Osteonectin is a minor component of mineralized connective tissues in rat

1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 356-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Zung ◽  
Carmelo Domenicucci ◽  
Safia Wasi ◽  
Fumiyuki Kuwata ◽  
Jaro Sodek

Osteonectin is a major glycoprotein of porcine and bovine bones and teeth that is found associated with hydroxylapatite crystal surfaces. From the ability of osteonectin to bind calcium ions, it has been proposed as a possible nucleator of hydroxylapatite crystal formation. Analysis of hydroxylapatite-bound proteins of rat bone and dentine, however, has revealed that osteonectin represents only 2.5 ± 1.5% of the hydroxylapatite-bound protein in long bones, 0.9 ± 0.5% in calvariae, and < 0.1% in incisor dentine of animals of different ages. Further, in vivo pulse–chase studies carried out in young adult rats have shown osteonectin to be synthesized at low levels in these tissues. Similarly, low levels of osteonectin were synthesized by rat calvarial cells in vitro. In contrast, fibroblastic cells from periodontal ligament and gingiva synthesized significantly greater amounts of osteonectin. These studies indicate that the low quantities of osteonectin in rat mineralized tissues are a consequence of low rates of formation rather than being due to rapid turnover. The virtual absence of osteonectin in incisor dentine correlates with the lack of peritubular dentine in rat, whereas the low osteonectin content of rat bones may reflect differences in their structure and biophysical properties compared with bones of larger mammals.

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. eaat4872 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergio Botero ◽  
Rachel Chiaroni-Clarke ◽  
Sanford M. Simon

Despite being a minor component of cells, phosphoinositides are essential for eukaryotic membrane biology, serving as markers of organelle identity and involved in several signaling cascades. Their many functions, combined with alternative synthesis pathways, make in vivo study very difficult. In vitro studies are limited by their inability to fully recapitulate the complexities of membranes in living cells. We engineered the biosynthetic pathway for the most abundant phosphoinositides into the bacterium Escherichia coli, which is naturally devoid of this class of phospholipids. These modified E. coli, when grown in the presence of myo-inositol, incorporate phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PI4P), phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), and phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP3) into their plasma membrane. We tested models of biophysical mechanisms with these phosphoinositides in a living membrane, using our system to evaluate the role of PIP2 in nonconventional protein export of human basic fibroblast growth factor 2. We found that PI alone is sufficient for the process.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Coffin ◽  
Michael J. Bale ◽  
Daria Wells ◽  
Shuang Guo ◽  
Brian Luke ◽  
...  

AbstractHIV persists during antiretroviral therapy (ART) as integrated proviruses in cells descended from a small fraction of the CD4+ T cells infected prior to the initiation of ART. To better understand what controls HIV persistence and the distribution of integration sites (IS), we compared about 16,000 and 54,000 IS from individuals pre-ART and on ART, respectively, with approximately 385,000 IS from PBMC infected in vitro. The distribution of IS in vivo is quite similar to the distribution in PBMC, modified by selection against proviruses in expressed genes, by selection for proviruses integrated into one of 6 specific genes, and by clonal expansion. The clones in which a provirus integrated in an oncogene contributed to the survival of the clone comprise only a small fraction of the clones that persist in HIV-infected individuals on ART. Mechanisms that do not involve the provirus, or its location in the host genome, are more important in determining which clones expand and persist.Author SummaryIn HIV-infected individuals, a small fraction of the infected cells persist and divide. This reservoir persists on ART and can rekindle the infection if ART is discontinued. Because the number of possible sites of HIV DNA integration is very large, each infected cell, and all of its descendants, can be identified by the site where the provirus is integrated (IS). To understand the selective forces that determine the fates of infected cells in vivo, we compared the distribution of HIV IS in freshly-infected cells to cells from HIV-infected donors sampled both before and during ART. We found that, as has been previously reported, integration favors highly-expressed genes. However, over time the fraction of cells with proviruses integrated in highly-expressed genes decreases, implying that they grow less well. There are exceptions to this broad negative selection. When a provirus is integrated in a specific region in one of six genes, the proviruses affect the expression of the target gene, promoting growth and/or survival of the cell. Although this effect is striking, it is only a minor component of the forces that promote the growth and survival of the population of infected cells during ART.


