Search results for "PIGMENT"

2019

Water-soluble chlorophyll proteins (WSCP) from Brassicaceae form homotetrameric chlorophyll (Chl)–protein complexes binding one Chl per apoprotein and no carotenoids. Despite the lack of photoprotecting pigments, the complex-bound Chls displays a remarkable stability toward photodynamic damage. On the basis of a mutational study, we show that not only the presence of the phytyls is necessary for photoprotection in WSCPs, as we previously demonstrated, but also is their correct conformation and localization. The extreme heat stability of WSCP also depends on the presence of the phytyl chains, confirming their relevance for the unusual stability of WSCP.

Conservation of amino-acid chromatograms.

1951

IN filter-paper partition chromatography, the ninhydrin reaction has been used almost exclusively for the identification and quantitative assay of amino-acids. One of the chief disadvantages of the blue pigment formed in this reaction is its rapid fading on filter-paper chromatograms. This makes it difficult to construct permanent or semi-permanent reference maps from which not only the type of amino-acid, but also the approximate quantity of the unknown mixture, can be deduced.

Regulatory Changes in Pterin and Carotenoid Genes Underlie Balanced Color Polymorphisms in the Wall Lizard

2018

ABSTRACTReptiles use pterin and carotenoid pigments to produce yellow, orange, and red colors. These conspicuous colors serve a diversity of signaling functions, but their molecular basis remains unresolved. Here, we show that the genomes of sympatric color morphs of the European common wall lizard, which differ in orange and yellow pigmentation and in their ecology and behavior, are virtually undifferentiated. Genetic differences are restricted to two small regulatory regions, near genes associated with pterin (SPR) and carotenoid metabolism (BCO2), demonstrating that a core gene in the housekeeping pathway of pterin biosynthesis has been co-opted for bright coloration in reptiles and indi…

Through-bond versus through-space T1 energy transfers in organometallic compound-metalloporphyrin pigments

2009

The preparation and characterization of two d9−d9 M2-bonded Pt2(dppm)2(C≡CC6H4-M(P))2 complexes (where M = Zn or Pd, and P = diethylhexamethylporphyrin) were achieved. The central [Pt2(dppm)2(C≡CC6H4)2] organometallic unit appears to be an independent chromophore and is suspected to be luminescent at 77 K (in 2MeTHF) in the porphyrin-containing complexes, as this is the case for the unfunctionalized Pt2(dppm)2(C≡CPh)2 parent compound. However, when this spacer is connected (by a single C−C bond) to either M(P) (M = Zn, Pd), even in the absence of conjugation (as the computed dihedral angle between the C6H4 and porphyrin planes is ∼84.5°), total quenching of the luminescence of the [Pt2(dppm…

Data from: Body coloration and mechanisms of colour production in Archelosauria: the case of deirocheline turtles

2019

Animal body coloration is a complex trait resulting from the interplay of multiple mechanisms. While many studies address the functions of animal coloration, the mechanisms of colour production still remain unknown in most taxa. Here we compare reflectance spectra, cellular, ultra- and nano- structure of colour-producing elements, and pigment types in two freshwater turtles with contrasting courtship behaviour, Trachemys scripta and Pseudemys concinna. The two species differ in the distribution of pigment cell-types and in pigment diversity. We found xanthophores, melanocytes, abundant iridophores and dermal collagen fibres in stripes of both species. The yellow chin and forelimb stripes of…

PCARE and WASF3 regulate ciliary F-actin assembly that is required for the initiation of photoreceptor outer segment disk formation

2020

Significance The photoreceptor outer segments are primary cilia, modified for phototransduction by incorporation of stacked opsin-loaded membrane disks that are continuously regenerated. This process is disrupted in several types of inherited retinal dystrophy, but the driving force remained unclear. We show that C2orf71/PCARE (photoreceptor cilium actin regulator), associated with inherited retinal dystrophy subtype RP54, efficiently recruits the Arp2/3 complex activator WASF3 to the cilium. This activates an actin dynamics-driven expansion of the ciliary tip, resembling membrane evagination in lamellipodia formation. Colocalization of this actin dynamics module to the base of the outer se…

All-trans to 11-cis retinol isomerization in nuclear membrane fraction from bovine retinal pigment epithelium

1991

Abstract Isomerization of all-trans to 11-cis retinol has been studied in a membrane preparation from the nuclear fraction of bovine retinal pigment epithelium. When the nuclear membrane preparation deprived of endogenous retinoids is incubated with 4·5 μ m all-trans-retinol, the mean value calculated for the isomerase activity is 1·32 nmol 11-cis retinol formed hr−1 mg protein−1. Simultaneous formation of all-trans and 11-cis retinyl esters is also observed in the nuclear preparation. When assayed under the same experimental condition, RPE 150 000 g post-nuclear sediment shows about 70% of the isomerase activity found in the nuclear membrane fraction. Treatment of the nuclear membrane frac…

Activity and kinetics of DNA dependent DNA and RNA polymerases n xeroderma pigmentosum and in normal human skin.

1971

1. DNA dependent DNA polymerase (E.C.2.7.7.7) was prepared from human normal and from Xeroderma pigmentosum skin. 2. DNA polymerase from normal skin has the same Michaelis constant with native and denatured DNA as templateKm= 120 ± 11 µg DNA/ml, with differing maximum reaction velocities. 3. The enzyme from Xeroderma pigmentosum has the same Michaelis constant for denatured DNA as the enzyme from normal skin, but with native DNA as template, theKmvalue is lower (97.2 ± 9.8). The maximum reaction velocities of the Xeroderma pigmentosum enzyme with native resp. denatured DNA as template are the same. 4. DNA dependent RNA polymerases (E.C.2.7.7.6) from normal and Xeroderma pigmentosum skin wer…

Predator mimicry, not conspicuousness, explains the efficacy of butterfly eyespots

2015

Large conspicuous eyespots on butterfly wings have been shown to deter predators. This has been traditionally explained by mimicry of vertebrate eyes, but recently the classic eye-mimicry hypothesis has been challenged. It is proposed that the conspicuousness of the eyespot, not mimicry, is what causes aversion due to sensory biases, neophobia or sensory overloads. We conducted an experiment to directly test whether the eye-mimicry or the conspicuousness hypothesis better explain eyespot efficacy. We used great tits ( Parus major ) as model predator, and tested their reaction towards animated images on a computer display. Birds were tested against images of butterflies without eyespots, wi…

Effect of Pulp Pigmentation Intensity on Consumer Acceptance of New Blood Mandarins: A Cross-Cultural Study in Spain and Italy

2022

One of the current objectives of different citrus breeding programmes is obtaining new pigmented mandarins. This study investigates to what extent consumer preferences, expectations and purchase intention are affected by the appearance of new mandarins, specifically pulp pigmentation intensity. Four hundred consumers from both Italy and Spain (800 in all) participated in the study. In each country, half were informed about the healthy properties of the anthocyanins responsible for red pulp colouration, while the other half were not. Italians more readily accepted new mandarin varieties than Spaniards, which was linked to them being more familiar with blood oranges. In Italy, both slight- an…