Retinal pigment epithelial cell proliferation

The human retinal pigment epithelium forms early in development and subsequently remains dormant, undergoing minimal proliferation throughout normal life. Retinal pigment epithelium proliferation, however, can be activated in disease states or by removing retinal pigment epithelial cells into culture. We review the conditions that control retinal pigment epithelial proliferation in culture, in animal models and in human disease and interpret retinal pigment epithelium proliferation in context of the recently discovered retinal pigment epithelium stem cell that is responsible for most in vitro retinal pigment epithelial proliferation. Retinal pigment epithelial proliferation-mediated wound repair that occurs in selected macular diseases is contrasted with retinal pigment epithelial proliferation-mediated fibroblastic scar formation that underlies proliferative vitreoretinopathy. We discuss the role of retinal pigment epithelial proliferation in age-related macular degeneration which is reparative in some cases and destructive in others. Macular retinal pigment epithelium wound repair and regression of choroidal neovascularization are more pronounced in younger than older patients. We discuss the possibility that the limited retinal pigment epithelial proliferation and latent wound repair in older age-related macular degeneration patients can be stimulated to promote disease regression in age-related macular degeneration.     

Regulation of the distribution of carotenoid droplets in goldfish xanthophores and possible implication to secretory processes

In goldfish xanthophores, the formation of pigment aggregate requires: 1) that a pigment organelle (carotenoid droplet) protein p57 be in the unphosphorylated state; 2) that self-association of pigment organelles occur in a microtubule-independent manner; and 3) that pigment organelles via p57 associate with microtubules. In the fully aggregated state, the pigment organelles are completely stationary. Pigment dispersion is initiated by activation of a cAMP-dependent protein kinase, which phosphorylates p57 and allows pigment dispersion via an active process dependent on F-actin and a cytosolic factor. This factor is not an ATPase, and its function is unknown. However, its abundance in different tissues parallels secretory activity of the tissues, suggesting a similarity between secretion and pigment dispersion in xanthophores. The identity of the motor for pigment dispersion is unclear. Experimental results show that pigment organelles isolated from cells with dispersed pigment have associated actin and ATPase activity comparable to myosin ATPase. This ATPase is probably an organelle protein of relative molecular mass approximately 72,000, and unlikely to be an ion pump. Isolated pigment organelles without associated actin have 5x lower ATPase activity. Whether this organelle ATPase is the motor for pigment dispersion is under investigation. The process of pigment aggregation is poorly understood, with conflicting results for and against the involvement of intermediate filaments.     

Pigment production from tryptophan by an Achromobacter species

Duerre, John A. (University of North Dakota, Grand Forks), and Patrick J. Buckley. Pigment production from tryptophan by an Achromobacter species. J. Bacteriol. 90:1686-1691. 1965.-A microorganism was isolated from the soil near the University of North Dakota. Biochemical and morphological characteristics indicated that this organism would best be classified as a member of the family Achromobacteraceae, genus Achromobacter, species unknown. The organism produced a red pigment when grown in a medium containing yeast extract and tryptophan. The pH optimum for pigment production was about 8.0 and the optimal temperature was 25 C. During a study of the nutritional requirements for growth and pigment production, it was found that the organism would grow and produce pigment in a medium containing tryptophan and nucleosides, but the rate of both growth and pigment formation in this medium was slower than that observed with tryptophan and yeast extract. The organism grew well in the presence of acid-hydrolyzed casein and nucleosides without producing pigment, indicating that the pigment is not necessary for growth. Resting-cell experiments definitely established tryptophan as the sole exogenous requirement for pigment production. The pigment was extracted from yeast extract-tryptophan medium with chloroform. Thin layer chromatographic analysis of the crude pigment extracted from this medium revealed the presence of two other pigments in addition to the major red pigment. One of these was a highly fluorescent orange pigment and the other a pink pigment. Only the red pigment was produced by resting cells in the presence of tryptophan alone. This pigment served as an electron acceptor when coupled with formic dehydrogenase, indicating its possible function as an oxidation-reduction pigment. The oxidized pigment had absorption peaks at 506 and 304 mmu. The peak at 506 mmu disappeared upon reduction with sodium sulfite. Shaking the reduced pigment in air proved to be an unsatisfactory method for returning the reduced pigment to the oxidized, colored state.     

