scholarly journals Evidence of Chitin in the Ampullae of Lorenzini of Chondrichthyan Fishes

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Molly Phillips ◽  
W. Joyce Tang ◽  
Matthew Robinson ◽  
Daniel Ocampo Daza ◽  
Khan Hassan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chitin Synthase ◽  
Chemical Analyses ◽  
Electrosensory System ◽  
Ampullae Of Lorenzini ◽  
Chitin Synthases ◽  
Aquatic Vertebrates

ABSTRACTChitin is synthesized by a variety of organisms using enzymes called chitin synthases and was recently discovered in a number of aquatic vertebrates. In our ongoing investigations into the presence of vertebrate chitin, we unexpectedly found evidence of the polysaccharide within the electrosensory organs, known as Ampullae of Lorenzini, of diverse chondrichthyan fishes. Experiments with histochemical reagents, chemical analyses, and enzymatic digestions suggested that chitin is a component of the hydrogel filling the structures. Further, in situ hybridization with a sequence from the little skate (Leucoraja erinacea) revealed that chitin synthase expression is localized to cells inside the organs. Collectively, these findings suggest that chondrichthyan fishes endogenously synthesize chitin and beg further investigation into the function of chitin in the electrosensory system.

Nutrient and hormone levels in Douglas-fir corrosion cavities, megagametophytes, and embryos during embryony

2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (10) ◽  
pp. 2447-2456 ◽  
Author(s):  
John G Carman ◽  
Gordon Reese ◽  
Rodney J Fuller ◽  
Timnit Ghermay ◽  
Roger Timmis
Keyword(s):  
Pseudotsuga Menziesii ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Chemical Analyses ◽  
Dynamic Changes ◽  
Hormone Levels ◽  
Corrosion Cavity ◽  
Novel Method ◽  
Indole 3 Acetic Acid

Gymnospermous embryos are nourished by fluids secreted from the megagametophyte. During early embryony, these fluids occupy the newly formed corrosion cavity. We describe a novel method for extracting corrosion cavity fluid and provide chemical analyses based on extractions from approximately 120 000 Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) megagametophytes. Levels of potassium, phosphorus, calcium, zinc, and iron were higher in corrosion cavity fluid than in whole tissue, but levels of sulphur and manganese were lower. Levels of cyclitols, sucrose equivalents, erythrose, and arabinose were many-fold higher in corrosion cavity fluid than in whole tissues. Ala, Ser, Arg, Glx, and NH3 exceeded 80 mmol/kg dry mass in corrosion cavity fluid. These levels were about 100-fold higher than those found in whole tissues. During early embryony, hormone levels in corrosion cavity fluid were higher than levels observed in whole megagametophytes by 120-fold for indole-3-acetic acid, 53-fold for abscisic acid, and 8- to 10-fold for cytokinins. Nutrient and hormone levels tended to be much higher in the corrosion cavity fluid than would have been predicted based on whole-tissue analyses. Dynamic changes in nutrient and hormone levels occurred over time in the corrosion cavity, and these changes may normalize embryony in situ.

A verandah-trap hut for studying the house-frequenting habits of mosquitos and for assessing insecticides. II.—The effect of dichlorvos (DDVP) on egress and mortality of Anopheles gambiae Giles and Mansonia uniformis (Theo.) entering naturally

1965 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 275-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alec Smith
Keyword(s):  
Anopheles Gambiae ◽  
Chemical Analyses ◽  
Window Traps ◽  
Anopheles Gambiae Giles ◽  
Mansonia Uniformis

