scholarly journals Cross-sectional structure of the central mitotic spindle of Diatoma vulgare. Evidence for specific interactions between antiparallel microtubules.

1979 ◽  
Vol 83 (2) ◽  
pp. 443-461 ◽  
Author(s):  
K L McDonald ◽  
M K Edwards ◽  
J R McIntosh

During the transition from prometaphase to metaphase, the cross-sectional area of the central spindle of Diatoma decreases by a factor of nearly two, both at the poles and at the region of overlapping microtubules (MTs) near the spindle equator. The density of spindle MT packing stays approximately constant throughout mitosis. Optical diffraction analysis of electron micrographs shows that the packing of the MTs at the poles at all stages of mitosis is similar to that expected for a two-dimensional liquid. Analysis of the region of overlap reveals more packing regularity: during prometaphase, a square packing emerges that displays sufficient organization by late metaphase to generate five orders of diffraction; during anaphase the packing in the overlap region shifts to hexagonal; at telophase, it returns to square. From the data provided by serial section reconstructions of the central spindle, it is possible to identify the polarity of almost every spindle MT, that is, to identify one pole with which the MT is associated. Near neighbor analyses of MTs in cross sections of the overlap region show that MTs prefer antiparallel near neighbors. These near neighbors are most often found at a spacing of approximately 40 nm center-to-center, while parallel near neighbors in the zone of overlap are spaced essentially at random. These results are evidence for a specific interaction between antiparallel MTs. In some sections definite bridges between MTs can be seen. Our findings show that certain necessary conditions for a sliding filament model of anaphase spindle elongation are met.

Author(s):  
W. Z. Cande ◽  
C.J. Hogan ◽  
M. Lee

Diatom spindles are important model systems for describing the morphological changes associated with anaphase chromosome movement because the fibrous systems responsible for anaphase A (chromosome-to-pole movement) and anaphase B (spindle elongation) are spatially separate and the central spindle is a paracrystalline array of microtubules. The diatom central spindle, which is responsible for anaphase B, is constructed of two sets of interdigiting microtubules that originate from plate-like spindle poles and display specific near-neighbor interactions in the zone of microtubule overlap. The microtubules of each half-spindle are of relatively unifrom length such that the plus ends are clustered together in narrow zones at each edge of the zone of microtubule overlap. This has allowed us to monitor changes in extent of microtubule overlap in the light microscope with polarization optics. We have isolated spindles from synchronized populations of several species of dividing diatom cells to study the mechanochemistry of anaphase spindle elongation in vitro and to analyze the rearrangement of spindle components by light and electron microscopy during reactivation.


1979 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 187-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
M A Goldstein ◽  
J P Schroeter ◽  
R L Sass

Filtered images of mammalian cardiac Z bands were reconstructed from optical diffraction patterns from electron micrographs. Reconstructed images from longitudinal sections show connecting filaments at each 38-nm axial repeat in an array consistent with cross-sectional data. Some reconstructed images from cross sections indicate two distinctly different optical diffraction patterns, one for each of two lattice forms (basket weave and small square). Other images are more complex and exhibit composite diffraction patterns. Thus, the two lattice forms co-exist, interconvert, or represent two different aspects of the same details within the lattice. Two three-dimensional models of the Z lattice are presented. Both include the following features: a double array of axial filaments spaced at 24 nm, successive layers of tetragonally arrayed connecting filaments, projected fourfold symmetry in cross section, and layers of connecting filaments spaced at intervals of 38 nm along the myofibril axis. Projected views of the models are compared to electron micrographs and optically reconstructed images of the Z lattice in successively thicker cross sections. The entire Z band is rarely a uniform lattice regardless of plane of section or section thickness. Optical reconstructions strongly suggest two types of variation in the lattice substructure: (a) in the arrangement of connecting filaments, and (b) in the arrangement of units added side-to-side to make larger myofilament bundles and/or end-to-end to make wider Z bands. We conclude that the regular arrangement of axial and connecting filaments generates a dynamic Z lattice.


