Melanin Distribution in Human Skin: Influence of Cytoskeletal,Polarity, and Centrosome-Related Machinery of Stratum basale Keratinocytes

Melanin granules cluster within supra-nuclear caps in basal keratinocytes (KCs) of the human epidermis, where they protect KC genomic DNA against ultraviolet radiation (UVR) damage. While much is known about melanogenesis in melanocytes (MCs) and a moderate amount about melanin transfer from MC to KC, we know little about the fate of melanin once inside KCs. We recently reported that melanin fate in progenitor KCs is regulated by rare asymmetric organelle movement during mitosis. Here, we explore the role of actin, microtubules, and centrosome-associated machinery in distributing melanin within KCs. Short-term cultures of human skin explants were treated with cytochalasin-B and nocodazole to target actin filaments and microtubules, respectively. Treatment effects on melanin distribution were assessed by the Warthin–Starry stain, on centrosome-associated proteins by immunofluorescence microscopy, and on co-localisation with melanin granules by brightfield microscopy. Cytochalasin-B treatment disassembled supra-nuclear melanin caps, while nocodazole treatment moved melanin from the apical to basal KC domain. Centrosome and centriolar satellite-associated proteins showed a high degree of co-localisation with melanin. Thus, once melanin granules are transferred to KCs, their preferred apical distribution appears to be facilitated by coordinated movement of centrosomes and centriolar satellites. This mechanism may control melanin’s strategic position within UVR-exposed KCs.     

Environmental Control Symposium

MAN is but a part of the universe; his capabilities make him a significant link, in the cycle of life. To ensure this life, man must live in harmony with his environment. Recently, a disharmony has been discovered which could have grave effects upon the existence of man. It appears that man in his great thrust forward is destroying his own environment. The gravity of this threat to man's own existence carries some intrinsic problems of its own: man must allow his reason rather than his emotion to take command.     

Thermal Shock Failure in Thick Epoxy Coatings

In this paper we describe an apparatus for reproducibly measuring thermal shock resistance of thick polymer layers bonded to metals. The thermal shock behavior is discussed in terms of epoxy samples bonded to an aluminum substrate. It was found that both high resin toughness and low resin thermal expansion coefficient improved thermal shock resistance of thick coatings, but only a sample containing 60wt. % glass beads did not develop a failure crack. Effects of sample thickness, temperature gradient, and resin composition on thermal shock behavior are discussed.     

Reactions of conjugated fatty acids. V. Preparation and properties of diels-alder adducts and their esters fromtrans,trans-conjugated fatty acids derived from soybean oil

Summary Soybean fatty acids were conjugated with alkali, and the contained, conjugated dienoic acids were isomerized with iodine to thetrans,trans configuration. Adducts were prepared from thesetrans,trans-conjugated acids by condensation with maleic anhydride and acrylic acid. The adducts were isolated, purified, and converted to esters by using a variety of alcohols, including methyl, ethyl,n-propyl,n-butyl, and allyl alcohols. Esters made from saturated alcohols were converted into the corresponding epoxy derivatives. All of the esters (except allyl) and all of the epoxy esters were compatible with an equal weight of polyvinyl chloride and appeared to be primary plasticizers for this plastic. The epoxy esters were effective in inhibiting heat deterioration of polyvinyl chloride. Presented at fall meeting. American Oil Chemists' Society, September 23–26, 1956, Chicago, Ill.     

Pressure reaction of maleic esters with vegetable oils

The reaction of dimethyl maleate and some related dienophiles with vegetable oils under pressure has been studied successfully. When safflower oil reacts with 100% excess maleate, sulfur dioxide catalyst, and hydroquinone inhibitor at 290° for 1hr., 80 to 90% yields of adduct fraction, based on linoleate, are obtained. Under the same conditions almost equally good yields result with either linseed or soybean oils. With safflower oil, dimethyl fumarate gave slightly lower yields. Di-n-butyl maleate gave even poorer yields, and much residue was formed. Paper II in a series entitled, “Reactions of Dienophiles with Vegetable Oils”. Presented at annual meeting, American Oil Chemists' Society, St. Louis, Mo., May 1–3, 1961. This is a laboratory of the Northern Utilization Research and Development Division, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.     