1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (02) ◽  
pp. 376-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce Lages ◽  
Harvey J Weiss

SummaryThe possible involvement of secreted platelet substances in agonist- induced [Ca2+]i increases was investigated by comparing these increases in aspirin-treated, fura-2-loaded normal platelets and platelets from patients with storage pool deficiencies (SPD). In the presence and absence of extracellular calcium, the [Ca2+]i response induced by 10 µM ADP, but not those induced by 0.1 unit/ml thrombin, 3.3 µM U46619, or 20 µM serotonin, was significantly greater in SPD platelets than in normal platelets, and was increased to the greatest extent in SPD patients with Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS), in whom the dense granule deficiencies are the most severe. Pre-incubation of SPD-HPS and normal platelets with 0.005-5 µM ADP produced a dose-dependent inhibition of the [Ca2+]i response induced by 10 µ M ADP, but did not alter the [Ca2+]i increases induced by thrombin or U46619. Within a limited range of ADP concentrations, the dose-inhibition curve of the [Ca2+]i response to 10 µM ADP was significantly shifted to the right in SPD-HPS platelets, indicating that pre-incubation with greater amounts of ADP were required to achieve the same extent of inhibition as in normal platelets. These results are consistent with a hypothesis that the smaller ADP-induced [Ca2+]i increases seen in normal platelets may result from prior interactions of dense granule ADP, released via leakage or low levels of activation, with membrane ADP receptors, causing receptor desensitization. Addition of apyrase to platelet-rich plasma prior to fura-2 loading increased the ADP-induced [Ca2+]i response in both normal and SPD-HPS platelets, suggesting that some release of ADP derived from both dense granule and non-granular sources occurs during in vitro fura-2 loading and platelet washing procedures. However, this [Ca2+]i response was also greater in SPD-HPS platelets when blood was collected with minimal manipulation directly into anticoagulant containing apyrase, raising the possibility that release of dense granule ADP resulting in receptor desensitization may also occur in vivo. Thus, in addition to enhancing platelet activation, dense granule ADP could also act to limit the ADP-mediated reactivity of platelets exposed in vivo to low levels of stimulation.


Crystals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1131
Author(s):  
Maricela Santana ◽  
Gonzalo Montoya ◽  
Raúl Herrera ◽  
Lía Hoz ◽  
Enrique Romo ◽  
...  

Dental cementum contains unique molecules that regulate the mineralization process in vitro and in vivo, such as cementum protein 1 (CEMP1). This protein possesses amino acid sequence motifs like the human recombinant CEMP1 with biological activity. This novel cementum protein 1-derived peptide (CEMP1-p3, from the CEMP1’s N-terminal domain: (QPLPKGCAAVKAEVGIPAPH), consists of 20 amino acids. Hydroxyapatite (HA) crystals could be obtained through the combination of the amorphous precursor phase and macromolecules such as proteins and peptides. We used a simple method to synthesize peptide/hydroxyapatite nanocomposites using OCP and CEMP1-p3. The characterization of the crystals through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), high--resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and Raman spectroscopy revealed that CEMP1-p3 transformed OCP into hydroxyapatite (HA) under constant ionic strength and in a buffered solution. CEMP1-p3 binds and highly adsorbs to OCP and is a potent growth stimulator of OCP crystals. CEMP1-p3 fosters the transformation of OCP into HA crystals with crystalline planes (300) and (004) that correspond to the cell of hexagonal HA. Octacalcium phosphate crystals treated with CEMP1-p3 grown in simulated physiological buffer acquired hexagonal arrangement corresponding to HA. These findings provide new insights into the potential application of CEMP1-p3 on possible biomimetic approaches to generate materials for the repair and regeneration of mineralized tissues, or restorative materials in the orthopedic field.


