Melanogenesis in frog skin

Zusammenfassung Es wurden die anatomische und subzellulare Verteilung der Tyrosinaseaktivität im Integument und die Tyrosincarboxylinkorporation in Melanin beiRana pipiens undRana catesbiana festgestellt und gefunden, dass die Tyrosinaseaktivität in der Bauchhaut höher ist als in der Rückenhaut, während die Seitenhaut dazwischenliegende Werte liefert.

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Contribution 173, Department of Biology.     

Structural diversity of trypsin from different mosquito species feeding on vertebrate blood

Summary Mosquito trypsin was purified using a combination of ion exchange and affinity chromatography with the ligand soybean trypsin inhibitor. ThreeAedes and threeAnopheles species were tested, all of which are specialized in the digestion of vertebrate blood. Amino-terminal sequences of HPLC-purified trypsins fromAedes aegypti andAnopheles quadrimaculatus revealed homologies of 30–40% with vertebrate and other invertebrate proteases previously identified as serine-proteases. The purified mosquito trypsins have molecular masses between 25 kDa and 36 kDa, as determined by denaturing polyacrylamide electrophoresis, and are heterogeneous in size and number in the various species. The number of SDS-bands varies between 3 and 6 inAedes and between 1 and 3 inAnopheles. The specific activities, determined with the substrate TAME, range from 240 U/mg inAedes aegypti to 1065 U/mg inAnopheles quadrimaculatus. All mosquito trypsins tested have acidic isoelectric points between pH 3.5 and pH 5.4. No alkaline proteases were detected. Polyclonal antisera againstAedes aegypti andAnopheles albimanus trypsin do not cross-react with bovine trypsin. Cross-reactivity of the two sera with trypsin from six mosquito species suggests the presence of at least 2 enzyme families.     

Structural diversity of trypsin from different mosquito species feeding on vertebrate blood

Mosquito trypsin was purified using a combination of ion exchange and affinity chromatography with the ligand soybean trypsin inhibitor. Three Aedes and three Anopheles species were tested, all of which are specialized in the digestion of vertebrate blood. Amino-terminal sequences of HPLC-purified trypsins from Aedes aegypti and Anopheles quadrimaculatus revealed homologies of 30-40% with vertebrate and other invertebrate proteases previously identified as serine-proteases. The purified mosquito trypsins have molecular masses between 25 kDa and 36 kDa, as determined by denaturing polyacrylamide electrophoresis, and are heterogeneous in size and number in the various species. The number of SDS-bands varies between 3 and 6 in Aedes and between 1 and 3 in Anopheles. The specific activities, determined with the substrate TAME, range from 240 U/mg in Aedes aegypti to 1065 U/mg in Anopheles quadrimaculatus. All mosquito trypsins tested have acidic isoelectric points between pH 3.5 and pH 5.4. No alkaline proteases were detected. Polyclonal antisera against Aedes aegypti and Anopheles albimanus trypsin do not cross-react with bovine trypsin. Cross-reactivity of the two sera with trypsin from six mosquito species suggests the presence of at least 2 enzyme families.     

Antimicrobial skin peptides and proteins

Human skin is permanently exposed to microorganisms, but rarely infected. One reason for this natural resistance might be the existence of a ‘chemical barrier’ consisting in constitutively and inducibly produced antimicrobial peptides and proteins (AMPs). Many of these AMPs can be induced in vitro by proinflammatory cytokines or bacteria. Apart from being expressed in vivo in inflammatory lesions, some AMPs are also focally expressed in skin in the absence of inflammation. This suggests that non-inflammatory stimuli of endogenous and/or exogenous origin can also stimulate AMP synthesis without inflammation. Such mediators might be ideal ‘immune stimulants’ to induce only the innate antimicrobial skin effector molecules without causing inflammation. Received 9 August 2005; received after revision 21 October 2005; accepted 16 November 2005     

Isolation of large sheets of frog skin epidermis

Zusammenfassung Nach Trypsinbehandlung abgetrennte Froschepidermis von bis zu 5 cm ø zeigt dieselbe Potenialdifferenz, Stromkurzschluss- und Sulfatpermeabilität wie die unveränderte Froschhaut. Die präparierte Epidermis besitzt fast keine Hautdrüsen, Jedoch fast völlig verschlossene Drüsenausführungsgänge.

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This work was supported by grants from the U.S. Public Health Service No. AM 05865 and No. GM 00899.     

Depolarizing action of K-strophantine and K-strophantoside on isolated frog skin

Résumé Après une rapide revue de la littérature, les auteurs rendent compte des résultats de leur étude sur l'action dépolarisante de la strophantine K et du strophantoside K sur la peau isolée de la grenouille. Les résultats démontrent, selon les auteurs, que la strophantine K et le strophantoside K ont la même action sur les potentiels de la peau de la grenouille que sur le myocarde. L'action dépolarisante peut être mise en corrélation avec la sortie des K⁺ions et le transport actif des Na⁺ ions dans la membrane des cellules épithéliales de la peau de la grenouille.      

Colchicine inhibition of ADH effect on frog skin permeability

ADH and AMPc enhance both thiourea unidirectional fluxes in frog skin. This effect is completely abolished by colchicine pretreatment. The ADH increase of thiourea discharge with or without colchicine led us to suppose that colchicine does not directly affect ADH action on outer membrane permeability, but exerts its effects on a site which is limiting for the ADH action on transepithelial permeability.     

Colchicine inhibition of ADH effect on frog skin permeability

Summary ADH and AMPc enhance both thiourea unidirectional fluxes in frog skin. This effect is completely abolished by colchicine pretreatment. The ADH increase of thiourea discharge with or without colchicine led us to suppose that colchicine does not directly affect ADH action on outer membrane permeability, but exerts its effects on a site which is limiting for the ADH action on transepithelial permeability.The present work has been supported by C.N.R., Rome.     

Effects of diphenylhydantoin on transport processes in frog skin (Rana ridibunda)

Résumé La diphénylhydantoïne agit sur la face externe de la peau de grenouille en provoquant une augmentation de la différence de potentiel et du courant de court circuit. L'effet est rapide, soutenu et réversible. Des interactions entre DPH, ocytocine, amiloride et amphotéricine B ont été étudiées.     

Central nervous system control of mucous gland secretion from frog skin

Summary Surface electrical stimulation of the diencephalic roof of the frog,Rana berlandieri forreri, brain initiates integumental mucous gland secretion which is abolished by pithing.This study was supported, in part, by U.S. Public Health Service grant AM-16282.     

Inhibition of sodium transport in frog skin by cardiac glycosides of different molecular structure

p 19-OM no- . ; — .     

The effects of Δ-amino-laevulinic acid on sodium and water movement across frog skin

Zusammenfassung -Aminolävulinsäure (ALA) beeinflusst die Passage von Natrium und Wasser durch ein in vitro Präparat der Froschhaut. Dies bestätigt teilweise die Hypothese, dass ALA eine Rolle in gewissen Abnormalitäten der Nierenkanälchen bei akuter klinischer Porphyrie spielt.