These results directly demonstrate that MITF-M not only influences melanogenesis, but also determines the progression of melanosomal protein in mouse melanocytes.
Tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TRP-2) is one of the most important members of the tyrosinase family, and is a key enzyme involved in melanin biosynthesis. In the present study, a skin transcriptome profile, immunohistochemistry, western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction were used to investigate TRP-2 expression in sheep with different coat colors, namely, black, white and black-white. TRP-2 was overexpressed in melanocytes in order to study the effect of TRP-2 on melanin production. Results revealed differing TRP-2 levels in sheep of different coat colors and in various parts of the coat with different colors in the same sheep. TRP-2 expression levels in dark-colored areas were significantly increased compared with light-colored areas in piebald sheep. TRP-2 overexpression may regulate melanogenesis and significantly increase melanogenesis associated transcription factor expression in vitro. Therefore, TRP-2 may affect melanin production in sheep, and different expression levels determine coat color. The results may provide novel approaches for developing therapeutic strategies for skin diseases associated with pigmentation disorders.
Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is known as a metabolic regulator to regulate the metabolism of glucose and lipids. However, the underlying mechanism of FGF21 on melanin synthesis remains unknown. Therefore, the current study investigates the effect of FGF21 on melanogenesis in alpaca melanocytes. We transfected the FGF21 into alpaca melanocytes, then detected the melanin contents, protein and mRNA levels of pigmentation-related genes in order to determine the melanogenesis-regulating pathway of FGF21. The results showed that FGF21 overexpression suppressed melanogenesis and decreased the expression of the major target genes termed microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) and its downstream genes, including tyrosinase (TYR) and tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TRP2). However FGF21 increased the expression of phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-Erk1/2). In contrast, FGF21-siRNA, a small interference RNA mediating FGF21 silencing, abolished the inhibition of melanogenesis. Altogether, FGF21 may decrease melanogenesis in alpaca melanocytes via ERK activation and subsequent MITF downregulation, which is then followed by the suppression of melanogenic enzymes and melanin production.
To investigate whether ocular albinism type 1 (OA1) is differentially expressed in the skin of mice with different coat colors and to determine its correlation with coat color establishment in mouse, the expression patterns and tissue distribution characterization of OA1 in the skin of mice with different coat colors were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR), immunofluorescence staining and Western blot. The qRT-PCR analysis revealed that OA1 mRNA was expressed in all mice skin samples tested, with the highest expression level in brown skin, a moderate expression level in black skin and the lowest expression level in gray skin. Positive OA1 protein bands were also detected in all skin samples by Western blot analysis. The relative expression levels of OA1 protein in both black and brown skin were significantly higher than that in gray skin, but there was no significant difference between black and brown mice. Immunofluorescence assays revealed that OA1 was mainly expressed in the hair follicle matrix, the inner and outer root sheath in the skin tissues with different coat colors. To get further insight into the important role of OA1 in the melanocytes’ pigmentation, we transfected the OA1 into mouse melanocytes and then detected the relative expression levels of pigmentation-related gene. Simultaneously, we tested the melanin content of melanocytes. As a result, the overexpression of OA1 significantly increased the expression levels of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase (TYR), tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP1) and premelanosome protein (PMEL). However, the tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TRP2) level was attenuated. By contrast, the level of glycoprotein non-metastatic melanoma protein b (GPNMB) was unaffected by OA1 overexpression. Furthermore, we observed a significant increase in melanin content in mouse melanocyte transfected OA1. Therefore, we propose that OA1 may participate in the formation of coat color by regulating the level of MITF and the number, size, motility and maturation of melanosome.
Introduction. To investigate whether the membrane-associated transporter protein SLC45A2 is differentially expressed in the skin of sheep with different coat colors and to determine its correlation with coat color establishment in sheep. Material and methods. The expression of SLC45A2 in sheep skin samples with different coat colors was qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed by PCR amplification, RT-PCR, immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting. Results. A 193-bp SLC45A2 CDS sequence was successfully amplified from sheep skin samples with diverse coat colors. RT-PCR analysis revealed that SLC45A2 mRNA was expressed in all sheep skin samples tested, with relative expression levels of 512.74 ± 121.51 in black skin, 143.38 ± 119.31 and 1.36 ± 0.09 in black dots and white dots of piebald skin, respectively, and 1.02 ± 0.23 in white skin (p < 0.01**). Positive SLC45A2 protein bands were also detected in all skin samples by Western blot analysis, with relative expression levels of 0.85 ± ± 0.17** in black skin, 0.60 ± 0.05** and 0.34 ± 0.07 in black dots and white dots of piebald skin, respectively, and 0.20 ± 0.05 in white skin (p < 0.01**). Immunohistochemical assays revealed that SLC45A2 was expressed in the hair follicle matrix, the inner and outer root sheath, and the dermal papilla in the skin tissues with different coat colors. These patterns were quantified by optical density (OD) analysis, which yielded relative expression levels of 0.23 ± 0.11 in black skin, 0.19 ± 0.09 and 0.10 ± 0.03 in black dots and white dots of piebald skin, respectively, and 0.08 ± 0.01 in white skin (p < 0.05*). Conclusion. SLC45A2 is detectably expressed in sheep skin of all coat colors, though at significantly different levels. SLC45A2 may participate in the establishment of coat color by regulating the synthesis and trafficking of melanin.
Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is known as a metabolic regulator to regulate the metabolism of glucose and lipids. However, the underlying mechanism of FGF21 on melanin synthesis remains unknown. Therefore, the current study investigates the effect of FGF21 on melanogenesis in alpaca melanocytes. We transfected the FGF21 into alpaca melanocytes, then detected the melanin contents, protein and mRNA levels of pigmentation-related genes in order to determine the melanogenesis-regulating pathway of FGF21. The results showed that FGF21 overexpression suppressed melanogenesis and decreased the expression of the major target genes termed microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) and its downstream genes, including tyrosinase (TYR) and tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TRP2). However FGF21 increased the expression of phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-Erk1/2). In contrast, FGF21-siRNA, a small interference RNA mediating FGF21 silencing, abolished the inhibition of melanogenesis.Altogether, FGF21 may decrease melanogenesis in alpaca melanocytes via ERK peer-reviewed) is the author/funder. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission.The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not . http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/147082 doi: bioRxiv preprint first posted online activation and subsequent MITF downregulation, which is then followed by the suppression of melanogenic enzymes and melanin production.
Boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) exfoliated from hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) show great potential in polymer-based composites due to their excellent mechanical properties, highly thermal conductivity, and insulation properties. Moreover, the structural optimization, especially the surface hydroxylation, of BNNSs is of importance to promote their reinforcements and optimize the compatibility of its polymer matrix. In this work, BNNSs were successfully attracted by oxygen radicals decomposed from di-tert-butylperoxide (TBP) induced by electron beam irradiation and then treated with piranha solution. The structural changes of BNNSs in the modification process were deeply studied, and the results demonstrate that the as-prepared covalently functionalized BNNSs possess abundant surface hydroxyl groups as well as reliable structural integrity. Of particular importance is that the yield rate of the hydroxyl groups is impressive, whereas the usage of organic peroxide and reaction time is greatly reduced due to the positive effect of the electron beam irradiation. The comparisons of PVA/BNNSs nanocomposites further indicate that the hydroxyl-functionalized BNNSs effectively promote mechanical properties and breakdown strength due to the enhanced compatibility and strong two-phase interactions between nanofillers and the polymer matrix, which further verify the application prospects of the novel route proposed in this work.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.