1986 ◽  
Vol 103 (2) ◽  
pp. 593-604 ◽  
Author(s):  
W Z Cande ◽  
K McDonald

We have developed a simple procedure for isolating mitotic spindles from the diatom Stephanopyxis turris and have shown that they undergo anaphase spindle elongation in vitro upon addition of ATP. The isolated central spindle is a barrel-shaped structure with a prominent zone of microtubule overlap. After ATP addition greater than 75% of the spindle population undergoes distinct structural rearrangements: the spindles on average are longer and the two half-spindles are separated by a distinct gap traversed by only a small number of microtubules, the phase-dense material in the overlap zone is gone, and the peripheral microtubule arrays have depolymerized. At the ultrastructural level, we examined serial cross-sections of spindles after 1-, 5-, and 10-min incubations in reactivation medium. Microtubule depolymerization distal to the poles is confirmed by the increased number of incomplete, i.e., c-microtubule profiles specifically located in the region of overlap. After 10 min we see areas of reduced microtubule number which correspond to the gaps seen in the light microscope and an overall reduction in the number of half-spindle microtubules to about one-third the original number. The changes in spindle structure are highly specific for ATP, are dose-dependent, and do not occur with nonhydrolyzable nucleotide analogues. Spindle elongation and gap formation are blocked by 10 microM vanadate, equimolar mixtures of ATP and AMPPNP, and by sulfhydryl reagents. This process is not affected by nocodazole, erythro-9-[3-(2-hydroxynonyl)]adenine, cytochalasin D, and phalloidin. In the presence of taxol, the extent of spindle elongation is increased; however, distinct gaps still form between the two half-spindles. These results show that the response of isolated spindles to ATP is a complex process consisting of several discrete steps including initiation events, spindle elongation mechanochemistry, controlled central spindle microtubule plus-end depolymerization, and loss of peripheral microtubules. They also show that the microtubule overlap zone is an important site of ATP action and suggest that spindle elongation in vitro is best explained by a mechanism of microtubule-microtubule sliding. Spindle elongation in vitro cannot be accounted for by cytoplasmic forces pulling on the poles or by microtubule polymerization.


Author(s):  
Katja Lyytika¨inen ◽  
Peter Ra˚back ◽  
Juha Ruokolainen

The present study investigates the mass and heat transfer in the optical fibre fabrication process where a specialty optical preform with a non-homogeneous cross-sectional structure is drawn into a fibre. A finite element method was used to model the steady state fibre drawing process. The model included free surface calculation of the neck-down shape of the preform coupled with a two-dimensional heat transfer equation. The enclosure model was used for the radiation heat transfer. In addition to the silica preform the model took into account the graphite-resistance furnace structure and the inert gas surrounding the preform. Fibre designs with axisymmetric cross-sections with radial variations in material properties were modeled, including air silica structures. The effect of internal air structures was found to have a significant impact on temperature distribution. The effects of drawing parameters such as draw speed, preform diameter, draw temperature and furnace structure were also studied.


1983 ◽  
Vol 96 (2) ◽  
pp. 548-561 ◽  
Author(s):  
R J Leslie ◽  
J D Pickett-Heaps

Our simple instrumentation for generating a UV-microbeam is described UV microbeam irradiations of the central spindle in the pennate diatom Hantzschia amphioxys have been examined through correlated birefringence light microscopy and TEM. A precise correlation between the region of reduced birefringence and the UV-induced lesion in the microtubules (MTs) of the central spindle is demonstrated. The UV beam appears to dissociate MTs, as MT fragments were rarely encountered. The forces associated with metaphase and anaphase spindles have been studied via localized UV-microbeam irradiation of the central spindle. These spindles were found to be subjected to compressional forces, presumably exerted by stretched or contracting chromosomes. Comparisons are made with the results of other writers. These compressional forces caused the poles of a severed anaphase spindle to move toward each other and the center of the cell. As these poles moved centrally, the larger of the two postirradiational central spindle remnants elongated with a concomitant decrease in the length of the overlap. Metaphase spindles, in contrast, did not elongate nor lose their overlap region. Our interpretation is that the force for anaphase spindle elongation in Hantzschia is generated between half-spindles in the region of MT overlap.


Author(s):  
T.B. Ball ◽  
W.M. Hess

It has been demonstrated that cross sections of bundles of hair can be effectively studied using image analysis. These studies can help to elucidate morphological differences of hair from one region of the body to another. The purpose of the present investigation was to use image analysis to determine whether morphological differences could be demonstrated between male and female human Caucasian terminal scalp hair.Hair samples were taken from the back of the head from 18 caucasoid males and 13 caucasoid females (Figs. 1-2). Bundles of 50 hairs were processed for cross-sectional examination and then analyzed using Prism Image Analysis software on a Macintosh llci computer. Twenty morphological parameters of size and shape were evaluated for each hair cross-section. The size parameters evaluated were area, convex area, perimeter, convex perimeter, length, breadth, fiber length, width, equivalent diameter, and inscribed radius. The shape parameters considered were formfactor, roundness, convexity, solidity, compactness, aspect ratio, elongation, curl, and fractal dimension.


Author(s):  
Yoshinori Fujiyoshi

The resolution of direct images of biological macromolecules is normally restricted to far less than 0.3 nm. This is not due instrumental resolution, but irradiation damage. The damage to biological macromolecules may expect to be reduced when they are cooled to a very low temperature. We started to develop a new cryo-stage for a high resolution electron microscopy in 1983, and successfully constructed a superfluid helium stage for a 400 kV microscope by 1986, whereby chlorinated copper-phthalocyanine could be photographed to a resolution of 0.26 nm at a stage temperature of 1.5 K. We are continuing to develop the cryo-microscope and have developed a cryo-microscope equipped with a superfluid helium stage and new cryo-transfer device.The New cryo-microscope achieves not only improved resolution but also increased operational ease. The construction of the new super-fluid helium stage is shown in Fig. 1, where the cross sectional structure is shown parallel to an electron beam path. The capacities of LN2 tank, LHe tank and the pot are 1400 ml, 1200 ml and 3 ml, respectively. Their surfaces are placed with gold to minimize thermal radiation. Consumption rates of liquid nitrogen and liquid helium are 170 ml/hour and 140 ml/hour, respectively. The working time of this stage is more than 7 hours starting from full LN2 and LHe tanks. Instrumental resolution of our cryo-stage cooled to 4.2 K was confirmed to be 0.20 nm by an optical diffraction pattern from the image of a chlorinated copper-phthalocyanine crystal. The image and the optical diffraction pattern are shown in Fig. 2 a, b, respectively.


