scholarly journals Microtubule-organizing centers abnormal in number, structure, and nucleating activity in x-irradiated mammalian cells.

1983 ◽  
Vol 96 (3) ◽  
pp. 776-782 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Sato ◽  
R Kuriyama ◽  
K Nishizawa
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Mitotic Cell ◽  
Amorphous Structure ◽  
Dark Field ◽  
Microtubule Depolymerization ◽  
Microtubule Organizing Centers ◽  
Mitotic Cells

Microtubule-organizing centers (MTOCs) in x-irradiated cells were visualized by immunofluorescence using antibody against tubulin. From two to ten reassembly sites of microtubules appeared after microtubule depolymerization at low temperature in an irradiated mitotic cell, in contrast to nonirradiated mitotic cells, which predominantly show 2 MTOCs. A time-course examination of MTOCs in synchronously cultured cells revealed that the multiple MTOCs appeared not immediately after irradiation but at the time of mitosis. Those multiple MTOCs formed at mitosis were inherited by the daughter cells in the next generation. The structure and capacity of the centrosomes to nucleate microtubules in vitro were then examined by electron microscopy of whole-mount preparations as well as by dark-field microscopy. About 70-80% of the centrosomes derived from nonirradiated cells were composed of a pair of centrioles and pericentriolar material, which initiated greater than 100 microtubules. The fraction of fully active complete centrosomes decreased with time of incubation after irradiation. These were replaced by disintegrated centrosomal components such as dissociated centrioles and pericentriolar cloud, a nucleating site with a single centriole, or only an amorphous structure of pericentriolar cloud. Assembly of less than 20 microtubules onto the amorphous cloud without centrioles was seen in 54% of the initiating sites in mitotic cells 2 d after irradiation. These results suggest that x-irradiation causes disintegration of centrosomes at mitosis when the structural and functional reorganization of centrosomes is believed to occur.

scholarly journals Regulatory Potential of bHLH-Type Transcription Factors on the Road to Rubber Biosynthesis in Hevea brasiliensis

Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 674
Author(s):  
Tomoko Yamaguchi ◽  
Yukio Kurihara ◽  
Yuko Makita ◽  
Emiko Okubo-Kurihara ◽  
Ami Kageyama ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Differentiation ◽  
Natural Rubber ◽  
Hevea Brasiliensis ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Rubber Biosynthesis ◽  
On The Road

Natural rubber is the main component of latex obtained from laticifer cells of Hevea brasiliensis. For improving rubber yield, it is essential to understand the genetic molecular mechanisms responsible for laticifer differentiation and rubber biosynthesis. Jasmonate enhances both secondary laticifer differentiation and rubber biosynthesis. Here, we carried out time-course RNA-seq analysis in suspension-cultured cells treated with methyljasmonic acid (MeJA) to characterize the gene expression profile. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis showed that the term “cell differentiation” was enriched in upregulated genes at 24 h after treatment, but inversely, the term was enriched in downregulated genes at 5 days, indicating that MeJA could induce cell differentiation at an early stage of the response. Jasmonate signaling is activated by MYC2, a basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH)-type transcription factor (TF). The aim of this work was to find any links between transcriptomic changes after MeJA application and regulation by TFs. Using an in vitro binding assay, we traced candidate genes throughout the whole genome that were targeted by four bHLH TFs: Hb_MYC2-1, Hb_MYC2-2, Hb_bHLH1, and Hb_bHLH2. The latter two are highly expressed in laticifer cells. Their physical binding sites were found in the promoter regions of a variety of other TF genes, which are differentially expressed upon MeJA exposure, and rubber biogenesis-related genes including SRPP1 and REF3. These studies suggest the possibilities that Hb_MYC2-1 and Hb_MYC2-2 regulate cell differentiation and that Hb_bHLH1 and Hb_bHLH2 promote rubber biosynthesis. We expect that our findings will help to increase natural rubber yield through genetic control in the future.

