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Terrein is a polar, substituted dihydrocyclopentenone first reported by Raistrick and colleagues in the 1930s and subsequently found in a number of Aspergillus and Penicillium species. For many years the biological profile and mode of action of terrein was unstudied; however, recent research showed that terrein reduces melanin synthesis by reducing tyrosinase production via ERK activation, followed by MITF down-regulation. Terrein also reduces human keratinocyte proliferation by inhibiting ERK and by decreasing the expression of cyclin B1 and Cdc2 complex.

ChEBI: Terrein is a polyol.

Terrein is a bioactive fungal metabolite th at has plant growth inhibition and antibacterial activities. Terrein reduces melanin levels in a dose-dependent manner as well as tyrosinase protein production. In mammalsthere are three melanocyte-specific enzymes: tyrosinasetyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1)and TRP-2 th at are involved in tyrosine conversion into melanin (melanogenesis). Terrein inhibits melanin synthesis by reducing tyrosinase production via extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) activation. ERK activation is followed by microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) down regulationwhich is required for tyrosinase expression.