scholarly journals Three distinct inner dynein arms in Chlamydomonas flagella: molecular composition and location in the axoneme.

1990 ◽  
Vol 110 (2) ◽  
pp. 379-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Piperno ◽  
Z Ramanis ◽  
E F Smith ◽  
W S Sale

The molecular composition and organization of the row of axonemal inner dynein arms were investigated by biochemical and electron microscopic analyses of Chlamydomonas wild-type and mutant axonemes. Three inner arm structures could be distinguished on the basis of their molecular composition and position in the axoneme as determined by analysis of pf30 and pf23 mutants. The three inner arm structures repeat every 96 nm and are referred to here as inner arms I1, I2, and I3. I1 is proximal to the radial spoke S1, whereas I2 and I3 are distal to spokes S1 and S2, respectively. The mutant pf30 lacks I1 whereas the mutant pf23 lacks both I1 and I2 but has a normal inner arm I3. Each of the six heavy chains that was identified as an inner dynein arm subunit has a site for ATP binding and hydrolysis. Two of the heavy chains together with a polypeptide of 140,000 molecular weight form the inner arm I1 and were extracted from the axoneme as a complex that had a sedimentation coefficient close to 21S at high ionic strength. Different subsets of two of the remaining four heavy chains form the inner arms I2 and I3. These arms at high ionic strength are dissociated as 11S particles that include one heavy chain, one intermediate chain, two light chains, and actin. These and other lines of evidence indicate that the inner arm I1 is different in structure and function from the inner arms I2 and I3.

1982 ◽  
Vol 207 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Cercek ◽  
M D Houslay

There are two distinct cyclic AMP phosphodiesterases associated with the liver mitochondrion: one with the outer membrane and one with the inner membrane. No activity is associated with the lysosomal fraction. Both of the enzymes are peripheral proteins and can be released from the membranes by high-ionic-strength treatment. Treatment of intact mitochondria with trypsin and insoluble trypsin localizes these enzymes to the cytosol-facing surface of their respective membranes. The enzymes differ in regard to sedimentation coefficient, thermostability and susceptibility to inactivation by trypsin. Both enzymes degrade cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP. Whereas the outer-membrane enzyme displays Michaelis kinetics and appears to be a low-affinity enzyme, the inner-membrane enzyme displays kinetics indicative of apparent negative co-operativity.


1977 ◽  
Vol 84 (2) ◽  
pp. 439-448 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Ulmann ◽  
M. Brami ◽  
E. Pezant ◽  
M. Garabedian ◽  
J. L. Funck-Brentano

ABSTRACT In vitro binding of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-(OH)D3) and 1α,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25-(OH)2D3) was studied in the duodenal mucosa cytosol of rachitic rats: both 25-(OH)D3 and 1,25-(OH)2D3 bind to a macromolecule (sedimentation coefficient 5.5 to 6 S in low or high ionic strength) with a high affinity (KD at 4°C = 1.2×10−9 m and 2×10−9 m, respectively). In addition, it is concluded from competition and chase experiments that 25-(OH)D3 binding sites differ from that for 1,25-(OH)2D3.


1961 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 899-910 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lennart Philipson

The application of the phenol-duponol method to extraction of nucleic acids from HeLa cells is described. Chromatography of the phenol extract on an esterified bovine serum albumin column with a salt gradient of sodium chloride gives separation of soluble RNA, DNA, and two different high molecular RNA fractions. Ultracentrifugation of the DNA eluted from the column gives a sedimentation coefficient (s20o,w) of 38, which agrees with ultracentrifugation data on the phenol extract. The eluted RNA appears polydisperse at low ionic strength, but at high ionic strength and after alcohol precipitation two fractions with the sedimentation coefficients of 16 and 25 to 29, respectively, were obtained.


1984 ◽  
Vol 98 (5) ◽  
pp. 1611-1618 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Sutoh ◽  
M Iwane ◽  
F Matsuzaki ◽  
M Kikuchi ◽  
A Ikai

A high molecular weight actin-binding protein was isolated from the Physarum polycephalum plasmodia. The protein ( HMWP ) shares many properties with other high molecular weight actin-binding proteins such as spectrin, actin-binding protein from macrophages, and filamin. It has a potent activity to cross-link F-actin into a gel-like structure. Its cross-linking activity does not depend on calcium concentrations. Hydrodynamic studies have revealed that the protein is in the monomeric state of a polypeptide chain with molecular weight of approximately 230,000 in a high ionic strength solvent, while it self-associates into a dimer under physiological ionic conditions. Electron microscopic examinations of HMWP have shown that the monomer particle observed in a high ionic strength solvent is rod shaped with the two-stranded morphology very similar to that of spectrin. On the other hand, under physiological ionic conditions, the HMWP dimer shows the dumb-bell shape with two globular domains connected with a thin flexible strand.


1985 ◽  
Vol 100 (1) ◽  
pp. 282-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Ishiwata ◽  
T Funatsu

We examined whether or not purified actin binds to the ends of thin filaments in rabbit skeletal myofibrils. Phase-contrast, fluorescence, and electron microscopic observations revealed that actin does not bind to the ends of thin filaments of intact myofibrils. However, in I-Z-I brushes prepared by dissolving thick filaments at high ionic strength, marked binding of actin to the free ends, i.e., the pointed ends, of thin filaments was observed when actin was added at an early phase of polymerization. As the polymerization of actin proceeded, the binding efficiency decreased. The critical actin concentration for this binding was higher than that for polymerization in solution. The binding of G-actin was not observed at low ionic strength. On the basis of these results, we suggest that a particular structure suppressing the binding of actin is present at the free ends of thin filaments in intact myofibrils and that a part of the end structure population is eliminated or modified at high ionic strength so that further binding of actin becomes possible. The myofibril and I-Z-I brush appear to be useful systems for studies aimed at elucidating the organizational mechanisms of actin filaments in vivo.