scholarly journals Using Transcriptomic Analysis to Assess Double-Strand Break Repair Activity: Towards Precise in Vivo Genome Editing

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Pasquini ◽  
Virginia Cora ◽  
Anka Swiersy ◽  
Kevin Achberger ◽  
Lena Antkowiak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genome Editing ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Sequencing Analysis ◽  
End Joining ◽  
Dsb Repair ◽  
Repair Gene ◽  
Repair Pathways

Mutations in more than 200 retina-specific genes have been associated with inherited retinal diseases. Genome editing represents a promising emerging field in the treatment of monogenic disorders, as it aims to correct disease-causing mutations within the genome. Genome editing relies on highly specific endonucleases and the capacity of the cells to repair double-strand breaks (DSBs). As DSB pathways are cell-cycle dependent, their activity in postmitotic retinal neurons, with a focus on photoreceptors, needs to be assessed in order to develop therapeutic in vivo genome editing. Three DSB-repair pathways are found in mammalian cells: Non-homologous end joining (NHEJ); microhomology-mediated end joining (MMEJ); and homology-directed repair (HDR). While NHEJ can be used to knock out mutant alleles in dominant disorders, HDR and MMEJ are better suited for precise genome editing, or for replacing entire mutation hotspots in genomic regions. Here, we analyzed transcriptomic in vivo and in vitro data and revealed that HDR is indeed downregulated in postmitotic neurons, whereas MMEJ and NHEJ are active. Using single-cell RNA sequencing analysis, we characterized the dynamics of DSB repair pathways in the transition from dividing cells to postmitotic retinal cells. Time-course bulk RNA-seq data confirmed DSB repair gene expression in both in vivo and in vitro samples. Transcriptomic DSB repair pathway profiles are very similar in adult human, macaque, and mouse retinas, but not in ground squirrel retinas. Moreover, human-induced pluripotent stem-cell-derived neurons and retinal organoids can serve as well suited in vitro testbeds for developing genomic engineering approaches in photoreceptors. Our study provides additional support for designing precise in vivo genome-editing approaches via MMEJ, which is active in mature photoreceptors.

scholarly journals p180 Is Involved in the Interaction between the Endoplasmic Reticulum and Microtubules through a Novel Microtubule-binding and Bundling Domain

2007 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 3741-3751 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiyoko Ogawa-Goto ◽  
Keiko Tanaka ◽  
Tomonori Ueno ◽  
Keisuke Tanaka ◽  
Takeshi Kurata ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Specific Interaction ◽  
Endoplasmic Reticulum Membrane ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Small Interfering Rnas ◽  
Animal Cells ◽  
Microtubule Binding

p180 was originally reported as a ribosome-binding protein on the rough endoplasmic reticulum membrane, although its precise role in animal cells has not yet been elucidated. Here, we characterized a new function of human p180 as a microtubule-binding and -modulating protein. Overexpression of p180 in mammalian cells induced an elongated morphology and enhanced acetylated microtubules. Consistently, electron microscopic analysis clearly revealed microtubule bundles in p180-overexpressing cells. Targeted depletion of endogenous p180 by small interfering RNAs led to aberrant patterns of microtubules and endoplasmic reticulum in mammalian cells, suggesting a specific interaction between p180 and microtubules. In vitro sedimentation assays using recombinant polypeptides revealed that p180 bound to microtubules directly and possessed a novel microtubule-binding domain (designated MTB-1). MTB-1 consists of a predicted coiled-coil region and repeat domain, and strongly promoted bundle formation both in vitro and in vivo when expressed alone. Overexpression of p180 induced acetylated microtubules in cultured cells in an MTB-1-dependent manner. Thus, our data suggest that p180 mediates interactions between the endoplasmic reticulum and microtubules mainly through the novel microtubule-binding and -bundling domain MTB-1.

