2-Mercaptonicotinoyl glycine, a new potent melanogenesis inhibitor, exhibits a unique mode of action while preserving melanocyte integrity.

Research on new ingredients that can prevent excessive melanin production in the skin while considering efficacy, safety but also environmental impact is of great importance to significantly improve the profile of existing actives on the market and avoid undesirable side effects. Here, the discovery of an innovative technology for the management of hyperpigmentation is described. High-throughput screening tests on a wide chemical diversity of molecules and in silico predictive methodologies were essential to design an original thiopyridinone backbone and select 2-mercaptonicotinoyl glycine (2-MNG) as exhibiting the most favorable balance between the impact on water footprint, skin penetration potential and performance.

A flavivirus protein M-derived peptide directly permeabilizes mitochondrial membranes, triggers cell death and reduces human tumor growth in nude mice.

Dengue viruses belong to the Flavivirus family and are responsible for hemorrhagic fever in Human. Dengue virus infection triggers apoptosis especially through the expression of the small membrane (M) protein. Using isolated mitochondria, we found that synthetic peptides containing the C-terminus part of the M ectodomain caused apoptosis-related mitochondrial membrane permeabilization (MMP) events.

Targeted Vpr-derived peptides reach mitochondria to induce apoptosis of alphaVbeta3-expressing endothelial cells.

The HIV-1 encoded apoptogenic protein Vpr induces mitochondrial membrane permeabilization (MMP) via interactions with the voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) and the adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT). We have designed a peptide, TEAM-VP, composed of two functional domains, one a tumor blood vessel RGD-like 'homing' motif and the other an MMP-inducing sequence derived from Vpr. When added to isolated mitochondria, TEAM-VP interacts with ANT and VDAC, reduces oxygen consumption and overcomes Bcl-2 protection to cause inner and outer MMP.

Real-time flow cytometry analysis of permeability transition in isolated mitochondria.

Mitochondrial membrane permeabilization (MMP) is a key event in necrotic and (intrinsic) apoptotic processes. MMP is controlled by a few major rate-limiting events, one of which is opening of the permeability transition pore (PTP). Here we develop a flow cytometry (FC)-based approach to screen and study inducers and blockers of MMP in isolated mitochondria.