| 1. |
- Lindgren, Johan, et al.
(författare)
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Interpreting melanin-based coloration through deep time : A critical Review
- 2015
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Biological Sciences. - : Royal Society of London. - 0962-8452 .- 1471-2954. ; 282:1813
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Colour, derived primarily from melanin and/or carotenoid pigments, is integral to many aspects of behaviour in living vertebrates, including social signalling, sexual display and crypsis. Thus, identifying biochromes in extinct animals can shed light on the acquisition and evolution of these biological traits. Both eumelanin and melanin-containing cellular organelles (melanosomes) are preserved in fossils, but recognizing traces of ancient melanin-based coloration is fraught with interpretative ambiguity, especially when observations are based on morphological evidence alone. Assigning microbodies (or, more often reported, their ‘mouldic impressions’) as melanosome traces without adequately excluding a bacterial origin is also problematic because microbes are pervasive and intimately involved in organismal degradation. Additionally, some forms synthesize melanin. In this review, we survey both vertebrate and microbial melanization, and explore the conflicts influencing assessment of microbodies preserved in association with ancient animal soft tissues.We discuss the types of data used to interpret fossil melanosomes and evaluate whether these are sufficient for definitive diagnosis. Finally, we outline an integrated morphological and geochemical approach for detecting endogenous pigment remains and associated microstructures in multimillion-year-old fossils.
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| 2. |
- Eriksson, Peter, 1989-
(författare)
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Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles and Gadolinium Integration : Synthesis, Characterization and Biomedical Applications
- 2019
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- A challenging task, in the area of magnetic resonance imaging is to develop contrast enhancers with built-in antioxidant properties. Oxidative stress is considered to be involved in the onset and progression of several serious conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, and the possibility to use cerium-contained nanoparticles to modulate such inflammatory response has gained a lot of interest lately. The rare earth element gadolinium is, due to its seven unpaired f-electrons and high symmetry of the electronic state, a powerful element for contrast enhancement in magnetic resonance imaging. Chelates based on gadolinium are the most commonly used contrast agents worldwide. When introducing external contrast agents there is always a risk that it may trigger inflammatory responses, why there is an urgent need for new, tailor-made contrast agents.Small sized cerium oxide nanoparticles have electronic structures that allows coexistence of oxidation states 3+ and 4+ of cerium, which correlates to applicable redox reactions in biomedicine. Such cerium oxide nanoparticles have recently shown to exhibit antioxidant properties both in vitro and in vivo, via the mechanisms involving enzyme mimicking activity.This PhD project is a comprehensive investigation of cerium oxide nanoparticles as scaffold materials for gadolinium integration. Gadolinium is well adopted into the crystal structure of cerium oxide, enabling the combination of diagnostic and therapeutic properties into a single nanoparticle. The main focus of this thesis project is to design cerium oxide nanoparticles with gadolinium integration. A stepwise approach was employed as follows: 1) synthesis with controlled integration of gadolinium, 2) material characterization by means of composition crystal structure, size, and size distribution and 3) surface modification for stabilization. The obtained nanoparticles exhibit remarkable antioxidant capability in vitro and in vivo. They deliver strongly enhanced contrast per gadolinium in magnetic resonance imaging, compared to commercially available contrast agents.A soft shell of dextran is introduced to encapsulate the cerium oxide nanoparticles with integrated gadolinium, which protects and stabilizes the hard core and to increases their biocompatibility. The dextran-coating is clearly shown to reduce formation of a protein corona and it improves the dispersibility of the nanoparticles in cell media. Functionalization strategies are currently being studied to endow these nanoparticles with specific tags for targeting purposes. This will enable guidance of the nanoparticles to a specific tissue, for high local magnetic resonance contrast complemented with properties for on-site reduced inflammation.In conclusion, our cerium oxide nanoparticles with integrated gadolinium, exhibit combined therapeutic and diagnostic, i.e. theragnostic capabilities. This type of nanomaterial is highly promising for applications in the field of biomedical imaging.