1988 ◽  
Vol 254 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Rüstow ◽  
Y Nakagawa ◽  
H Rabe ◽  
K Waku ◽  
D Kunze

1. Phosphatidylinositol (PI) is a minor component of lung surfactant which may be able to replace the functionally important phosphatidylglycerol (PG) [Beppu, Clements & Goerke (1983) J. Appl. Physiol. 55, 496-502] without disturbing lung function. The dipalmitoyl species is one of the main species for both PI (14.4%) and PG (16.9%). Besides the C16:0--C16:0 species, the C16:0--C18:0, C16:0--C18:1, C16:0--C18:2 and C18:0--C18:1 species showed comparable proportions in the PG and PI fractions. These similarities of the species patterns and the acidic character of both phospholipids could explain why surfactant PG may be replaced by PI. 2. PI and PG were radiolabelled by incubation of microsomal fractions with [14C]glycerol 3-phosphate (Gro3P). For 11 out of 14 molecular species of PI and PG we measured comparable proportions of radioactivity. The radioactivity of these 11 species accounted together for more than 80% of the total. The addition of inositol to the incubation system decreased the incorporation in vitro of Gro3P into PG and CDP-DG (diacylglycerol) of lung microsomes (microsomal fractions), but did not change the distribution of radioactivity among the molecular species of PG. These results supported the idea that both acidic surfactant phospholipids may be synthesized de novo from a common CDP-DG pool in lung microsomes.


1992 ◽  
Vol 116 (1) ◽  
pp. 167-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Wren ◽  
G Wolswijk ◽  
M Noble

We have been studying the differing characteristics of oligodendrocyte-type-2 astrocyte (O-2A) progenitors isolated from optic nerves of perinatal and adult rats. These two cell types display striking differences in their in vitro phenotypes. In addition, the O-2Aperinatal progenitor population appears to have a limited life-span in vivo, while O-2Aadult progenitors appear to be maintained throughout life. O-2Aperinatal progenitors seem to have largely disappeared from the optic nerve by 1 mo after birth, and are not detectable in cultures derived from optic nerves of adult rats. In contrast, O-2Aadult progenitors can first be isolated from optic nerves of 7-d-old rats and are still present in optic nerves of 1-yr-old rats. These observations raise two questions: (a) From what source do O-2Aadult progenitors originate; and (b) how is the O-2Aadult progenitor population maintained in the nerve throughout life? We now provide in vitro evidence indicating that O-2Aadult progenitors are derived directly from a subpopulation of O-2Aperinatal progenitors. We also provide evidence indicating that O-2Aadult progenitors are capable of prolonged self renewal in vitro. In addition, our data suggests that the in vitro generation of oligodendrocytes from O-2Aadult progenitors occurs primarily through asymmetric division and differentiation, in contrast with the self-extinguishing pattern of symmetric division and differentiation displayed by O-2Aperinatal progenitors in vitro. We suggest that O-2Aadult progenitors express at least some properties of stem cells and thus may be able to support the generation of both differentiated progeny cells as well as their own continued replenishment throughout adult life.


1972 ◽  
Vol 135 (6) ◽  
pp. 1301-1315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans-Hartmut Peter ◽  
Joseph D. Feldman

Cell-mediated cytotoxicity (CMC) in spleens and lymph nodes of allografted rats was determined by release of 51Cr from labeled target cells incubated with aggressor lymphoid cells. CMC was first detected in grafted adult rats on day 5, peaked on days 7 and 8, and declined rapidly to background levels by days 9 to 11. In allografted neonates and in cyclophosphamide-treated or neonatally thymectomized adults CMC was a fraction of that observed in normal adult rats. Enhancing antibodies deferred in vivo peak activity of CMC in allografted neonates for 3–4 days, and blocked in vitro the action of aggressor lymphocytes by binding to target cells. Enhancing antibodies had no effect on the cytotoxicity of aggressor cells, but horse antibodies to rat thoracic duct cells inhibited in vitro CMC of aggressor cells.


