The JS7 strain, isolated from an old forest tree, produces extracellular enzymes that decolorize synthetic and natural melanin from human hair. Phylogenetic analysis based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence indicated that JS7 belongs to the genus Irpex. The JS7 strain has laccase activity while it lacks manganese and lignin peroxidase activity, which suggests that the JS7 strain melanin decolorization activity originated from laccase. Laccase production from the Irpex sp. JS7 improved three-fold in the presence of veratryl alcohol, compared to without an inducer. The optimum pH and temperature for melanin decolorization were 7.5 and 40 °C, respectively. The crude enzyme half-life at 25 °C was about 100 days, and it had high storage stability. The melanin decolorization reaction rate by the crude enzyme conformed to typical enzyme kinetic principles. In the presence of syringaldehyde as a redox mediator, the melanin decolorization rate was 75% within 5 days, similar to the decolorization percentage obtained using the enzyme alone. Based on these results, the Irpex sp. JS7 enzyme is suitable for use in melanin decolorization by whitening agents in the cosmetics industry.
- MeSH
- barvicí látky MeSH
- fylogeneze MeSH
- lakasa * genetika metabolismus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- melaniny metabolismus MeSH
- oxidace-redukce MeSH
- Polyporales * metabolismus MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
The ectoparasitic fungus Hesperomyces virescens was studied on its invasive host, the harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis, in the Czech Republic. A primary aim was to examine the relationship between fungal infection and elytral coloration of the ladybird. Furthermore, the role of host sex and mating status of females were analyzed. Beetles (n = 1,102) were sampled during autumn migration, and then sexed, weighed, and screened for infection. Females were dissected for detection of sperm in their spermathecae. Ladybirds were sorted according to color form and absorbance spectrophotometry was used to quantify carotenoid contents in their elytra. In individuals of the nonmelanic succinea form, the degree of melanization was measured using digital photographs and putative age groups were estimated based on background color of elytra. Sexual differences in infection patterns indicated transmission during copulation: males were infected mostly on elytra and venter, and females had infection almost exclusively on elytra. Mated females had higher infection rate than virgins. There was no influence of genetic color form on the fungal infection. Putative age groups (visual sorting to yellow, orange, and red) correlated with fungal infection. Infected individuals had elevated elytral carotenoid levels in comparison to uninfected individuals, which could be explained by host age. Infection-free succinea beetles were extensively melanized because they emerged later in the season at lower temperatures which induced melanization. Overall, we highlight that H. axyridis is a multivoltine species whose age, if not taken into account in ecophysiological studies, might present a considerable confounding factor.
- MeSH
- Ascomycota fyziologie MeSH
- biologické modely MeSH
- brouci metabolismus mikrobiologie MeSH
- interakce hostitele a patogenu * MeSH
- karotenoidy metabolismus MeSH
- melaniny metabolismus MeSH
- pigmentace * MeSH
- sexuální chování zvířat * MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Detection of patterns of subcellular calcium distribution in the cardiovascular system can contribute to understanding its role in cardiac and blood function. The present study localized calcium in heart atrium, ventricle, and bulbus arteriosus as well as in erythrocytes of zebrafish Danio rerio using an oxalate-pyroantimonate technique combined with transmission electron microscopy. Intracellular calcium stores were detected in caveolae, mitochondria, and the nuclei of several zebrafish cardiac cell types. Melanin pigmentation containing calcium stores was detected in the pericardial cavity. Melanin might be an extracellular source of calcium for heart beating and/or a lubricant to prevent friction during beating process. Calcium deposits were also detected in the plasma membrane, cytoplasm and nucleus of erythrocytes as well as in blood plasma. Possible exchange of calcium between erythrocytes and blood plasma was observed. Interactions of such calcium stores and possible contribution of extracellular calcium stores such as melanin pigmentation to supply calcium for vital functions of heart cells should be addressed in future studies.