Immobilization and neutralization of Treponema pallidum attached to cultured mammalian cells

1985 ◽  
Vol 31 (12) ◽  
pp. 1152-1156
Author(s):  
Thomas Fitzgerald
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Treponema Pallidum ◽  
Immune Serum ◽  
Immune Reactivity ◽  
Complex Environment ◽  
In Vitro Effects

The in vitro effects of antibodies, complement, and (or) macrophages on Treponema pallidum have been previously characterized using relatively simple systems of organisms incubated with the immune components. In vivo, the more complex environment may alter immune reactivity. Experiments were performed to determine whether immobilizing and neutralizing antibodies retained their effectiveness in a more complex environment involving cultured mammalian cells. Two different protocols were used. In protocol A treponemes and normal or immune serum were mixed and added immediately to the cultured cells. In protocol B treponemes were preincubated for 18 h with cultured cells to maximize treponemal attachment; then normal or immune serum was added. With both protocols, attachment of organisms resulted in less effecient immobilization and neutralization. In further experiments, cultured cells were disrupted with Triton X, leaving cytoskeletal remnants on the vessel surface. Identical immobilization and neutralization experiments were performed in the presence of these remnants. In contrast to the findings with viable cultured cells, treponemal attachment to these nonviable remnants did not effect either antibody reaction. Attached organisms were immobilized or neutralized just as efficiently as unattached organisms. Results are discussed in terms of the altered immune reactivity in more complex in vitro environments.

scholarly journals Antimicrobial and Chemoattractant Activity, Lipopolysaccharide Neutralization, Cytotoxicity, and Inhibition by Serum of Analogs of Human Cathelicidin LL-37

2005 ◽  
Vol 49 (7) ◽  
pp. 2845-2850 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina D. Ciornei ◽  
Thorgerdur Sigurdardóttir ◽  
Artur Schmidtchen ◽  
Mikael Bodelsson
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Antimicrobial Properties ◽  
Neutrophil Granulocytes ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Hydrophobic Amino Acids ◽  
Conventional Antibiotics

ABSTRACT Antimicrobial peptides have been evaluated in vitro and in vivo as alternatives to conventional antibiotics. Apart from being antimicrobial, the native human cathelicidin-derived peptide LL-37 (amino acids [aa] 104 to 140 of the human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide) also binds and neutralizes bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and might therefore have beneficial effects in the treatment of septic shock. However, clinical trials have been hampered by indications of toxic effects of LL-37 on mammalian cells and evidence that its antimicrobial effects are inhibited by serum. For the present study, LL-37 was compared to two less hydrophobic fragments obtained by N-terminal truncation, named 106 (aa 106 to 140) and 110 (aa 110 to 140), and to a previously described more hydrophobic variant, the 18-mer LLKKK, concerning antimicrobial properties, lipopolysaccharide neutralization, toxicity against human erythrocytes and cultured vascular smooth muscle cells, chemotactic activity, and inhibition by serum. LL-37, fragments 106 and 110, and the 18-mer LLKKK inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans in a radial diffusion assay, inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced vascular nitric oxide production, and attracted neutrophil granulocytes similarly. While fragments 106 and 110 caused less hemolysis and DNA fragmentation in cultured cells than did LL-37, the 18-mer LLKKK induced severe hemolysis. The antibacterial effect of fragments 106 and 110 was not affected by serum, while the effect of LL-37 was reduced. We concluded that the removal of N-terminal hydrophobic amino acids from LL-37 decreases its cytotoxicity as well as its inhibition by serum without negatively affecting its antimicrobial or LPS-neutralizing action. Such LL-37-derived peptides may thus be beneficial for the treatment of patients with sepsis.

scholarly journals Phage TP901-1 Site-Specific Integrase Functions in Human Cells

2002 ◽  
Vol 184 (13) ◽  
pp. 3657-3663 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie M. Stoll ◽  
Daniel S. Ginsburg ◽  
Michele P. Calos
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Human Cells ◽  
Partial Purification ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Phage Integrase ◽  
Mammalian Genomes ◽  
Integrase Protein