Assessment of the effects of dichlorvos (DDVP), released from a Ciba XI dispenser, on females of Anopheles gambiae Giles and Mansonia uniformis (Theo.) entering a verandah-trap hut in the Umbugwe area of Tanzania was made over a period of two months in 1964. Of the numbers of A. gambiae that entered one treated and one untreated hut, 27 per cent, of those entering the hut treated with dichlorvos and 48 per cent, of those entering the untreated hut left again. Of the numbers leaving each hut, 38 per cent, left through the eaves of the treated hut as compared with 9 per cent, in the untreated one. In the case of M. uniformis, 88 per cent, of those entering the treated hut and 94 per cent, of those entering the untreated hut left again. Of the numbers leaving each hut, 59 per cent, left through the eaves of the treated hut as compared with 61 per cent, in the untreated one.Over-all mortalities were 56 per cent, for A. gambiae and 34 per cent, for M. uniformis when the eave-egress fraction from the treated hut was taken into account, compared with 62 per cent, for A. gambiae and 43 per cent, for M. uniformis when the eave-egress fraction was ignored.The results of bioassays and of chemical analyses showed that the problem of mortality from fumigation in situ was considerably less in verandah traps than indoors or in window traps fitted with funnels of cotton netting.

scholarly journals Traffic of Chitin Synthase 1 (CHS-1) to the Spitzenkörper and Developing Septa in Hyphae of Neurospora crassa: Actin Dependence and Evidence of Distinct Microvesicle Populations

2011 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 683-695 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eddy Sánchez-León ◽  
Jorge Verdín ◽  
Michael Freitag ◽  
Robert W. Roberson ◽  
Salomon Bartnicki-Garcia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fluorescence Microscopy ◽  
Neurospora Crassa ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Fine Particles ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Apical Cell ◽  
Subcellular Location ◽  
Chitin Synthase ◽  
Wide Field ◽  
Chitin Synthases

ABSTRACTWe describe the subcellular location of chitin synthase 1 (CHS-1), one of seven chitin synthases inNeurospora crassa. Laser scanning confocal microscopy of growing hyphae showed CHS-1–green fluorescent protein (GFP) localized conspicuously in regions of active wall synthesis, namely, the core of the Spitzenkörper (Spk), the apical cell surface, and developing septa. It was also present in numerous fine particles throughout the cytoplasm plus some large vacuoles in distal hyphal regions. Although the same general subcellular distribution was observed previously for CHS-3 and CHS-6, they did not fully colocalize. Dual labeling showed that the three different chitin synthases were contained in different vesicular compartments, suggesting the existence of a different subpopulation of chitosomes for each CHS. CHS-1–GFP persisted in the Spk during hyphal elongation but disappeared from the septum after its development was completed. Wide-field fluorescence microscopy and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy revealed subapical clouds of particles, suggestive of chitosomes moving continuously toward the Spk. Benomyl had no effect on CHS-1–GFP localization, indicating that microtubules are not strictly required for CHS trafficking to the hyphal apex. Conversely, actin inhibitors caused severe mislocalization of CHS-1–GFP, indicating that actin plays a major role in the orderly traffic and localization of CHS-1 at the apex.

Regulation of chitin synthesis during growth of fungal hyphae: the possible participation of membrane stress

1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (S1) ◽  
pp. 114-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham W. Gooday ◽  
David A. Schofield
Keyword(s):  
Turgor Pressure ◽  
Hyphal Growth ◽  
Lateral Wall ◽  
Enzymic Activity ◽  
Chitin Synthase ◽  
Post Translational Modification ◽  
Membrane Stress ◽  
Chitin Synthesis ◽  
Branch Site ◽  
Chitin Synthases

Apical hyphal extension involves very localized apical deposition of newly synthesized wall skeletal material, notably chitin. A branch forms where a new localized site of chitin deposition occurs in the lateral wall. Key enzymes involved are the chitin synthases. Their activity must be under tight regulation to achieve the orderly deposition of chitin. There is evidence that inactive chitin synthase is distributed throughout the hyphal plasma membrane and activated at the apex and at an incipient branch site. At these sites, the wall is plastic. We have investigated the hypothesis that physical stressing of the membrane, a consequence of the cell's turgor pressure acting at these weaker points, may locally activate the chitin synthase. Results show that cells that have been subjected to hypoosmotic stress have raised native chitin synthase activities. It is suggested that stressing the membrane may cause a conformational change in chitin synthase molecules in the membrane or changes in the interactions between chitin synthase and associated polypeptides, leading to activation. This process may act along with other regulatory mechanisms discussed here, such as post-translational modification and availability of allosteric effectors, to restrict the enzymic activity to sites where chitin synthesis is required. Key words: chitin synthase, zymogen, turgor pressure, membrane stress, Candida albicans, hyphal growth.

