Radiation-resistant microorganisms employ complex regulatory networks to safeguard cellular protection and DNA repair upon radiation exposure. And, previous studies have focused on a single type of radiation. However, studies specifically exploring the correlations, including connectivity defined as interlinked regulatory networks or coexisted core defense mechanisms, and differences referred to the radiation-type-specific radiation protection and damage repair, between an organism's resistant radiation types and their underlying resistance mechanisms remain limited. Therefore, we conducted an integrated transcriptomic and physiological analysis of Sphingomonas radiodurans from Mount Everest, investigating its connectivity and differences responding to multi-radiations within UVC, γ-ray, and X-ray radiation. For UVC radiation, extracellular polysaccharides reduced direct cell damage, and the RecF homologous recombination pathway was induced to repair DNA DSBs. In response to γ-ray radiation, EPSs also mitigated cell damage; additionally, γ-ray-induced changes in cell membrane proteins and lipids cooperated with EPS to block radiation penetration, and the RecF pathway was activated for DNA DSBs repair. Regarding X-ray radiation, it similarly induced membrane protein and lipid changes to synergize for radiation blocking, but uniquely activated the RecBCD homologous recombination pathway for DNA DSBs repair. Notably, the ROS-scavenging system served as the common connectivity across all three radiation types, mitigating oxidative stress from radiation-induced ROS accumulation. Combined with weighted gene co-expression network analysis, a high proportion of novel genes encoding hypothetical proteins were significantly upregulated in response to multi-radiation. Taken together, these results highlight the coordinated protective strategies of strain S9-5 involving both shared and radiation-specific mechanisms, provide new insights into bacterial response mechanisms of radiation resistance evolution in extreme environments, and serve as important references for developing protection agents against multi-radiation damage.

The treatment of hypertrophic scars poses a significant therapeutic challenge due to the limitations of existing options. Given the inadequacy of current regimens, it is imperative to explore new and more effective treatment strategies.

This work focuses on the development and validation of a multi-modal stimulation device for in vitro cell culture systems. The device was designed to stimulate cells or tissues placed on 12-well culture plates. It is connected to customized software that controls the parameters of photobiomodulation (PBM) and ultrasound stimulation (US) through light-emitting diodes and piezoelectric disks, respectively. A wide range of stimulation protocols can be explored by modulating central frequency or wavelength, power density, and duration. Four different cell lines were used to validate the safety and functionality of the device. Human osteoblasts, chondrocytes, periodontal ligament fibroblasts, and mouse-derived neuronal cells were cultured and stimulated daily with ultrasound (1.0 MHz, 100 mW/cm, 5 min), light (810 nm, 7.5 mW/cm, 5 min) and combined stimuli. After three days, metabolic activity and proliferation were assessed. Different cell types demonstrated distinct biological responses to the stimuli, as osteoblasts and chondrocytes showed increased metabolic activity after combined stimulation or PBM, while the metabolic activity of human fibroblasts or neuronal-like cells was unchanged after three days. This highlights the importance of a rigorous optimization of stimulation protocols according to the target tissue. The safety of the device and its sterilization conditions were demonstrated as there was no cell death or contamination during in vitro stimulation. This work features a feasible, safe, and effective multi-modal stimulation device that can provide a wide range of stimulation protocols to better understand their effect on cells or tissues.

Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory skin disease closely linked to the abnormal colonization and proliferation of Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes). Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as an ideal treatment. However, it still faces challenges such as low reactive oxygen species (ROS) production rates with porphyrin-based photosensitizers and low activation efficiency of conventional red light. This study investigated the in vitro and in vivo bactericidal effects of sinoporphyrin sodium (DVDMS) combined with a novel 450 nm blue laser-mediated photodynamic therapy (BL-PDT) on C. acnes, and explored the potential mechanisms, focusing on energy metabolism. In our results, C. acnes showed a time-dependent uptake of DVDMS, and BL-PDT demonstrated an excellent bactericidal effect on C. acnes in vitro by inducing a large amount of ROS production. RNA sequencing and metabolomic analysis revealed that BL-PDT inhibited C. acnes carbon metabolism while initially enhancing respiration; however, both fermentation and respiration were suppressed after 2 h, and ATP declined time-dependently in this process. Ultimately, the combined effects of ROS-induced damage (from DVDMS and enhanced respiration) and ATP depletion led to bacterial death. Similarly, in vivo experiments confirmed the favorable therapeutic efficacy and safety of BL-PDT in a rat model of acne. In conclusion, DVDMS-based BL-PDT may be a safe and effective new treatment against acne. Thus, our results provide compelling evidence for using DVDMS and BL-PDT in acne treatment.

