Effects of D-galactose on the ultrastructure of bentgrass root apices

1968 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 391-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. Endo ◽  
W. W. Thomson ◽  
Emmylou M. Krausman

To study the effects of growth-inhibitory concentrations of D-galactose on the morphology and function of organelles, thin sections of galactose-treated, KMnO4-fixed bentgrass (Agrostis palustris L.) root apices were examined in the electron microscope. Inhibitory effects were noted on root cap mucilage formation, cell plate formation, cell wall accretion, and the organelles associated with these processes such as the dictyosomes and the endoplasmic reticulum. These studies suggest that D-galactose inhibits root elongation by not only suppressing the synthesis of cell wall precursors—as evidenced by apparent reduction in the activity of the dictyosomes and root cap mucilage formation—but also the cellular processes involved in cell wall accretion and the formation of the cell plate.

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1960
Author(s):  
K. Tanuj Sapra ◽  
Ohad Medalia

The cytoskeleton of the eukaryotic cell provides a structural and functional scaffold enabling biochemical and cellular functions. While actin and microtubules form the main framework of the cell, intermediate filament networks provide unique mechanical properties that increase the resilience of both the cytoplasm and the nucleus, thereby maintaining cellular function while under mechanical pressure. Intermediate filaments (IFs) are imperative to a plethora of regulatory and signaling functions in mechanotransduction. Mutations in all types of IF proteins are known to affect the architectural integrity and function of cellular processes, leading to debilitating diseases. The basic building block of all IFs are elongated α-helical coiled-coils that assemble hierarchically into complex meshworks. A remarkable mechanical feature of IFs is the capability of coiled-coils to metamorphize into β-sheets under stress, making them one of the strongest and most resilient mechanical entities in nature. Here, we discuss structural and mechanical aspects of IFs with a focus on nuclear lamins and vimentin.


Plant Methods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Angus E. Rae ◽  
Vivien Rolland ◽  
Rosemary G. White ◽  
Ulrike Mathesius

Abstract Background The formation of infection threads in the symbiotic infection of rhizobacteria in legumes is a unique, fascinating, and poorly understood process. Infection threads are tubes of cell wall material that transport rhizobacteria from root hair cells to developing nodules in host roots. They form in a type of reverse tip-growth from an inversion of the root hair cell wall, but the mechanism driving this growth is unknown, and the composition of the thread wall remains unclear. High resolution, 3-dimensional imaging of infection threads, and cell wall component specific labelling, would greatly aid in our understanding of the nature and development of these structures. To date, such imaging has not been done, with infection threads typically imaged by GFP-tagged rhizobia within them, or histochemically in thin sections. Results We have developed new methods of imaging infection threads using novel and traditional cell wall fluorescent labels, and laser confocal scanning microscopy. We applied a new Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) stain using rhodamine-123 to the labelling of whole cleared infected roots of Medicago truncatula; which allowed for imaging of infection threads in greater 3D detail than had previously been achieved. By the combination of the above method and a calcofluor-white counter-stain, we also succeeded in labelling infection threads and plant cell walls separately, and have potentially discovered a way in which the infection thread matrix can be visualized. Conclusions Our methods have made the imaging and study of infection threads more effective and informative, and present exciting new opportunities for future research in the area.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 4359
Author(s):  
Sara Martín-Villanueva ◽  
Gabriel Gutiérrez ◽  
Dieter Kressler ◽  
Jesús de la Cruz

Ubiquitin is a small protein that is highly conserved throughout eukaryotes. It operates as a reversible post-translational modifier through a process known as ubiquitination, which involves the addition of one or several ubiquitin moieties to a substrate protein. These modifications mark proteins for proteasome-dependent degradation or alter their localization or activity in a variety of cellular processes. In most eukaryotes, ubiquitin is generated by the proteolytic cleavage of precursor proteins in which it is fused either to itself, constituting a polyubiquitin precursor, or as a single N-terminal moiety to ribosomal proteins, which are practically invariably eL40 and eS31. Herein, we summarize the contribution of the ubiquitin moiety within precursors of ribosomal proteins to ribosome biogenesis and function and discuss the biological relevance of having maintained the explicit fusion to eL40 and eS31 during evolution. There are other ubiquitin-like proteins, which also work as post-translational modifiers, among them the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO). Both ubiquitin and SUMO are able to modify ribosome assembly factors and ribosomal proteins to regulate ribosome biogenesis and function. Strikingly, ubiquitin-like domains are also found within two ribosome assembly factors; hence, the functional role of these proteins will also be highlighted.