Elimination of egg pigment from developing ocular tissues in the frog Rana pipiens

The method by which egg pigment is eliminated from the developing retina, corneal epithelium and lens in Rana pipiens was studied with light and electron microscopy. The retina expells egg pigment into the space between the retina and pigment epithelium. This pigment is then engulfed by the pigment epithelial cells. The corneal epithelium eliminates egg pigment directly to the outside via the free surface of the epithelial cells. Egg pigment accumulates in a few cells in the lens. These cells probably degenerate and are extruded. These ectodermal derivatives in the eye are free of egg pigment long before ectodermal derivatives in other parts of the embryo lose their pigment. The early elimination of egg pigment from ocular tissues may related to the fact that these tissues must be transparent in order that light may pass freely to the photoreceptors.     

Autofluorescence method to measure macular pigment optical densities fluorometry and autofluorescence imaging

Non-invasive measurement of the optical density of the human macular pigment by the autofluorescence method takes advantage of the fluorescence of lipofuscin in the human retinal pigment epithelium. Measuring the intensity of fluorescence above 550 nm, where macular pigment has essentially zero absorption, and stimulating the fluorescence with two wavelengths, one well absorbed by macular pigment and the other minimally absorbed by macular pigment, provides a single-pass measurement of the macular pigment optical density. The method is implemented either by fluorometry of lipofuscin to yield the optical density of the macular pigment in a 2 degrees diameter central area, or by autofluorescence imaging to yield a high-resolution map of the macular pigment distribution.     

散囊菌黄色素的提取及稳定性研究

为寻找优质黄色素生产资源及研究其在不同条件下的稳定性,以冠突散囊菌（Eurotium cristatum）为材料,利用有机溶剂辅助超声波破碎等方法从固体平板和液体培养的菌丝体中提取黄色素,并分别研究了光、温度等理化因子对该色素的影响。结果表明,采用有机溶剂辅助超声波等方法成功提取出黄色素;该色素耐受日光灯光、室内散射光,不耐阳光和紫外光;耐酸,不耐碱;对温度敏感。各种金属离子对该色素有不同程度的影响;磷酸的破坏性显著;H2O2、NaHSO3对该色素有较强的破坏力;柠檬酸有一定的破坏作用;同等条件下,苯甲酸钠的破坏大于山梨酸钾;EDTA-Na2和Vc有一定的护色作用;糖类、NaCl、草酸和乳酸几乎无影响。     

Molecular and pharmacological characterization of muscarinic receptors in retinal pigment epithelium: role in light-adaptive pigment movements

Muscarinic receptors are the predominant cholinergic receptors in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Recently, activation of muscarinic receptors was found to elicit pigment granule dispersion in retinal pigment epithelium isolated from bluegill fish. Pigment granule movement in retinal pigment epithelium is a light-adaptive mechanism in fish. In the present study, we used pharmacological and molecular approaches to identify the muscarinic receptor subtype and the intracellular signaling pathway involved in the pigment granule dispersion in retinal pigment epithelium. Of the muscarinic receptor subtype-specific antagonists used, only antagonists specific for M1 and M3 muscarinic receptors were found to block carbamyl choline (carbachol)-induced pigment granule dispersion. A phospholipase C inhibitor also blocked carbachol-induced pigment granule dispersion, and a similar result was obtained when retinal pigment epithelium was incubated with an inositol trisphosphate receptor inhibitor. We isolated M2 and M5 receptor genes from bluegill and studied their expression. Only M5 was found to be expressed in retinal pigment epithelium. Taken together, pharmacological and molecular evidence suggest that activation of an odd subtype of muscarinic receptor, possibly M5, on fish retinal pigment epithelium induces pigment granule dispersion.     

Action Spectra for Step-Up Photophobic Response in Blepharisma

ABSTRACT The cells of Blepharisma which possess red pigment (blepharismin) show step-up photophobic response (temporal ciliary reversal induced by a sudden increase in light intensity). Bleaching of the cells by cold shock raised a threshold light intensity for the response, Oxidation of red pigment that produced blue pigment did not raise the threshold for the response. The action spectrum for the step-up photophobic response of the cells which possess normal red pigment had peaks at about 580, 540 and 490 nm, a value which coincided with peaks of an absorption spectrum of the red pigment. The absorption spectrum of oxidized pigment (blue pigment) shifted 20 nm toward infrared light. The action spectrum for the response of the cells which possess blue pigment also shifted 20 nm toward infrared light. Results suggest that red pigment might be involved in the step-up photophobic response. Key words. Blepharismin, ciliary reversal, photoreceptors, photoresponse.     