- MeSH
- buněčná membrána metabolismus MeSH
- buněčné jádro metabolismus MeSH
- dánio pruhované fyziologie MeSH
- erytrocyty metabolismus MeSH
- kardiomyocyty metabolismus MeSH
- kaveoly metabolismus MeSH
- melaniny metabolismus MeSH
- mitochondrie metabolismus MeSH
- srdeční komory cytologie MeSH
- srdeční síně cytologie MeSH
- transmisní elektronová mikroskopie MeSH
- vápník analýza MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
INTRODUCTION: Vitiligo is a skin disorder characterized by a progressive depigmentation, which is caused by the loss of melanocytes at the cutaneous level. A shift of the immune system with a prevalence of T helper (Th)1/Th17 response instead of a Tregs/Th2 one and may be part of etiology of 10 vitiligo. AREAS COVERED: This review describes the major points of vitiligo onset and shows the cutting-edge results in the field of low-dose medicine in the treatment of dermatologic diseases and, in particular. in vitiligo. In this review on advances in vitiligo pharmacotherapy, the most pertinent recent publications are reported. Electronic databases such as PubMed were searched for terms 'low-dose medicine' or 'low dose and vitiligo' or 'low dose and psoriasis.' EXPERT OPINION: The availability of a systemic treatment for vitiligo, based on the oral administration of low-dose activated signaling molecules represents an opportunity for the dermatologists to overcome some specific pitfalls of currently available therapeutic protocols.
- MeSH
- cytokiny metabolismus terapeutické užití MeSH
- keratinocyty fyziologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- melaniny metabolismus MeSH
- melanocyty fyziologie MeSH
- oxidační stres MeSH
- signální transdukce MeSH
- vitiligo farmakoterapie imunologie patologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
Melanins are complex natural pigments that darken the skin and are difficult to degrade. This study evaluated synthetic melanin decolorization by the crude laccase from fungus Lentinus polychrous in the absence and presence of selected redox mediators. The greatest melanin decolorization activity was 87 % at pH 6.5 within 3 h in the presence of 2,2-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) diammonium salt (ABTS), whereas only about 22 % melanin decolorized at pH 5.0 in case of no mediator. The optimum temperatures for melanin decolorization in the absence and presence of ABTS were 55 and 35°C, respectively. Using a natural redox mediator, 1.0 mmol/L vanillin leads to 45 % melanin decolorization. Our results suggest the possibility of applying vanillin for L. polychrous laccase-catalyzed decolorization of melanin.
The ambient temperature experienced during development is a crucial factor affecting survival and adult phenotype in ectotherms. Moreover, the exact response of individuals to different temperature regimes is frequently sex-specific. This sex-specific response can result in varying levels of sexual dimorphism according to the experienced conditions. The majority of studies have investigated the effects of temperature on individuals reared under a constant temperature regime throughout their whole preimaginal development, whereas information on stage-dependent variation in temperature effects is scarce. Here we investigate how the stage at which elevated temperature is experienced influences survival, adult body size and colouration in the harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis form succinea. The effects of timing of exposure to elevated temperature on the adult phenotype are assessed separately for males and females. Control individuals were reared at a constant temperature of 20 °C. Beetles in other treatments were additionally exposed to 33 °C for 48 hours during the following developmental stages: egg, 1(st) to 2(nd) larval instar, 3(rd) larval instar, 4(th) larval instar and pupa. Exposure to an elevated temperature during the early developmental stages resulted in lower survival, but the adult phenotype of survivors was almost unaffected. Exposure to an elevated temperature during the later developmental stages (4(th) larval instar or pupa) resulted in the decreased melanisation of elytra, decreased structural body size and increased dry mass. Furthermore, the timing of high temperature exposure affected the degree of sexual dimorphism in elytral melanisation and dry mass. We demonstrate that the effects of elevated temperature can vary according to the developmental stage at exposure. Detailed information on how ambient temperature affects the developmental biology of ectotherms is crucial for modeling population growth and predicting the spread of invasive species such as Harmonia axyridis.