Photoaging is a significant contributor to accelerated skin aging, primarily driven by ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation exposure, which induces damage to skin tissues. Tannic acid (TA), a high-molecular-weight, water-soluble polyphenolic compound abundant in Galla chinensis and other plant sources, exhibits remarkable antioxidant properties. This study aimed to investigate the effects of TA on UVB-induced skin photoaging and to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying.

Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation, a primary cause of skin photoaging, triggers oxidative stress, inflammation, barrier dysfunction, and apoptosis in keratinocytes. New marine-derived benzaldehyde compound B-1 (Asperterrol), isolated from the coral-associated fungus Aspergillus terreus C23-3, has been demonstrated to have multifaceted protective effects against UVB-induced photoaging in HaCaT keratinocytes. This study revealed that B-1 restores cell viability at concentrations ranging from 2.5 to 10 μM and significantly reduces ROS overproduction, particularly at 10 μM, comparable to untreated controls. Mechanistically, B-1 activated the Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant pathway by promoting Nrf2 nuclear translocation and enhancing superoxide dismutase (SOD-1) expression, as evidenced by molecular docking showing stable hydrogen bonding with nuclear factor (Nrf2) residues (Val606 and Ile559). Concurrently, B-1 suppressed ultraviolet radiation B (UVB)-triggered inflammation via dose-dependent inhibition of inhibitor of NF-kB alpha (IκBα) phosphorylation and NF-κB/MAPK signaling, reducing cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-1β levels. Notably, B-1 upregulated skin barrier proteins Filaggrin and Involucrin, thereby counteracting UVB-induced barrier dysfunction. Furthermore, B-1 further mitigated apoptosis by normalizing the Bcl-2/Bax ratio and suppressing caspase-3 and caspase-9 activation while enhancing early-stage cell migration. These findings underscore the potential of B-1 as a promising multitarget agent against UVB-driven skin damage, bridging marine fungal resources to dermatological innovation.

Lipid droplets (LDs) are important biomarkers for metabolic diseases such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and they have significant research value in revealing the pathological mechanisms of these diseases. In this study, we designed three fluorescent probes based on triphenylamine, namely DM-1, DM-2, and DM-3, for the targeted detection of lipid droplets and the identification of NAFLD. DM1-3 exhibits a unique response to small polar environments and has high sensitivity, high selectivity, large Stokes shift, high fluorescence quantum yield, a wide pH range (2-8), and rapid recognition. Particularly, the fluorescence intensity of probe DM-1 at 576 nm (expressed in logarithmic form) has a good linear relationship with PBS/Diox (80-96 %) (R = 0.9888). Therefore, probe DM-1 was selected as the object for further study. The results of cell experiments indicated that the probe DM-1 could target lipid droplets within cells and exhibited low cytotoxicity. In vivo experiments successfully achieved the imaging of LDs in the liver of NAFLD mouse models at different stages. Together, these results demonstrated the potential of probe DM-1 as a polar-sensitive fluorescent tool for the early diagnosis and monitoring of NAFLD.

Despite its efficiency, real-time capability, and low cost, laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy has limited classification accuracy in breast carcinoma diagnosis, restricting its clinical application. To address this, we evaluated three steady-state autofluorescence analysis approaches: spectral ratio, piecewise linear fitting, and univariate cubic polynomial fitting. To make the analysis more systematic and objective, a sliding-window mechanism and statistical difference analysis were introduced. Based on these results, a novel composite-feature strategy was proposed through arithmetic combination of slope values across multiple spectral segments, enabling distributed spectral information to be effectively integrated and enhancing classification stability. Under the current sample size, piecewise linear fitting demonstrated superior performance by extracting multiple slope features, one of which achieved 100 % classification. However, ambiguous boundaries limited unimodal generalizability for larger datasets. We then combined the optimal unimodal method-piecewise linear fitting-with time-resolved fluorescence lifetime data for bimodal analysis. This fusion markedly enhanced class separability over unimodal approaches. Furthermore, decision boundaries from support vector machines (SVM) were sharper than those from linear discriminant analysis (LDA). These findings highlight the diagnostic value of spectral slope features and emphasize the enhanced classification performance achieved by combining steady-state with time-resolved data. The proposed method is label-free, low-cost, time-efficient, and shows strong potential for intelligent diagnostics by reducing reliance on subjective interpretation. The observed differences likely arise from structural protein changes (collagen, elastin), altered protein-bound NAD(P)H ratios, elevated FAD, and porphyrin accumulation, reflecting tumor-related metabolic and microstructural changes.