1964 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. W. Claus ◽  
L. E. Roth

The morphological features of the cell wall, plasma membrane, protoplasmic constituents, and flagella of Acetobacter suboxydans (ATCC 621) were studied by thin sectioning and negative staining. Thin sections of the cell wall demonstrate an outer membrane and an inner, more homogeneous layer. These observations are consistent with those of isolated, gram-negative cell-wall ghosts and the chemical analyses of gram-negative cell walls. Certain functional attributes of the cell-wall inner layer and the structural comparisons of gram-negative and gram-positive cell walls are considered. The plasma membrane is similar in appearance to the membrane of the cell wall and is occasionally found to be folded into the cytoplasm. Certain features of the protoplasm are described and discussed, including the diffuse states of the chromatinic material that appear to be correlated with the length of the cell and a polar differentiation in the area of expected flagellar attachment. Although the flagella appear hollow in thin sections, negative staining of isolated flagella does not substantiate this finding. Severe physical treatment occasionally produces a localized penetration into the central region of the flagellum, the diameter of which is much smaller then that expected from sections. A possible explanation of this apparent discrepancy is discussed.


1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (10) ◽  
pp. 2216-2226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yves Prin ◽  
Mireille Rougier

The aim of the present study was to investigate the Alnus root surface using seedlings grown axenically. This study has focused on root zones where infection by the symbiotic actinomycete Frankia takes place. The zones examined extend from the root cap to the emerging root hair zone. The root cap ensheaths the Alnus root apex and extends over the root surface as a layer of highly flattened cells closely appressed to the root epidermal cell wall. These cells contain phenolic compounds as demonstrated by various histochemical tests. They are externally bordered by a thin cell wall coated by a thin mucilage layer. The root cap is ruptured when underlying epidermal cells elongate, and cell remnants are still found in the emerging root hair zone. Young emerging root hairs are bordered externally by a cell wall covered by a thin mucilage layer which reacts positively to the tests used for the detection of polysaccharides, glycoproteins, and anionic sites. The characteristics of the Alnus root surface and the biological function of mucilage and phenols present at the root surface are discussed in relation to the infection process.


2006 ◽  
Vol 281 (43) ◽  
pp. 32841-32851 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian DeBosch ◽  
Nandakumar Sambandam ◽  
Carla Weinheimer ◽  
Michael Courtois ◽  
Anthony J. Muslin

The Akt family of serine-threonine kinases participates in diverse cellular processes, including the promotion of cell survival, glucose metabolism, and cellular protein synthesis. All three known Akt family members, Akt1, Akt2 and Akt3, are expressed in the myocardium, although Akt1 and Akt2 are most abundant. Previous studies demonstrated that Akt1 and Akt3 overexpression results in enhanced myocardial size and function. Yet, little is known about the role of Akt2 in modulating cardiac metabolism, survival, and growth. Here, we utilize murine models with targeted disruption of the akt2 or the akt1 genes to demonstrate that Akt2, but not Akt1, is required for insulin-stimulated 2-[3H]deoxyglucose uptake and metabolism. In contrast, akt2-/- mice displayed normal cardiac growth responses to provocative stimulation, including ligand stimulation of cultured cardiomyocytes, pressure overload by transverse aortic constriction, and myocardial infarction. However, akt2-/- mice were found to be sensitized to cardiomyocyte apoptosis in response to ischemic injury, and apoptosis was significantly increased in the peri-infarct zone of akt2-/- hearts 7 days after occlusion of the left coronary artery. These results implicate Akt2 in the regulation of cardiomyocyte metabolism and survival.