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| 3. |
- Eriksson, Peter, et al.
(författare)
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Cerium oxide nanoparticles with antioxidant capabilities and gadolinium integration for MRI contrast enhancement
- 2018
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 2045-2322. ; 8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The chelating gadolinium-complex is routinely used as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) -contrast enhancer. However, several safety issues have recently been reported by FDA and PRAC. There is an urgent need for the next generation of safer MRI-contrast enhancers, with improved local contrast and targeting capabilities. Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeNPs) are designed with fractions of up to 50% gadolinium to utilize the superior MRI-contrast properties of gadolinium. CeNPs are well-tolerated in vivo and have redox properties making them suitable for biomedical applications, for example scavenging purposes on the tissue-and cellular level and during tumor treatment to reduce in vivo inflammatory processes. Our near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) studies show that implementation of gadolinium changes the initial co-existence of oxidation states Ce3+ and Ce4+ of cerium, thereby affecting the scavenging properties of the nanoparticles. Based on ab initio electronic structure calculations, we describe the most prominent spectral features for the respective oxidation states. The as-prepared gadolinium-implemented CeNPs are 3-5 nm in size, have r(1)-relaxivities between 7-13 mM(-1) s(-1) and show clear antioxidative properties, all of which means they are promising theranostic agents for use in future biomedical applications.
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| 4. |
- Gren, Johan, et al.
(författare)
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Molecular and microstructural inventory of an isolated fossil bird feather from the Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark
- 2017
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Ingår i: Palaeontology. - : Blackwell Publishing. - 0031-0239 .- 1475-4983. ; 60:1, s. 73-90
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- An isolated, yet virtually intact contour feather (FUM-1980) from the lower Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark was analysed using multiple imaging and molecular techniques, including field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM), X-ray absorption spectroscopy and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). Additionally, synchrotron radiation X-ray tomographic microscopy (SRXTM) was employed in order to produce a digital reconstruction of the fossil. Under FEG-SEM, the proximal, plumulaceous part of the feather revealed masses of ovoid microstructures, about 1.7 μm long and 0.5 μm wide. Microbodies in the distal, pennaceous portion were substantially smaller (averaging 0.9 × 0.2 μm), highly elongate, and more densely packed. Generally, the microbodies in both the plumulaceous and pennaceous segments were aligned along the barbs and located within shallow depressions on the exposed surfaces. Biomarkers consistent with animal eumelanins were co-localized with the microstructures, to suggest that they represent remnant eumelanosomes (i.e. eumelanin-housing cellular organelles). Additionally, ToF-SIMS analysis revealed the presence of sulfur-containing organics – potentially indicative of pheomelanins – associated with eumelanin-like compounds. However, since there was no correlation between melanosome morphology and sulfur content, we conclude these molecular structures derive from diagenetically incorporated sulfur rather than pheomelanin. Melanosomes corresponding roughly in both size and morphology with those in the proximal part of FUM-1980 are known from contour feathers of extant parrots (Psittaciformes), an avian clade that has previously been reported from the Fur Formation.
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| 5. |
- Hu, Zhang-Jun, et al.
(författare)
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Real-time visualizing the regulation of reactive oxygen species on Zn2+ release in cellular lysosome by a specific fluorescent probe
- 2018
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Ingår i: Sensors and actuators. B, Chemical. - : ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA. - 0925-4005 .- 1873-3077. ; 264, s. 419-425
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Reactive oxygen species (ROS) regulating the release of free zinc ions (Zn2+) in cellular lysosome is closely related to various pathways of cellular signal transduction, such as inflammation and oxidative stress. Directly visualizing Zn2+ release in lysosome is essential for in-depth understanding these physiological processes, and is still an atelic challenge. In this work, we successfully fabricate a lysosome-specific Zn2+ fluorescent probe and achieve the visualization of ROS-induced Zn2+ release in lysosome of inflammatory cells. The as-prepared probe combines a green fluorophore, an ionophore with five-dentate sites, and a morpholine as the lysosome-specific localization moiety. The fluorescence of the fluorophore in the free probe is suppressed by a photoinduced electron transfer (PET) process from nitrogen atoms in the ionophore. Upon the addition of Zn2+, the fluorescence can be promoted immediately, achieving the real-time detection. Meanwhile, the probe is sensitive and selective to Zn2+, which provides the capability to detect low-concentration of free Zn2+ in lysosomes. Accordingly, the Zn2+ release was clearly observed in lysosome with the increase of ROS levels when the inflammation occurred in living cells. (c) 2018 Published by Elsevier B.V.
