A method to identify target genes or proteins for regulating melanogenesis or pigmentation and to screen for compounds for manipulation of melanogenesis or pigmentation, the method of screening for candidate compounds for regulating melanogenesis or pigmentation, includes bringing test compounds into contact with cells capable of expressing mortalin and/or Hsp60 in vitro, and selecting, from among the test compounds, a compound that changes the expression level of mortalin and/or Hsp60.
