Chemosensory proteins (CSPs) are small scavenger proteins that are mainly known as transporters of pheromone/odor molecules at the periphery of sensory neurons in the insect antennae and in the producing cells from the moth female pheromone gland.Sequencing cDNAs of RNA encoding CSPs in the antennae, legs, head, pheromone gland and wings from five single individual adult females of the silkworm moth Bombyx mori showed that they differed from genomic sequences by subtle nucleotide replacement (RDD). Both intronless and intronic CSP genes expressed RDDs, although in different rates. Most interestingly, in our study the degree of RDDs in CSP genes were found to be tissue-specific. The proportion of CSP-RDDs was found to be significantly much higher in the pheromone gland. In addition, Western blot analysis of proteins in different tissues showed existence of multiple CSP protein variant chains particularly found in the pheromone gland. Peptide sequencing demonstrated the occurrence of a pleiad of protein variants for most of all BmorCSPs from the pheromone gland. Our findings show that RNA editing is an important feature in the expression of CSPs and that a high variety of RDDs is found to expand drastically thus altering the repertoire of CSP proteins in a tissue-specific manner.
The melanocortin MC 1 receptor is a G -protein coupled receptor expressed in melanocytes of the skin and hair and is known for its key role in regulation of human pigmentation. Melanocortin MC 1 receptor activation after ultraviolet radiation exposure results in a switch from the red/yellow pheomelanin to the brown/black eumelanin pigment synthesis within cutaneous melanocytes; this pigment is then transferred to the surrounding keratinocytes of the skin. The increase in melanin maturation and uptake results in tanning of the skin, providing a physical protection of skin cells from ultraviolet radiation induced DNA damage. Melanocortin MC 1 receptor polymorphism is widespread within the Caucasian population and some variant alleles are associated with red hair colour, fair skin, poor tanning and increased risk of skin cancer. Here we will discuss the use of mouse coat colour models, human genetic association studies, and in vitro cell culture studies to determine the complex functions of the melanocortin MC 1 receptor and the molecular mechanisms underlying the association between melanocortin MC 1 receptor variant alleles and the red hair colour phenotype. Recent research indicates that melanocortin MC 1 receptor has many nonpigmentary functions, and that the increased risk of skin cancer conferred by melanocortin MC 1 receptor variant alleles is to some extent independent of pigmentation phenotypes. The use of new transgenic mouse models, the study of novel melanocortin MC 1 receptor response genes and the use of more advanced human skin models such as 3D skin reconstruction may provide key elements in understanding the pharmacogenetics of human melanocortin MC 1 receptor polymorphism .
Compared to the many
studies that focus on the development of novel molecular frameworks
pertaining to functionalized fluorescent materials, there is lesser
emphasis on side chains even though they have a significant impact
on the properties and applications of fluorescent materials. In this
study, a series of pyridinium-functionalized tetraphenylethene salts
(TPEPy-1 to TPEPy-4) possessing different alkyl chains are synthesized,
and the influence of chain length on their optical performance and
applications is thoroughly investigated. By changing the alkyl chain,
the fluorogens exhibit opposite emission behavior in aqueous media
because of their distinct hydrophobic nature, and their solid-state
emission can be fine-tuned from green to red owing to their distinct
molecular configuration. In addition, by increasing the chain length,
the microstructure of the self-assembled fluorogens converts from
microplates to microrods with various emission colors. Moreover, TPEPy-1
exhibits dual-mode fluorescence “turn-on” response toward
NO3
– and ClO4
– in aqueous media because the anions induce the self-assembly of
fluorogens. Furthermore, the fluorogens display cellular uptake selectivity
while the proper alkyl chain impels the fluorogens to penetrate the
cell membrane and accumulate in the mitochondria with high specificity.
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