinase dan proses melanogenesis. Proses biokimia pigmentasi kulit (melanogenesis) bersifat sangat kompleks. Proses melanogenesis ini menghasilkan pigmen eumelanin dan feomelanin. Baik eumelanin maupun feomelanin keduanya adalah derivat tirosin melalui beberapa tahapan. Melanokortin terdiri atas a-MSH, b-MSH, g-MSH dan ACTH. Melanokortin terlibat dalam pengaturan respon fisiologi manusia, yaitu pigmentasi kulit, fungsi adrenal, fungsi seksual, analgesia, kontrol temperatur, kontrol kardiovaskuler, inflamasi, homeostasis energi, sekresi endokrin, mengontrol asupan makanan, dan fungsi otonom. Secara umum respon ini diawali dengan pengikatan melanokortin dengan reseptornya. Kata kunci: melanosit, melanin, melanokortin, melanogenesis.]]>