In vitro reconstitution of fish melanophore pigment aggregation

Movement and positioning of melanophore pigment organelles depend on microtubule- and actin-dependent motors, but the regulation of these forces are poorly understood. Here, we describe a cell free and fixed time motility assay for the study of the regulation of microtubule-dependent pigment organelle positioning in vitro. The assay involves introduction of microtubule-asters assembled in clam oocyte lysates into lysates prepared from Fundulus heteroclitus melanophores with either aggregated or dispersed pigment. When asters were introduced in lysates prepared from melanophores with dispersed pigment, pigment organelles bound astral microtubules and were evenly distributed throughout the aster. In contrast, when asters were introduced into lysates prepared from melanophores with aggregated pigment, pigment organelles accumulated around the centrosome, mimicking a pigment aggregate. The addition of anti-dynein intermediate chain antibody (m74-1), previously shown to interfere with binding of dynactin to dynein and thereby causing detachment of dynein from organelles, blocked the ATP-dependent aggregation of pigment in vitro and induced a depletion of pigment from the centrosomal area. The results show that dynein is essential for pigment aggregation and involved in maintenance of evenly dispersed pigment in vitro, analogous to cellular evidence, and suggest a possible role for dynactin in these processes as well.     

Regulation of neurohormone release in the fiddler crab, Uca pugilator: effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid, octopamine, Met-enkephalin, and beta-endorphin

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) blocked concentration of the pigments in melanophores and erythrophores of intact crabs. GABA blocked the release of pigment concentrating hormones from the isolated eyestalk. Octopamine (OA) blocked black pigment dispersion in intact crabs, but did not affect red pigment dispersion or concentration. OA blocked the release of black pigment dispersing hormone from isolated eyestalks. Met-enkephalin, but not Leu-enkephalin, stimulated black and red pigment concentration in intact crabs. Met-enkephalin, but not Leu-enkephalin, stimulated the release of pigment concentrating hormones from isolated eyestalks. Naloxone blocked the effects of Met-enkephalin in intact crabs and on isolated eyestalks. Beta-endorphin induced black pigment dispersion in intact crabs and in isolated legs.     

Observations on the pigmentation of the pigeon iris

There are three genetically controlled iris types found in the pigeon, two of which contain stromal pigment cells, the third lacks pigment cells. The yellow (gravel) and white (pearl) iris types have pigment cells that contain birefringent pigment granules (crystals) and are ultrastructurally similar to iridophores of poikilothermic vertebrates. Both these iris types contain guanine as a major "pigment" and, in addition, the yellow iris contains at least two yellow fluorescing pigments that are tentatively identified as pteridines. The pigment cells of the yellow and white irises are structurally identical differing only in the presence or absence of these yellow pigments. The stromal pigment cells of the white iris correspond in structure and pigment chemistry to classical iridophores although they lack strong irridescence and are therefore perhaps best considered leucophores. The pigment cells of the yellow iris can be considered "reflecting xanthophores" having the combined properties of both classical xanthophores and iridophore/leucophores.     

锦鲤总色素及色素组分的比较研究

用光谱和色谱两种方法对锦鲤的总色素和色素组分进行了研究。研究结果表明,红色锦鲤、乌鲤和绯写锦鲤总色素光谱在可见光区(448nm和470nm)有两个完全相同的吸收峰,黄写锦鲤和昭和三色锦鲤总色素光谱在可见光区(445nm和472nm附近)有两个相近的吸收峰,锦鲤所含色素组分均以杏黄色或橙色为主,其他色素组分为辅。锦鲤黑色色斑是由于黑色素存在时,其他各色素组分的颜色被黑色所掩盖;锦鲤其他色斑的形成则是由于其体内各色素组分以不同比例相互搭配组合的结果。亲缘关系越近的锦鲤其总色素组分就越相似,红色锦鲤和乌鲤均含有六种相同的色素组分,绯写锦鲤除杏黄色和橙色色素组分与前二者的同色色素组分Rf值不同外,其余四种同色色素组分的Rf值均相近;黄写锦鲤与昭和三色锦鲤分别含有三种和四种色素组分且Rf值差异显著。据此推测,红色锦鲤、乌鲤和绯写锦鲤可能具有较近的亲缘关系,而黄写锦鲤、昭和三色锦鲤与前三者之间可能具有较远的亲缘关系。该研究有望为锦鲤增色饵料的研制与开发提供理论依据,使锦鲤的观赏价值和经济价值得到进一步提高。       