2001 ◽  
Vol 711 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Zelikin ◽  
Venkatram Shastri ◽  
David Lynn ◽  
Jian Farhadi ◽  
Ivan Martin ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTConductive polymers such as polypyrrole (Ppy) are potentially useful as an active interface for altering cellular processes and function. Their utilization in medically related applications however have been substantially held back by their non-degradable nature. Herein we report a novel approach to creation of bioerodible polypyrroles via modification of pyrrole beta-carbon with an ionizable moiety. It has been shown that the erosion rate of acid-bearing derivative of polypyrrole increases with pH, which is consistent with the pH dependent ionization of carboxylic acid group. The novel paradigm proposed for the creation of bioerodible polypyrroles allows for simple and efficient control over the erosion rate of the substrate independent of the polymer chain length, via the choice of the terminal ionizable group and its concentration along the polymer backbone.


1970 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 299-321
Author(s):  
K. ROBERTS ◽  
D. H. NORTHCOTE

Sycamore suspension callus cells have been partially synchronized to give a culture with a mitotic index of 15%. Living dividing cells of the culture have been examined with Nomarski differential interference optics and a comparable study made on fixed cells with the electron microscope. An organized band of reticulate cytoplasm partially encircles the nucleus at mitosis. The cell divides by the formation of a phragmosome which grows across the large vacuole; this allows the organization of the cytoplasm which forms the cell plate to be examined separately from the more general cytoplasm of the cell. The cell plate grows from one side of the cell to the other and down its length a complete developmental sequence can be seen. The Golgi bodies and the endoplasmic reticulum are probably involved in the formation of material for the construction of the cell plate and young cell wall. Microfibrils are formed within the plate in the more mature regions, while material contained within vesicles is incorporated at the young growing edge. At the edge of the plate microtubules are found and these correspond to the fibrillar appearance of the phragmoplast seen with the optical microscope. In the living cell an active movement of organelles along the peripheral cytoplasm can be seen and with fixed cells viewed with the electron microscope microtubules are often found adjacent to the plasmalemma and lying close to mitochondria, crystal-containing bodies and plastids. The appearance of crystal-containing bodies and plastids containing phytoferritin is described.


Author(s):  
Giuliana Hessler ◽  
Stephan Michael Portheine ◽  
Eva-Maria Gerlach ◽  
Tim Lienemann ◽  
Gerald Koch ◽  
...  

Abstract Plants possess a well-balanced immune system that is required for defense against pathogen infections. In autoimmune mutants or necrotic crosses, an intrinsic temperature-dependent imbalance leads to constitutive immune activation, resulting in severe damage or even death of plants. Recently, cell wall depositions were described as one of the symptoms following induction of the autoimmune phenotype in Arabidopsis saul1-1 mutants. However, the regulation and function of these depositions remained unclear. Here, we show that cell wall depositions, containing lignin and callose, were a common autoimmune feature and were deposited in proportion to the severity of the autoimmune phenotype at reduced ambient temperatures. When plants were exposed to reduced temperature for periods insufficient to induce an autoimmune phenotype, the cell wall depositions were not present. After low temperature intervals, sufficient to induce autoimmune responses, cell wall depositions correlated with a point of no return in saul1-1 autoimmunity. Although cell wall depositions were largely abolished in saul1-1 pmr4-1 double mutants lacking SAUL1 and the callose synthase gene GSL5/PMR4, their phenotype remained unchanged compared to that of the saul1-1 single mutant. Our data showed that cell wall depositions generally occur in autoimmunity, but appear not to be the cause of autoimmune phenotypes.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrius Serva ◽  
Christoph Claas ◽  
Vytaute Starkuviene

In the last years miRNAs have increasingly been recognised as potent posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression. Possibly, miRNAs exert their action on virtually any biological process by simultaneous regulation of numerous genes. The importance of miRNA-based regulation in health and disease has inspired research to investigate diverse aspects of miRNA origin, biogenesis, and function. Despite the recent rapid accumulation of experimental data, and the emergence of functional models, the complexity of miRNA-based regulation is still far from being well understood. In particular, we lack comprehensive knowledge as to which cellular processes are regulated by which miRNAs, and, furthermore, how temporal and spatial interactions of miRNAs to their targets occur. Results from large-scale functional analyses have immense potential to address these questions. In this review, we discuss the latest progress in application of high-content and high-throughput functional analysis for the systematic elucidation of the biological roles of miRNAs.


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