Production of human normal adult and fetal hemoglobins in Escherichia coli

A hemoglobin expression system in Escherichia coli is described. In order to produce authentic human hemoglobin, we need to co-express both methionine aminopeptidase and globin genes under the control of a strong promoter. We have constructed three plasmids, pHE2, pHE4 and pHE7, for the expression of human normal adult hemoglobin and a plasmid, pHE9, for the expression of human fetal hemoglobin, in high yields. The globin genes can be derived from either synthetic genes or human globin cDNAs. The extra amino-terminal methionine residues of the expressed globins can be removed by the co-expressed methionine aminopeptidase. The heme is inserted correctly into the expressed alpha- globin from our expression plasmids. A fraction (approximately 25%) of the heme is not inserted correctly into the expressed beta- or gamma- globin. However, the incorrectly inserted hemes can be converted into the correct conformation by carrying out a simple oxidation-reduction process on the purified hemoglobin molecule. We have investigated the functional properties of the expressed hemoglobins by measuring their oxygen-binding properties and their structural features by obtaining their 1H-NMR spectra. Our results show that authentic human normal adult and fetal hemoglobins can be produced from our expression plasmids in E. coli and in high yields. Our expression system allows us to design and to produce any recombinant hemoglobins needed for our research on the structure-function relationship in hemoglobin.      

The kinetics of CO2 hydrogenation on a Rh foil promoted by titania overlayers

Submonolayer deposits of titania on a Rh foil have been found to increase the rate of CO₂ hydrogenation. The primary product, methane, exhibits a maximum rate at a TiO _x coverage of 0.5 ML which is a factor of 15 higher than that over the clean Rh surface. The rate of ethane formation displays a maximum which is 70 times that over the unpromoted Rh foil; however, the selectivity for methane remains in excess of 99%. The apparent activation energy for methane formation and the dependence of the rate on H₂ and CO₂ partial pressure have been determined both for the bare Rh surface and the titania-promoted surface. These rate parameters show very small variations as titania is added to the Rh catalyst. The methanation of CO₂ is proposed to start with the dissociation of CO₂ into CO_(a) and O_(a), and then proceed through steps which are identical to those for the hydrogenation of CO. The increase in the rate of CO₂ hydrogenation in the presence of titania is attributed to an interaction between the adsorbed CO, released by CO₂ dissociation, and Ti³⁺ ions located at the edge of TiO _x islands covering the surface. Differences in the effects of titania promotion on the methanation of CO₂ and CO are discussed in terms of the mechanisms that have been proposed for these two reactions.     

Rubber-modified epoxy resins containing high functionality acrylic elastomers

The effect of the functionality of n-butylacrylate/acrylic acid copolymers upon the impact resistance of epoxy resins modified with these rubbery copolymers as a second phase was investigated using a high speed tensile test and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that an optimum functionality of copolymer existed for maximum impact resistance. This optimum value was the result of the competition between the amount of rubber–matrix reaction, an increases in which tended to increase toughness, and solubility of the rubber in the epoxy matrix, which eventually decreased toughness.     

Lewis acidity as an explanation for oxide promotion of metals: implications of its importance and limits for catalytic reactions

Sub-monolayer quantities of metal oxides are found to influence CO hydrogenation, CO₂ hydrogenation, acetone hydrogenation, ethylene hydroformylation, ethylene hydrogenation, and ethane hydrogenolysis over Rh foils. The metal oxides investigated include AlOx, TiOx, VOx, FeOx, ZrOx, NbOx, TaOx, and WOx. Only those reactions involving the hydrogenation of C-O bonds are enhanced by the oxide overlayers. The coverage at which maximum rate enhancement occurs is approximately 0.5 ML for each oxide promoter. Titanium, niobium, and tantalum oxides are the most effective promoters. XPS measurements after reaction show that of the oxides studied titanium, niobium, and tantalum oxide overlayers are stable in the highest oxidation states. The trend in promotion effectiveness is attributed to the direct relationship between oxidation state and Lewis acidity. For the oxide promoters, bonding at the metal oxide/metal interface between the O-end of adsorbed CO and the Lewis acidic oxide is postulated to facilitate C-O bond dissociation and subsequent hydrogenation.