ABSTRACT We demonstrate that the site-specific integrase encoded by phage TP901-1 of Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris has potential as a tool for engineering mammalian genomes. We constructed vectors that express this integrase in Escherichia coli and in mammalian cells and developed a simple plasmid assay to measure the frequency of intramolecular integration mediated by the integrase. We used the assay to document that the integrase functions efficiently in E. coli and determined that for complete reaction in E. coli, the minimal sizes of attB and attP are 31 and 50 bp, respectively. We carried out partial purification of TP901-1 integrase protein and demonstrated its functional activity in vitro in the absence of added cofactors, characterizing the time course and temperature optimum of the reaction. Finally, we showed that when expressed in human cells, the TP901-1 integrase carries out efficient intramolecular integration on a transfected plasmid substrate in the human cell environment. The TP901-1 phage integrase thus represents a new reagent for manipulating DNA in living mammalian cells.

A protein related to brain microtubule-associated protein MAP1B is a component of the mammalian centrosome

1994 ◽  
Vol 107 (2) ◽  
pp. 601-611 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.E. Dominguez ◽  
B. Buendia ◽  
C. Lopez-Otin ◽  
C. Antony ◽  
E. Karsenti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Polyclonal Antibodies ◽  
Microtubule Organizing Center ◽  
Microtubule Associated Proteins ◽  
Organizing Center ◽  
Associated Proteins ◽  
Pericentriolar Material ◽  
Peptide Maps

The centrosome is the main microtubule organizing center of mammalian cells. Structurally, it is composed of a pair of centrioles surrounded by a fibro-granular material (the pericentriolar material) from which microtubules are nucleated. However, the nature of centrosomal molecules involved in microtubules nucleation is still obscure. Since brain microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) lower the critical tubulin concentration required for microtubule nucleation in tubulin solution in vitro, we have examined their possible association with centrosomes. By immunofluorescence, monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies raised against MAP1B stain the centrosome in cultured cells as well as purified centrosomes, whereas antibodies raised against MAP2 give a completely negative reaction. The MAP1B-related antigen is localized to the pericentriolar material as revealed by immunoelectron microscopy. In preparations of purified centrosomes analyzed on poly-acrylamide gels, a protein that migrates as brain MAP1B is present. After blotting on nitrocellulose, it is decorated by anti-MAP1B antibodies and the amino acid sequence of proteolytic fragments of this protein is similar to brain MAP1B. Moreover, brain MAP1B and its centrosomal counterpart share the same phosphorylation features and have similar peptide maps. These data strongly suggest that a protein homologue to MAP1B is present in centrosomes and it is a good candidate for being involved in the nucleating activity of the pericentriolar material.

scholarly journals Tetracycline-regulated expression enables purification and functional analysis of recombinant connexin channels from mammalian cells

2004 ◽  
Vol 383 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irina V. KOREEN ◽  
Wafaa A. ELSAYED ◽  
Yu J. LIU ◽  
Andrew L. HARRIS
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Expression System ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Messenger Molecules ◽  
One Step ◽  
Cellular Control

Intercellular coupling mediated by gap junction channels composed of connexin protein underlies numerous physiological processes, such as cellular differentiation, tissue synchronization and metabolic homoeostasis. The distinct molecular permeability of junctional channels composed of different connexin isoforms allows cellular control of coupling via regulation of isoform expression. However, the permeability properties of most connexin isoforms have not been well characterized due to the difficulty of manipulating and measuring the diffusible concentrations of cytoplasmic messenger molecules and metabolites, and to a lack of control over channel isoform composition, in vivo. Here we present a method to express and purify active connexin hemichannels of a single isoform or a consistent ratio of two isoforms from cultured cells using the Tet-On inducible expression system and one-step anti-haemagglutinin immunoaffinity purification. The procedure yields 10–20 μg of pure connexin protein from 2.5×108 HeLa cells. The purified channels are shown to be useful for in vitro permeability analysis using well established techniques. This method has substantial advantages over existing methods for heterologous connexin expression, such as the ease of co-expression of two isoforms at a constant ratio, consistently high expression levels over many passages, and the ability to study channel properties in situ as well as in purified form. Furthermore, the generic cloning site of the new pBI-GT vector and the commercial availability of anti-haemagglutinin (clone HA-7)–agarose make this affinity tagging and purification procedure easily applicable to other proteins.