scholarly journals A Chitin Synthase and Its Regulator Protein Are Critical for Chitosan Production and Growth of the Fungal Pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans

2005 ◽  
Vol 4 (11) ◽  
pp. 1902-1912 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isaac R. Banks ◽  
Charles A. Specht ◽  
Maureen J. Donlin ◽  
Kimberly J. Gerik ◽  
Stuart M. Levitz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Cryptococcus Neoformans ◽  
Fungal Pathogen ◽  
Liquid Culture ◽  
Chitin Synthase ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Chitin Synthesis ◽  
Chitin Synthases ◽  
Regulator Protein ◽  
Chitin And Chitosan

ABSTRACT Chitin is an essential component of the cell wall of many fungi. Chitin also can be enzymatically deacetylated to chitosan, a more flexible and soluble polymer. Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungal pathogen that causes cryptococcal meningoencephalitis, particularly in immunocompromised patients. In this work, we show that both chitin and chitosan are present in the cell wall of vegetatively growing C. neoformans yeast cells and that the levels of both rise dramatically as cells grow to higher density in liquid culture. C. neoformans has eight putative chitin synthases, and strains with any one chitin synthase deleted are viable at 30°C. In addition, C. neoformans genes encode three putative regulator proteins, which are homologs of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Skt5p. None of these three is essential for viability. However, one of the chitin synthases (Chs3) and one of the regulators (Csr2) are important for growth. Cells with deletions in either CHS3 or CSR2 have several shared phenotypes, including sensitivity to growth at 37°C. The similarity of their phenotypes also suggests that Csr2 specifically regulates chitin synthesis by Chs3. Lastly, both chs3Δ and the csr2Δ mutants are defective in chitosan production, predicting that Chs3-Csr2 complex with chitin deacetylases for conversion of chitin to chitosan. These data suggest that chitin synthesis could be an excellent antifungal target.

scholarly journals Chitin in Diatoms and Its Association with the Cell Wall

2009 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 1038-1050 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colleen A. Durkin ◽  
Thomas Mock ◽  
E. Virginia Armbrust
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Silicic Acid ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Transcript Abundance ◽  
Thalassiosira Pseudonana ◽  
Protein Domain ◽  
Chitin Synthase ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Chitin Synthases ◽  
Genes Encoding

ABSTRACT Chitin is a globally abundant polymer widely distributed throughout eukaryotes that has been well characterized in only a few lineages. Diatoms are members of the eukaryotic lineage of stramenopiles. Of the hundreds of diatom genera, two produce long fibers of chitin that extrude through their cell walls of silica. We identify and describe here genes encoding putative chitin synthases in a variety of additional diatom genera, indicating that the ability to produce chitin is more widespread and likely plays a more central role in diatom biology than previously considered. Diatom chitin synthases fall into four phylogenetic clades. Protein domain predictions and differential gene expression patterns provide evidence that chitin synthases have multiple functions within a diatom cell. Thalassiosira pseudonana possesses six genes encoding three types of chitin synthases. Transcript abundance of the gene encoding one of these chitin synthase types increases when cells resume division after short-term silicic acid starvation and during short-term limitation by silicic acid or iron, two nutrient conditions connected in the environment and known to affect the cell wall. During long-term silicic acid starvation transcript abundance of this gene and one additional chitin synthase gene increased at the same time a chitin-binding lectin localized to the girdle band region of the cell wall. Together, these results suggest that the ability to produce chitin is more widespread in diatoms than previously thought and that a subset of the chitin produced by diatoms is associated with the cell wall.

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