2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 264-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Lorbach ◽  
Ulrich Hirn ◽  
Johannes Kritzinger ◽  
Wolfgang Bauer

Abstract We present a method for 3D measurement of fiber cross sectional morphology from handsheets. An automated procedure is used to acquire 3D datasets of fiber cross sectional images using an automated microtome and light microscopy. The fiber cross section geometry is extracted using digital image analysis. Simple sample preparation and highly automated image acquisition and image analysis are providing an efficient tool to analyze large samples. It is demonstrated that if fibers are tilted towards the image plane the images of fiber cross sections are always larger than the true fiber cross section geometry. In our analysis the tilting angles of the fibers to the image plane are measured. The resulting fiber cross sectional images are distorted to compensate the error due to fiber tilt, restoring the true fiber cross sectional shape. We use an approximated correction, the paper provides error estimates of the approximation. Measurement results for fiber wall thickness, fiber coarseness and fiber collapse are presented for one hardwood and one softwood pulp.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 3255
Author(s):  
Aizhao Zhou ◽  
Xianwen Huang ◽  
Wei Wang ◽  
Pengming Jiang ◽  
Xinwei Li

For reducing the initial GSHP investment, the heat transfer efficiency of the borehole heat exchange (BHE) system can be enhanced to reduce the number or depth of drilling. This paper proposes a novel and simple BHE design by changing the cross-sectional shape of the U-tube to increase the heat transfer efficiency of BHEs. Specifically, in this study, we (1) verified the reliability of the three-dimensional numerical model based on the thermal response test (TRT) and (2) compared the inlet and outlet temperatures of the different U-tubes at 48 h under the premise of constant leg distance and fluid area. Referent to the circular tube, the increases in the heat exchange efficiencies of the curved oval tube, flat oval tube, semicircle tube, and sector tube were 13.0%, 19.1%, 9.4%, and 14.8%, respectively. (3) The heat flux heterogeneity of the tubes on the inlet and outlet sides of the BHE, in decreasing order, is flat oval, semicircle, curved oval, sector, and circle shapes. (4) The temperature heterogeneity of the borehole wall in the BHE in decreasing order is circle, sector, curved oval, flat oval, and semicircle shapes. (5) Under the premise of maximum leg distance, referent to the heat resistance of the tube with a circle shape at 48 h, the heat exchange efficiency of the curved oval, flat oval, semicircle, and sector tubes increased 12.6%, 17.7%, 10.3%, and 7.8%, respectively. (6) We found that the adjustments of the leg distance and the tube shape affect the heat resistance by about 25% and 12%, respectively. (7) The flat-oval-shaped tube at the maximum leg distance was found to be the best tube design for BHEs.


2010 ◽  
Vol 638-642 ◽  
pp. 675-680 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Thomann ◽  
Nina von der Höh ◽  
Dirk Bormann ◽  
Dina Rittershaus ◽  
C. Krause ◽  
...  

Current research focuses on magnesium based alloys in the course of searching a resorbable osteosynthetic material which provides sufficient mechanical properties besides a good biocompatibility. Previous studies reported on a favorable biocompatibility of the alloys LAE442 and MgCa0.8. The present study compared the degradation process of cylindrical LAE442 and MgCa0.8 implants after 12 months implantation duration. Therefore, 10 extruded implants (2.5 x 25 mm, cross sectional area 4.9 mm²) of both alloys were implanted into the medullary cavity of both tibiae of rabbits for 12 months. After euthanization, the right bone-implant-compound was scanned in a µ-computed tomograph (µCT80, ScancoMedical) and nine uniformly distributed cross-sections of each implant were used to determine the residual implants´ cross sectional area (Software AxioVisionRelease 4.5, Zeiss). Left implants were taken out of the bone carefully. After weighing, a three-point bending test was carried out. LAE442 implants degraded obviously slower and more homogeneously than MgCa0.8. The mean residual cross sectional area of LAE442 implants was 4.7 ± 0.07 mm². MgCa0.8 showed an area of only 2.18 ± 1.03 mm². In contrast, the loss in volume of LAE442 pins was more obvious. They lost 64 % of their initial weight. The volume of MgCa0.8 reduced clearly to 54.4 % which corresponds to the cross sectional area results. Three point bending tests revealed that LAE442 showed a loss in strength of 71.2 % while MgCa0.8 lost 85.6 % of its initial strength. All results indicated that LAE442 implants degraded slowly, probably due to the formation of a very obvious degradation layer. Degradation of MgCa0.8 implants was far advanced.


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