1979 ◽  
Vol 179 (2) ◽  
pp. 341-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
B W Stewart ◽  
P H Huang ◽  
M J Brian

Rat liver DNA may be separated into two fractions by stepwise elution from benzoylated-DEAE-cellulose with NaCl and caffeine solutions respectively. Other studies using bacterical and yeast DNA suggested that the first fraction contains native DNA, whereas the second may exhibit some degree of single-stranded character. In the present experiments, chromatography of DNA was monitored by labelling in vivo with [methyl-3H]thymidine in rats previously subjected to partial hepatectomy. In animals killed up to 1 h after thymidine injection, radioactivity eluted in the second fraction was inversely related to the incorporation time, being greatest when animals were killed 10 min after radioisotope injection. However, for most experiments, animals were allowed to survive 2-4 weeks after surgery before use, analysis being made on non-dividing DNA. Under these conditions, the proportion of caffeine-eluted DNA was decreased by subjecting the preparation to shear, before chromatography. A procedure that resulted in 12% of the recovered radioactivity being eluted with caffeine was adopted for experiments involving comparisons of the two DNA fractions. Under these conditions, cross-contamination could be detected by rechromatography, but this did not preclude distinction being made between the two fractions in terms of DNA structure. NaCl-eluted DNA did not bind to nitrocellulose filters. Caffeine-eluted DNA was retained by the filters and released by washing with 3mM-Tris/HCl, pH9.4. The fractions did not differ in terms of isopycnic centrifugation in CsCl. The NaCl-eluted fraction migrated as a single band in polyacrylamide gels, and this pattern was not modified by prior digestion with Neurospora crassa endonuclease. In contrast, caffeine-eluted DNA contained a minor component having a wide molecular-weight distribution and was subject to limited digestion by the endonuclease. The kinetics of denaturation of NaCi-eluted DNA in the presence of formaldehyde, in common with unfractionated DNA, were consistent with double-stranded structure. The same analysis of caffeine-eluted DNA revealed structural abnormality equivalent to two defects per 10000 base-pairs. The data are consistent with the minor fraction of rat liver DNA, separated by using benzoylated-DEAE-cellulose, containing regions of local denaturation. We previously showed that administration of the hepatocarcinogen dimethylnitrosamine is associated with an increase in the proportion of caffeine-eluted DNA. In terms of most analysis, differences between DNA fraction from nitrosamine-treated rats were similar to differences exhibited by preparations from control animals. However, structural analysis using denaturation kinetics indicated defects in both the NaCl- and caffeine-eluted DNA isolated from nitrosamine-treated rats. The two fractions differed from each other in that caffeine-eluted DNA exhibited a degree of structural damage far greater than that detected in any preparation from control animals...


1996 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 414-421 ◽  
Author(s):  
X Nan ◽  
P Tate ◽  
E Li ◽  
A Bird

MeCP2 is a chromosomal protein that is concentrated in the centromeric heterochromatin of mouse cells. In vitro, the protein binds preferentially to DNA containing a single symmetrically methylated CpG. To find out whether the heterochromatic localization of MeCP2 depended on DNA methylation, we transiently expressed MeCP2-LacZ fusion proteins in cultured cells. Intact protein was targeted to heterochromatin in wild-type cells but was inefficiently localized in mutant cells with low levels of genomic DNA methylation. Deletions within MeCP2 showed that localization to heterochromatin required the 85-amino-acid methyl-CpG binding domain but not the remainder of the protein. Thus MeCP2 is a methyl-CpG-binding protein in vivo and is likely to be a major mediator of downstream consequences of DNA methylation.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document