1993 ◽  
Vol 122 (3) ◽  
pp. 653-661 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Sakakibara ◽  
S Takada ◽  
SM King ◽  
GB Witman ◽  
R Kamiya

A new allele of the Chlamydomonas oda4 flagellar mutant (oda4-s7) possessing abnormal outer dynein arms was isolated. Unlike the previously described oda4 axoneme lacking all three (alpha, beta, and gamma) outer-arm dynein heavy chains, the oda4-s7 axoneme contains the alpha and gamma heavy chains and a novel peptide with a molecular mass of approximately 160 kD. The peptide reacts with a mAb (18 beta B) that recognizes an epitope on the NH2-terminal part of the beta heavy chain. These observations indicate that this mutant has a truncated beta heavy chain, and that the NH2-terminal part of the beta heavy chain is important for the stable assembly of the outer arms. In averaged electron microscopic images of outer arms from cross sections of axonemes, the mutant outer arm lacks its mid-portion, producing a forked appearance. Together with our previous finding that the mutant oda11 lacks the alpha heavy chain and the outermost portion of the arm (Sakakibara, H., D. R. Mitchell, and R. Kamiya. 1991. J. Cell Biol. 113:615-622), this result defines the approximate locations of the three outer arm heavy chains in the axonemal cross section. The swimming velocity of oda4-s7 is 65 +/- 8 microns/s, close to that of oda4 which lacks the entire outer arm (62 +/- 8 microns/s) but significantly lower than the velocities of wild type (194 +/- 23 microns/s) and oda11 (119 +/- 17 microns/s). Thus, the lack of the beta heavy chain impairs outer-arm function more seriously than does the lack of the alpha heavy chain, suggesting that the alpha and beta chains play different roles in outer arm function.


Author(s):  
S. K. Pena ◽  
C. B. Taylor ◽  
J. Hill ◽  
J. Safarik

Introduction: Oxidized cholesterol derivatives have been demonstrated in various cell cultures to be very potent inhibitors of 3-hvdroxy-3- methylglutaryl Coenzyme A reductase which is a principle regulator of cholesterol biosynthesis in the cell. The cholesterol content in the cells exposed to oxidized cholesterol was found to be markedly decreased. In aortic smooth muscle cells, the potency of this effect was closely related to the cytotoxicity of each derivative. Furthermore, due to the similarity of their molecular structure to that of cholesterol, these oxidized cholesterol derivatives might insert themselves into the cell membrane, alter membrane structure and function and eventually cause cell death. Arterial injury has been shown to be the initial event of atherosclerosis.


Author(s):  
D.J. Lim ◽  
W.C. Lane

The morphology and function of the vestibular sensory organs has been extensively studied during the last decade with the advent of electron microscopy and electrophysiology. The opening of the space age also accelerated active investigation in this area, since this organ is responsible for the sensation of balance and of linear, angular and gravitational acceleration.The vestibular sense organs are formed by the saccule, utricle and three ampullae of the semicircular canals. The maculae (sacculi and utriculi) have otolithic membranes on the top of the sensory epithelia. The otolithic membrane is formed by a layer of thick gelatin and sand-piles of calcium carbonate crystals (Fig.l).


Author(s):  
M. Boublik ◽  
N. Robakis ◽  
J.S. Wall

The three-dimensional structure and function of biological supramolecular complexes are, in general, determined and stabilized by conformation and interactions of their macromolecular components. In the case of ribosomes, it has been suggested that one of the functions of ribosomal RNAs is to act as a scaffold maintaining the shape of the ribosomal subunits. In order to investigate this question, we have conducted a comparative TEM and STEM study of the structure of the small 30S subunit of E. coli and its 16S RNA.The conventional electron microscopic imaging of nucleic acids is performed by spreading them in the presence of protein or detergent; the particles are contrasted by electron dense solution (uranyl acetate) or by shadowing with metal (tungsten). By using the STEM on freeze-dried specimens we have avoided the shearing forces of the spreading, and minimized both the collapse of rRNA due to air drying and the loss of resolution due to staining or shadowing. Figure 1, is a conventional (TEM) electron micrograph of 30S E. coli subunits contrasted with uranyl acetate.


Author(s):  
Grace C.H. Yang

The size and organization of collagen fibrils in the extracellular matrix is an important determinant of tissue structure and function. The synthesis and deposition of collagen involves multiple steps which begin within the cell and continue in the extracellular space. High-voltage electron microscopic studies of the chick embryo cornea and tendon suggested that the extracellular space is compartmentalized by the fibroblasts for the regulation of collagen fibril, bundle, and tissue specific macroaggregate formation. The purpose of this study is to gather direct evidence regarding the association of the fibroblast cell surface with newly formed collagen fibrils, and to define the role of the fibroblast in the control and the precise positioning of collagen fibrils, bundles, and macroaggregates during chick tendon development.


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