Topical photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a minimally invasive, clinically approved treatment for non-melanoma skin cancer that relies on the conversion of photosensitizer (PS) precursors such as 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) into protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), followed by light activation. However, the low skin penetration of topically applied ALA cream remains a major limitation, restricting effective PpIX accumulation in deeper tumor layers. To address this challenge, we produced dissolving microneedles (DMN) as an alternative intradermal delivery platform. Two mold types were evaluated for DMN fabrication, one with a slight edge (DMNe) and another without edges (DMNf), both maintaining a conical tip geometry. DMN were prepared with a formulation containing initially 10% ALA and 20% Gantrez® AN-139 polymer in water, produced in a few steps, and characterized. In vitro insertion studies demonstrated consistent penetration depths of approximately 250μm with minimal tip deformation. DMNf showed a better penetration efficiency than the DMNe and cream groups, and mass spectrometry confirmed uniform ALA distribution. In vitro assays in darkness confirmed the formulation's biocompatibility with tumor cells. In a murine xenograft model of nodular epidermoid carcinoma, DMN-mediated ALA delivery generated up to twice the amount of PpIX in deeper tumor regions and also caused greater PDT damage compared to cream application. These findings highlight DMN as a promising approach to enhance PDT efficacy, especially for thicker or nodular skin lesions, by enabling superior and uniform intradermal drug delivery.

The increasing demand for multifunctional, biocompatible nanomaterials has spurred the exploration of hybrid systems with synergistic antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant, and regenerative properties. In this study, polydopamine (PDA)-based nanocomposites incorporating graphene oxide (PDA-GO) and graphene quantum dots (PDA-GQD) were synthesized and systematically characterized for their physicochemical and biological functionalities. The nanocomposites raised temperature > 50 °C within 5 min under 808 nm laser irradiation (1.5 W/cm, 250 μg/mL). Both composites showed antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) (Gram-negative) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) (Gram-positive), achieving >99 % bacterial eradication under 10 min NIR irradiation at 125 μg/mL, indicating a combined photothermal (PT) and oxidative mechanism. In parallel, in vitro cytotoxicity assays revealed selective toxicity toward MCF-7 cancer cells-reducing viability to 95 % viability of normal L929 fibroblasts. Antioxidant assays confirmed >80 % DPPH radical scavenging at 250 μg/mL, supporting their potential in oxidative stress modulation. Furthermore, scratch wound healing assays demonstrated ∼100 % wound closure within 48 h in NIR-irradiated PDA-GO/PDA-GQD groups. Intracellular H₂O₂ generation reached up to 30.5 μM in MCF-7 cells under laser, enabling dual PT-photodynamic (PD) therapy. Altogether, these findings position PDA-GO and PDA-GQD nanocomposites as versatile platforms for integrated antibacterial, anticancer, and wound-healing therapies, highlighting their promise for future biomedical applications beyond conventional monofunctional approaches.

