Acoustic signature of plastic marine debris mimics the prey items of deep-diving cetaceans.

It is largely assumed that odontocetes voluntarily ingest plastic marine debris because they visually mistake it for prey. However, deep-diving whales do not rely on visual systems to forage and instead employ echolocation. Whether or not these whales misinterpret acoustic signals that lead to the accidental ingestion of plastic is unknown.

Microplastics in marine mammal blubber, melon, & other tissues: Evidence of translocation.

Marine mammals consume large quantities of microplastic particles, likely via trophic transfer (i.e., through prey who have consumed plastic) and direct consumption from seawater or sediment.

Thioredoxin Reductase 1 Modulates Pigmentation and Photobiology of Murine Melanocytes in vivo.

Pigment-producing melanocytes overcome frequent oxidative stress in their physiological role of protecting the skin against the deleterious effects of solar UV irradiation. This is accomplished by the activity of several endogenous antioxidant systems, including the thioredoxin antioxidant system, in which thioredoxin reductase 1 (TR1) plays an important part. To determine whether TR1 contributes to the redox regulation of melanocyte homeostasis, we have generated a selective melanocytic Txnrd1-knockout mouse model (Txnrd1), which exhibits a depigmentation phenotype consisting of variable amelanotic ventral spotting and reduced pigmentation on the extremities (tail tip, ears, and paws).

Carbonyl Reductase 1 Plays a Significant Role in Converting Doxorubicin to Cardiotoxic Doxorubicinol in Mouse Liver, but the Majority of the Doxorubicinol-Forming Activity Remains Unidentified.

Doxorubicin is a widely used cancer therapeutic, but its effectiveness is limited by cardiotoxic side effects. Evidence suggests cardiotoxicity is due not to doxorubicin, but rather its metabolite, doxorubicinol. Identification of the enzymes responsible for doxorubicinol formation is important in developing strategies to prevent cardiotoxicity.