scholarly journals High Mobility Group 1 Protein Is Not Stably Associated with the Chromosomes of Somatic Cells

1997 ◽  
Vol 137 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Falciola ◽  
Fabio Spada ◽  
Sabina Calogero ◽  
Gernot Längst ◽  
Renate Voit ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
High Mobility ◽  
Histone H1 ◽  
Biochemical Properties ◽  
High Mobility Group ◽  
Live Cells ◽  
Differentiated Cells ◽  
Group 1

High mobility group 1 (HMG1) protein is an abundant and conserved component of vertebrate nuclei and has been proposed to play a structural role in chromatin organization, possibly similar to that of histone H1. However, a high abundance of HMG1 had also been reported in the cytoplasm and on the surface of mammalian cells. We conclusively show that HMG1 is a nuclear protein, since several different anti-HMG1 antibodies stain the nucleoplasm of cultured cells, and epitope-tagged HMG1 is localized in the nucleus only. The protein is excluded from nucleoli and is not associated to specific nuclear structures but rather appears to be uniformly distributed. HMG1 can bind in vitro to reconstituted core nucleosomes but is not stably associated to chromatin in live cells. At metaphase, HMG1 is detached from condensed chromosomes, contrary to histone H1. During interphase, HMG1 readily diffuses out of nuclei after permeabilization of the nuclear membranes with detergents, whereas histone H1 remains associated to chromatin. These properties exclude a shared function for HMG1 and H1 in differentiated cells, in spite of their similar biochemical properties. HMG1 may be stably associated only to a very minor population of nucleosomes or may interact transiently with nucleosomes during dynamic processes of chromatin remodeling.

scholarly journals Membrane Insertion by Anthrax Protective Antigen in Cultured Cells

2005 ◽  
Vol 25 (13) ◽  
pp. 5492-5498 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maen Qa'dan ◽  
Kenneth A. Christensen ◽  
Lei Zhang ◽  
Thomas M. Roberts ◽  
R. John Collier
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Protective Antigen ◽  
Strong Increase ◽  
Membrane Insertion ◽  
Side Chains ◽  
Endosomal Membrane ◽  
Stirred Cell

ABSTRACT The enzymatic moieties of anthrax toxin enter the cytosol of mammalian cells via a pore in the endosomal membrane formed by the protective antigen (PA) moiety. Pore formation involves an acidic pH-induced conformational rearrangement of a heptameric precursor (the prepore), in which the seven 2β2-2β3 loops interact to generate a 14-strand transmembrane β-barrel. To investigate this model in vivo, we labeled PA with the fluorophore 7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD) at cysteine residues introduced into the 2β2-2β3 loop. Each labeled PA was bound to CHO cells, and NBD fluorescence was monitored over time in stirred cell suspensions or by confocal microscopy. A strong increase was observed with NBD at positions 305, 307, 309, and 311, sites where side chains are predicted to face the bilayer, and little change was seen at residues 304, 306, 308, 310, and 312, sites where side chains are predicted to face the pore lumen. The increase at position 305 was inhibited by membrane-restricted quenchers, low temperature, or various reagents known to affect toxin action. Of the 24 NBD attachment sites examined, all but three gave results qualitatively consistent with the β-barrel model. Besides supporting the β-barrel model of membrane insertion, our results describe the time course of insertion and identify PA residues where NBD gives a strong signal upon membrane insertion in vivo.

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