金鱼总色素及色素组分的比较研究

用色谱和光谱两种方法对金鱼总色素和色素组分进行了研究。研究结果表明,红鲫、草金鱼和红龙睛等红色金鱼总色素光谱在可见光区(472nm附近)有一个吸收峰,黑鲫和黑龙睛等黑色金鱼在可见光区(450nm和472nm附近)有两个吸收峰出现,且红色金鱼所含色素组分以红色(虾青素)为主,黑色金鱼所含色素组分以杏黄色和橙色为主,其他色素组分为辅。金鱼黑色色斑形成是由于黑色素存在时,其他各色素组分的颜色被掩盖的结果;金鱼其他各种色斑的形成则是由于其体内各色素组分以不同比例相互搭配组合的结果。亲缘关系越近的金鱼其总色素组成就越相似,红鲫和黑鲫均含有四种近乎相同的色素组分,红龙睛和黑龙睛均含有六种近乎相同的色素组分,草金鱼虽也含有四种与红鲫和黑鲫相近的色素组分,但Rf值略有差异。据此推测,红鲫和黑鲫、红龙睛和黑龙睛可能分别具有较近的亲缘关系,而草金鱼则可能是介于黑鲫和龙睛鱼之间,且与黑鲫具有较近的亲缘关系。该研究有望为金鱼增色饵料的研制与开发提供理论依据,使金鱼的观赏价值和经济价值得到进一步提高。     

A spring-matrix model for pigment translocation in the red ovarian chromatophores of the freshwater shrimp Macrobrachium olfersi (Crustacea, Decapoda)

A model for intracellular transport of pigment granules in the red ovarian chromatophores of the freshwater shrimp Macrobrachium olfersi is proposed on the basis of shifts in the equilibrium of resting forces acting on an elastic pigment matrix. The model describes a pigment-transport mechanism in which mechanochemical protein motors like kinesin and myosin alternately stretch and compress a structurally unified, elastic pigment matrix. Quantifiable properties of the spring-matrix obey Hooke's Law during the rapid phases of pigment aggregation and dispersion. The spring-like response of the pigment mass is estimated from previous kinetic experiments on pigment translocation induced by red pigment concentrating hormone, or by the calcium ionophore A23187. Both translocation effectors trigger an initial phase of rapid pigment aggregation, and their removal or washout after complete aggregation produces a phase of rapid pigment dispersion, followed by slow pigment translocation. The rapid-phase kinetics of pigment transport are in reasonable agreement with Hooke's Law, suggesting that such phases represent the release of kinetic energy, probably produced by the mechanochemical protein motors and stored in the form of matrix deformation during the slow phases of translocation. This semiquantitative model should aid in analyzing intracellular transport systems that incorporate an elastic component.     

雪白白僵菌红色素的初步鉴定及其与环孢菌素A对底物缬氨酸的竞争

【目的】分离鉴定雪白白僵菌红色素,分析红色素与环孢菌素A对底物缬氨酸的竞争和相互影响。【方法】对红色素进行分离纯化,利用UV、IR和ESI-MS对红色素进行初步鉴定。采用缬氨酸分批补料培养,通过控制溶氧水平,以及添加红色素,分析红色素与环孢菌素A合成之间的竞争关联及相互影响。【结果】经鉴定,雪白白僵菌红色素分子式为C15H10O5,推测为含有芳环结构的蒽醌类化合物。在补加缬氨酸和高DO条件下,环孢菌素的产量高于低DO水平,相反红色素在低DO条件下合成量大于高DO水平。在不补加缬氨酸条件下,实验结果与补加缬氨酸培养一致,但是红色素和环孢菌素A的产量都显著降低。进一步添加外源纯化的红色素时,随着添加量的增加出现了环孢菌素A合成先减弱后增加的变化。【结论】发现并证实了雪白白僵菌红色素与环孢菌素A合成都以缬氨酸为共同底物,但两者的途径又相互独立。     

Nonlinear optical absorption of photosynthetic pigment molecules in leaves

A mathematical formulation of the relationship between optical absorption coefficient of photosynthetic pigment molecules and light intensity was developed. It showed that physical parameters of photosynthetic pigment molecule (i.e., light absorption cross-section of photosynthetic pigment molecule, its average lifetime in the excited state, total photosynthetic pigment molecules, the statistical weight, or degeneracy of energy level of photosynthetic pigment molecules in the ground state and in the excited state) influenced on both the light absorption coefficient and effective light absorption cross-section of photosynthetic pigment molecules. Moreover, it also showed that both the light absorption coefficient and effective light absorption cross-section of photosynthetic pigment molecules were not constant, they decreased nonlinearly with light intensity increasing. The occupation numbers of photosynthetic pigment molecules in the excited states increased nonlinearly with light intensity increasing.     