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| 6. |
- Lindgren, Johan, et al.
(författare)
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Biochemistry and adaptive colouration of an exceptionally preserved juvenile fossil sea turtle
- 2017
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 7:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The holotype (MHM-K2) of the Eocene cheloniine Tasbacka danica is arguably one of the best preserved juvenile fossil sea turtles on record. Notwithstanding compactional flattening, the specimen is virtually intact, comprising a fully articulated skeleton exposed in dorsal view. MHM-K2 also preserves, with great fidelity, soft tissue traces visible as a sharply delineated carbon film around the bones and marginal scutes along the edge of the carapace. Here we show that the extraordinary preservation of the type of T. danica goes beyond gross morphology to include ultrastructural details and labile molecular components of the once-living animal. Haemoglobin-derived compounds, eumelanic pigments and proteinaceous materials retaining the immunological characteristics of sauropsid-specific β-keratin and tropomyosin were detected in tissues containing remnant melanosomes and decayed keratin plates. The preserved organics represent condensed remains of the cornified epidermis and, likely also, deeper anatomical features, and provide direct chemical evidence that adaptive melanism - a biological means used by extant sea turtle hatchlings to elevate metabolic and growth rates - had evolved 54 million years ago. © 2017 The Author(s).
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| 7. |
- Lindgren, Johan, et al.
(författare)
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Molecular composition and ultrastructure of Jurassic paravian feathers
- 2015
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 2045-2322. ; 5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Feathers are amongst the most complex epidermal structures known, and they have a well-documented evolutionary trajectory across non-avian dinosaurs and basal birds. Moreover, melanosome-like microbodies preserved in association with fossil plumage have been used to reconstruct original colour, behaviour and physiology. However, these putative ancient melanosomes might alternatively represent microorganismal residues, a conflicting interpretation compounded by a lack of unambiguous chemical data. We therefore used sensitive molecular imaging, supported by multiple independent analytical tests, to demonstrate that the filamentous epidermal appendages in a new specimen of the Jurassic paravian Anchiornis comprise remnant eumelanosomes and fibril-like microstructures, preserved as endogenous eumelanin and authigenic calcium phosphate. These results provide novel insights into the early evolution of feathers at the sub-cellular level, and unequivocally determine that melanosomes can be preserved in fossil feathers.
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| 8. |
- Lindgren, Johan, et al.
(författare)
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Soft-tissue evidence for homeothermy and crypsis in a Jurassic ichthyosaur
- 2018
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Ingår i: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 564:7736
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ichthyosaurs are extinct marine reptiles that display a notable external similarity to modern toothed whales. Here we show that this resemblance is more than skin deep. We apply a multidisciplinary experimental approach to characterize the cellular and molecular composition of integumental tissues in an exceptionally preserved specimen of the Early Jurassic ichthyosaur Stenopterygius. Our analyses recovered still-flexible remnants of the original scaleless skin, which comprises morphologically distinct epidermal and dermal layers. These are underlain by insulating blubber that would have augmented streamlining, buoyancy and homeothermy. Additionally, we identify endogenous proteinaceous and lipid constituents, together with keratinocytes and branched melanophores that contain eumelanin pigment. Distributional variation of melanophores across the body suggests countershading, possibly enhanced by physiological adjustments of colour to enable photoprotection, concealment and/or thermoregulation. Convergence of ichthyosaurs with extant marine amniotes thus extends to the ultrastructural and molecular levels, reflecting the omnipresent constraints of their shared adaptation to pelagic life.
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