- MeSH
- analýza přežití MeSH
- brouci anatomie a histologie růst a vývoj fyziologie MeSH
- časové faktory MeSH
- fenotyp MeSH
- melaniny metabolismus MeSH
- pigmentace fyziologie MeSH
- pohlavní dimorfismus * MeSH
- teplota * MeSH
- velikost těla * MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- MeSH
- albinismus MeSH
- Chediakův-Higashiho syndrom MeSH
- hypopigmentace MeSH
- incontinentia pigmenti MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- melaniny fyziologie metabolismus sekrece MeSH
- Peutzův-Jeghersův syndrom MeSH
- piebaldismus MeSH
- pigmentace kůže fyziologie MeSH
- poruchy pigmentace * diagnóza genetika klasifikace MeSH
- Waardenburgův syndrom MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
The origin of vertebrate eyes is still enigmatic. The "frontal eye" of amphioxus, our most primitive chordate relative, has long been recognized as a candidate precursor to the vertebrate eyes. However, the amphioxus frontal eye is composed of simple ciliated cells, unlike vertebrate rods and cones, which display more elaborate, surface-extended cilia. So far, the only evidence that the frontal eye indeed might be sensitive to light has been the presence of a ciliated putative sensory cell in the close vicinity of dark pigment cells. We set out to characterize the cell types of the amphioxus frontal eye molecularly, to test their possible relatedness to the cell types of vertebrate eyes. We show that the cells of the frontal eye specifically coexpress a combination of transcription factors and opsins typical of the vertebrate eye photoreceptors and an inhibitory Gi-type alpha subunit of the G protein, indicating an off-responding phototransductory cascade. Furthermore, the pigmented cells match the retinal pigmented epithelium in melanin content and regulatory signature. Finally, we reveal axonal projections of the frontal eye that resemble the basic photosensory-motor circuit of the vertebrate forebrain. These results support homology of the amphioxus frontal eye and the vertebrate eyes and yield insights into their evolutionary origin.
- MeSH
- axony metabolismus MeSH
- Chordata genetika fyziologie MeSH
- cytoplazma metabolismus MeSH
- fluorescenční mikroskopie metody MeSH
- fotoreceptory bezobratlých fyziologie MeSH
- fotoreceptory obratlovců fyziologie MeSH
- imunohistochemie metody MeSH
- konfokální mikroskopie metody MeSH
- melaniny metabolismus MeSH
- molekulární sekvence - údaje MeSH
- opsiny metabolismus MeSH
- pigmentace MeSH
- přenos světelných signálů MeSH
- proteiny vázající GTP metabolismus MeSH
- retina fyziologie MeSH
- serotonin metabolismus MeSH
- transkripční faktory metabolismus MeSH
- vývojová regulace genové exprese MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Animal eyes are morphologically diverse. Their assembly, however, always relies on the same basic principle, i.e., photoreceptors located in the vicinity of dark shielding pigment. Cnidaria as the likely sister group to the Bilateria are the earliest branching phylum with a well developed visual system. Here, we show that camera-type eyes of the cubozoan jellyfish, Tripedalia cystophora, use genetic building blocks typical of vertebrate eyes, namely, a ciliary phototransduction cascade and melanogenic pathway. Our findings indicative of parallelism provide an insight into eye evolution. Combined, the available data favor the possibility that vertebrate and cubozoan eyes arose by independent recruitment of orthologous genes during evolution.
- MeSH
- biologické modely MeSH
- Cercopithecus aethiops MeSH
- cilie metabolismus ultrasonografie MeSH
- COS buňky MeSH
- Cubozoa růst a vývoj MeSH
- financování organizované MeSH
- fotoreceptory bezobratlých cytologie metabolismus ultrastruktura MeSH
- krystaliny metabolismus MeSH
- melaniny metabolismus MeSH
- messenger RNA MeSH
- molekulární sekvence - údaje MeSH
- obratlovci růst a vývoj MeSH
- oči cytologie růst a vývoj ultrastruktura MeSH
- oční čočka metabolismus MeSH
- pigmentace MeSH
- regulace genové exprese genetika MeSH
- sekvenční homologie nukleových kyselin MeSH
- transkripční faktor spojený s mikroftalmií genetika metabolismus MeSH
- tyčinkové opsiny metabolismus MeSH
- zrak genetika MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