红穗醋栗色素理化性质的研究

本试验研究了红穗醋栗色素的理化性质,结果表明:红穗醋栗色素热稳定性很好,而光照对其有一定的降解作用。pH值对该色素影响明显,宜在酸性食品中应用。几种金属离子Na~ 、Ca~(2 )、Al~(3 )、Zn~(2 )。Cu~(2 )对该色素的色泽没有影响;而Fe~(3 )、Sn~(2 )则有不良影响。食品中常含的几种添加物葡萄糖、蔗糖、淀粉和抗坏血酸对该色素无不良影响。红穗醋栗色素对Na_2SO_3的还原性耐性较强,对H_2O_2的耐氧化性很差。防腐剂苯甲酸钠对该色素也有一定的不良影响。     

The Conditions for Bacteriochlorophyll Formation and the Ultrastructure of a Methanol-utilizing Bacterium,Protaminobacter ruber,Classified as Non-photosynthetic Bacteria

A methanol-utilizing bacterium, Protaminobacter ruber, formed a green pigment, when it was grown on 1,2-propanediol as a sole carbon and energy source. The pigment was identified as bacteriochlorophyll a by the absorption spectrum resembling the pigment from photosynthetic bacteria and by the exact stoichiometric relationship among the original pigment, the pigment treated to remove magnesium (bacteriopheophytin) and magnesium ion obtained from the pigment. Bacteriochlorophyll formation was stimulated by the exposure to light during the relatively early stage of the growth, while the continuous light exposure completely prevented the pigment formation. Aeration was also necessary for the pigment synthesis as well as the bacterial growth. Electron micrographs of thin section of P. ruber cells cultured in the intermittent light showed the probable existence of a chromatophore-like structure.     

Pigment cells trigger the onset of gastrulation in tropical sea urchin Echinometra mathaei

In the tropical sea urchin Echinometra mathaei, pigment cells are just detectable before the onset of gastrulation, owing to an early accumulation of red pigment granules. Taking advantage of this feature, behavior of pigment cells was studied in relation to the processes of gastrulation. Before the initiation of primary invagination, pigment cells were arranged in a hemi-circle in the dorsal half of the vegetal plate. Inward bending of the vegetal plate first occurred at the position occupied by pigment cells, while the bending was not conspicuous in the ventral half of the blastopore. Rhodamine-phalloidin staining showed that actin filaments were abundant at the apical corticies of pigment cells. It was also found that the onset of gastrulation was considerably delayed in the NiCl2-treated embryos, in which pigment cells were drastically reduced in number. It is notable that the NiCl2-treated embryos began to gastrulate on schedule if they contained a number of pigment cells in spite of treatment. This shows that pigment cells are the bottle cells that trigger the onset of gastrulation. In the embryos devoid of pigment cells, a short stub-like gut rudiment formed in a delayed fashion, and several secondary mesenchyme cells (SMC) appeared at the tip of the rudiment and elongated gradually until its tip reached the apical plate. This observation suggests that the SMC that pull the gut rudiment upward are not pigment cells but blastocoelar cells, because pigment cells change their fate to blastocoelar cells upon NiCl2-treatment.     

Quantitative Studies on Pigment Migration and Light Sensitivity in the Compound Eye at Different Light Intensities

Comparative electrophysiological and histological studies were made on the functional significance of the secondary iris pigment migration for the sensitivity of the eye in the noctuid moth Cerapteryx graminis. The pigment position at different adapting light intensities was studied as well as the influence of different positions on the sensitivity of the eye. Adapting light intensities above a certain value hold the pigment in light position. At a 3 log units lower intensity the pigment is brought into dark position and at light intensities between these limiting values the pigment attains intermediate positions. The results indicate that at light intensities between the limiting values the pigment shifts closely follow the changes in intensity of the environmental light. With the pigment in dark position the eye is about 1000 times more sensitive than when the pigment is in light position, there being a close relationship between the sensitivity of the eye and the position of the pigment at intermediate positions.