Diatoms are major contributors to marine primary production and global carbon cycling, while they face increasing physiological stress from climate change-driven shifts in temperature, light regimes, and carbon availability. Carbonic anhydrase (CA) is a key enzyme in diatom carbon-concentrating mechanisms, catalyzing the reversible conversion of CO₂ and HCO₃ to facilitate carbon fixation. Here, we examined how CA inhibition influences the growth and photosynthetic performance of two morphologically distinct diatoms-Skeletonema costatum and Nitzschia sp. (centric vs. pennate)-under ultraviolet radiation (UVR) across three temperatures (15, 20, and 25 °C). Cultures were exposed to photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) or PAR + UVR (PAB), with or without ethoxyzolamide (EZ), a membrane-permeable CA inhibitor. In S. costatum, EZ completely suppressed growth at all temperatures, indicating a strong dependence on CA-mediated CO₂ supply. Nitzschia sp. maintained growth under EZ at 15 and 20 °C but was more affected at 25 °C, suggesting greater resilience through alternative carbon acquisition pathways. Photophysiological measurements showed that CA inhibition substantially reduced maximum relative electron transport rate (rETR) and light saturation point (I) in S. costatum, with smaller effects in Nitzschia. Under UVR, effective quantum yield (EQY) declined in both species, but the reduction was amplified by CA inhibition, most severely in S. costatum, where UVR-induced EQY inhibition exceeded 75 % at 25 °C. These results highlight that CA plays a critical role in mitigating UVR stress by sustaining CO₂ availability, and that species-specific traits, including differences in cell geometry, carbon uptake systems, and photoprotective capacity, modulate diatom vulnerability to combined warming and UVR. Such species-specific responses could drive shifts in diatom community composition and alter coastal carbon cycling under future climate scenarios.

Effect of different prophylactic regimes, i.e., Fluoride, Methylene blue (MB) activated photodynamic therapy (PDT), Argon laser, and photopolymerized resin infiltration, on the microhardness (MH), calcium/phosphorus (Ca/P) ratio, bracket-enamel interface, and shear bond strength (SBS) of orthodontic adhesive adhered to demineralized enamel.

Excessive ultraviolet (UV) radiation is harmful to human health, leading to a range of skin issues including photoaging, sunburn, and skin cancer. Using sunscreen can help alleviate or provide temporary protection against the harmful effects of UV radiation. Commercial sunscreens frequently have low effectiveness and raise safety concerns. Therefore, a novel biocompatible polydopamine-intercalated MgAl-layered double hydroxides nanocomposite (PDA-LDH) was synthesized via in situ oxidation of dopamine within the interlayer of LDH at room temperature and without any additives. LDH can serve as an effective base to facilitate the formation of PDA without the need for an additional base, due to the ordered arrangement of basic hydroxyl groups on the surface of the LDH. The intercalation of PDA in the LDH interlayer ensures good biosafety, effective UV shielding, and excellent antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties of PDA-LDH, making it suitable for skin photoprotection and the repair of photodamaged skin. PDA-LDH is poised to be a promising next-generation biomimetic sunscreen, designed to assist in the photoprotection and repair of photodamaged skin.

Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) is an important environmental factor that seriously affects the biological process of Camellia sinensis cv. 'Huangjinya', which is highly susceptible to light stress. To understand the mechanism adapted to UV-B, we analyzed the phenotypical, physicochemical and transcriptomic responses of 'Huangjinya' in response to UV-B stress in this study. Phenotypic analysis revealed that UV-B induced a yellowing of 'Huangjinya' leaves, accompanied by a significant reduction in chlorophyll and carotenoid content. Physiological assessments showed a marked decline in photosynthetic capacity, with decreased photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and electron transfer rate, alongside increased non-photochemical quenching. Antioxidant enzyme activities, particularly peroxidase (POD), were significantly reduced, while stress-responsive hormones such as abscisic acid (ABA), jasmonic acid (JA), salicylic acid (SA), and ethylene (ET) were elevated. Under UV-B exposure, a total of 15,170 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, with 3565 upregulated and 11,605 downregulated genes. These DEGs were primarily involved in metabolic pathways related to pigment biosynthesis, photosynthesis, antioxidant enzymes, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and plant hormone signal transduction. Transcriptomic analysis further indicated downregulation of genes associated with chlorophyll and carotenoid biosynthesis, as well as photosynthesis-related genes, while genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis and stress hormone pathways were upregulated. Additionally, UV-B exposure led to a decrease in free amino acids, caffeine, and soluble sugar content, but an increase in tea polyphenols. These findings suggest that UV-B enhances the ornamental value of 'Huangjinya' leaves but adversely affects photosynthetic efficiency and the accumulation of key quality components in tea leaves. The study provides a comprehensive understanding of the molecular and physiological mechanisms underlying response to UV-B stress of 'Huangjinya', highlighting the interplay between gene expression and physiological changes in UV-B adaptation.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive malignancy with a poor prognosis due to the absence of target receptors, which limits treatment options to cytotoxic chemotherapy, particularly cisplatin. Severe adverse effects and cellular resistance limit cisplatin therapy. Laser-based therapies hold promise as adjunctive approaches with potent anti-tumor properties. This study evaluates the effects of femtosecond laser (FSL) on the MDA-MB-231 cell line alone and in combination with cisplatin. Cells were exposed to varying parameters, including wavelength (690, 750, 830, 888, and 920 nm), exposure time (10, 15, 20, and 30 min), and power settings (150, 200, 250, and 300 mW). Results revealed that 920 nm significantly reduced cell viability relative to the control. Adding cisplatin after FSL (920 nm) significantly reduced cell viability relative to cisplatin. By varying exposure time and power, 30 min of exposure significantly reduced viability relative to 15 and 20 min, and 200 mW was the most effective power compared to 250 mW and 300 mW. Trypan blue and Rhodamine 6G staining revealed that FSL + cisplatin showed a marked reduction in cell number and vesicle-like structures with condensed or absent nuclei. UV-Vis spectrophotometry showed a peak at 230 nm of intracellular cisplatin with absorbance lower in the FSL + cisplatin compared to cisplatin. These findings highlight the potential of FSL as a novel adjunctive therapy with cisplatin in TNBC treatment. By enhancing cisplatin efficacy, FSL irradiation offers a promising strategy, allowing the use of reduced doses with few adverse effects. Further studies are warranted to explore the clinical applicability of this approach.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising cancer treatment approach that relies on the localized generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to eliminate cancer cells. In particular, the nanophotonic approach based on upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) offers a key advantage by enabling the use of near-infrared (NIR) light, which enhances light penetration into tissue and expands clinical applicability of PDT. Real-time monitoring of ROS generation and degradation during the PDT process offers distinct advantages over conventional endpoint assays for elucidating PDT mechanisms, optimizing photosensitizer (PS) formulations and refining treatment protocols. In this study, we not only distinguish and quantify the relative contribution of NaYF:Yb,Tm UC nano-antennas, Rose Bengal (RB) PS, NIR activation laser, and culture medium in UCNP-based PDT for the first time via real-time ROS analysis using dissolved oxygen (DO) data which cannot be achieved by endpoint assays but also introduce new and insightful concepts such as medium activation time (FWHM), maximum PL lifetime change (Δτ), and time to reach the maximum PL lifetime change τ This is realized by implementation of a 3D-printed optofluidic dissolved oxygen (DO) sensor for indirect analysis of ROS dynamics which infer from changes in the sensor's photoluminescence (PL) lifetime (τ). Thus, performance and optimum concentrations of NaYF:Yb,Tm UCNPs and RB PS are first determined via MTT assays using A375 melanoma cells, and subsequent in-vitro PDT tests using a 980 nm laser. Quantitative analyses show that, UCNPs, RB, and the cell culture medium contribute approximately 25 %, 26 %, and 4 % to the total Δτ respectively. The maximum performance occurs when all components are present and activated, resulting in the highest ROS level with the longest activation time. Interestingly, even laser excitation of the medium alone or UCNPs without PS results in partial ROS generation. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing UCNP-based PDT drugs for cancer treatment.

Metastasis or the spread of cancer cells to other tissues is a hallmark that leads to the majority of cancer-related deaths worldwide. When metastasizing cancer cells invade into the bloodstream, they become floating cells, also known as circulating tumor cells (CTCs), which can lead to the development of metastasis-associated multidrug resistance in advanced cancer patients. Eradication of CTCs has received much attention as a strategy for preventing metastasis. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has attracted growing interest as a minimally invasive approach for cancer treatment. Pyropheophorbide-a (PPa) is photosensitizer with advantages of relatively high wavelength absorption and high extinction coefficient; however, it has limited PDT therapeutic benefits due to poor solubility. This work aimed to employ PDT for killing CTCs by utilizing PVA and TPGS coated PLGA nanoparticles, loaded with PPa. The PPa-entrapped PLGA nanoparticles (PPa-NPs) exhibited a spherical morphology under TEM with an average size of 124.9 ± 2.3 nm and a zeta potential value of -32.0 ± 1.4 mV. The PPa-NPs enhanced singlet oxygen generation in water upon light activation. PPa-NPs successfully delivered PPa into A549 floating cells under CTC-mimicking conditions, with 21-fold increase in intracellular PPa accumulation when compared to free PPa treatment. After red light excitation, intracellular ROS level was elevated in PPa-NPs treated floating cells, in a dose-dependent manner, and correlated with photocytotoxic effect of PPa-NPs in the floating cells. Our results demonstrate that PVA and TPGS stabilized PLGA NPs efficiently preserved the photophysical properties of PPa for eradicating CTCs by PDT with red light activation.

Hydroxyl radicals (•OH) play a critical role in oxidative stress-related diseases, yet their real-time detection in vivo remains challenging. We developed a hydroxyl radical-responsive photoacoustic probe (OHP) by modifying IR780-SOH with enhanced hydrophilicity (logP = -1.051) for improved biodistribution. Structural characterization confirmed the selective reduction of the conjugated system, while in vitro studies demonstrated OHP's selective and linear response to •OH with minimal interference from other ROS/RNS. In diabetic mice, OHP enabled dynamic monitoring of hepatic •OH levels, revealing elevated oxidative stress that was attenuated by metformin treatment. Ex vivo fluorescence imaging and histopathology validated the imaging results, showing strong correlation with disease severity. Biosafety assessments confirmed negligible cytotoxicity in cells and mice. OHP represents a sensitive, selective, and biocompatible tool for non-invasive •OH detection, offering potential for studying oxidative stress and therapeutic interventions.

Photosystem II (PSII) is highly sensitive to light-induced damage. Photoinhibition, the light-dependent inactivation of PSII, is associated with an increase of excitation-energy quenching. Recovery from photoinhibition involves migration of PSII complexes from the appressed to the non-appressed region of the thylakoid membrane, where D1 (the PSII core protein most sensitive to photodamage) is degraded and repair occurs. However, it remains unclear whether damaged PSII core complexes accumulate in the stroma lamellae when repair is blocked. Here, we combined confocal Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM) with biochemical fractionation of the thylakoid membrane to investigate the localization of damaged PSII following photoinhibition in the presence of lincomycin, an inhibitor of D1 synthesis. This condition mimics natural stress scenarios such as heat, where D1 synthesis is impaired. FLIM analysis of structured, intact thylakoid membranes, segmented into grana- and stroma-lamellae-enriched regions, revealed a decrease in PSII fluorescence lifetime upon photoinhibition, consistent with increased excitation-energy quenching. Surprisingly, no significant difference in fluorescence lifetime components was observed between membrane domains, suggesting that damaged, quenched PSII does not accumulate in the stroma lamellae under these conditions. Western blot analysis of biochemically isolated membrane fractions confirmed a uniform decrease in D1 levels across grana and stroma lamellae upon photoinhibition. Our results indicate that when D1 synthesis is blocked, the relocation and degradation of photodamaged PSII proceed efficiently enough to prevent its accumulation in the stroma lamellae. This reveals new aspects of PSII repair and demonstrates the strength of FLIM for spatially resolved analysis of the thylakoid membrane.

The processes of cyclic electron transport around photosystems I and II (CET-PSI and CET-PSII) do not lead to O evolution and CO assimilation and are referred to as anoxygenic photosynthesis a broad sense, in contrast to specific processes in bacteria, which are commonly referred to as anoxygenic photosynthesis in a narrow sense. CET-PSI has been studied much more extensively than CET-PSII. Attempts to quantify CET-PSI have yielded contradictory results. It is not detected in non-stressed C3-plants using photoacoustic methods but is commonly considered as being observed when using Antimycin А which was had previously been proposed as a CET-PSI inhibitor. However, most researchers ignore recent data showing that Antimycin А primarily inhibits rather CET-PSII then CET-PSI. These facts, along with others, suggest that the contribution of CET-PSI to photosynthesis of non-stressed C3-plants has been overestimated. Our analysis of the data in this field also shows the possibility of underestimating CET-PSII, as well as anoxygenic photosynthesis in total, which is not excluded from being dominated over oxygenic photosynthesis. We point out that CET-PSI and CET-PSII cannot be studied separately. The difficulties in the quantitative evaluation of CET-PSII can be solved using photoacoustic techniques, which are highly promising in studies of anoxygenic photosynthesis.

Abnormal melanogenesis is a fundamental biological process underlying pigmentary disorders. While several solute carrier (SLC) transporters have been implicated in its regulation, the functions of many SLCs members remain poorly characterized.