Synapsin-1 is found in a microtubule-associated complex of proteins isolated from bovine brain

1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (11) ◽  
pp. 1256-1261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen P. Farrell ◽  
Robert A. B. Keates

We have prepared microtubules from brain tissue by stabilizing the cellular microtubules in 6.7 M glycerol buffer, instead of the usual procedure which extracts the solubilized protein and then reassembles microtubules in vitro at some later time. There are substantial differences in the microtubule associated proteins obtained by the two methods, and brain spectrin is a major component of the stabilized microtubules. We have now modified the buffer used for the isolation of stabilized microtubules to minimize their tendency to aggregate. When the stabilized microtubules were further purified by sucrose density gradient centrifugation, we were able to distinguish previously unidentified polypeptides at 49, 74 (doublet), and 100 kilodaltons (doublet). These bands maintained staining intensity in the same proportion to tubulin as in the original homogenate, whereas background proteins were diminished in staining intensity. We now report the identification of the 74-kilodalton doublet polypeptides as synapsin-1 by peptide mapping. Synapsin-1 is a protein known to bind to brain spectrin and also to microtubules, and may thus serve as a linker between these cytoskeletal components.Key words: microtubule-associated protein, synapsin, spectrin, tubulin, cytoskeleton.

1983 ◽  
Vol 210 (1) ◽  
pp. 259-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Hubbard ◽  
M Kalimi

Citrate greatly stabilized rat hepatic unbound glucocorticoid receptors in cell-free conditions at 4 degrees C with optimal effectiveness at 5-15 mM. Control receptors were inactivated at 4 degrees C with a half-life of less than 12 h. However, in the presence of 10 mM-citrate, unbound receptors were almost completely stabilized for 48 h at 4 degrees C. Citrate at a concentration of 1-2 mM yielded half-maximal stabilization. The stabilizing effect of citrate was rather specific, as succinate, alpha-oxoglutarate, oxaloacetate, malate and pyruvate had no apparent stabilizing action. Citrate stabilized receptors over a wide range of H+ concentrations, with complete protection between pH 6.5 and 8.5. In addition, citrate appeared to have a significant effect on glucocorticoid-receptor complex activation into a nuclear binding form. Thus 5-10 mM-citrate enhanced nuclear binding, with optimal activation achieved at 10 mM concentration. As analysed by sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation and DEAE-cellulose chromatography, no apparent change was observed in the physical characteristics of the glucocorticoid receptor in the presence of citrate.


1981 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Kuriyama ◽  
H. Kanatani

Centrioles from spermatozoa of the starfish, Asterina pectinifera, were isolated and partially purified by solubilization of chromatin followed by sucrose density-gradient centrifugation. The ultrastructure of the isolated centriolar complex was investigated in whole mount preparations by electron microscopy. The complex unit was composed of a pair of centrioles and a pericentriolar structure, which associated with the distal end of the distal centriole by 9 spoke-like satellites extending radially to a marginal ring. Each satellite bifurcated at a dense node forming 2 fan-like shapes with a periodic striated pattern. The tubular structure of the centrioles easily disintegrated, leaving the pericentriolar structure or axonemal microtubules intact. The distal centriole in a spermatozoon served as an initiating site for flagellar microtubule assembly; that is, a number of “9 + 2′ axonemal tubules were observed adhering just beneath the distal end of the basal body. In experiments in vitro, polymerization of microtubule proteins purified from porcine brain was initiated by the structure at the ends of both proximal and distal centrioles, but not from the satellites or the marginal ring. Also, few if any microtubules were formed from the sides of each centriole, even in the presence of a high concentration of exogenous tubulin. On the other hand, centrioles of spermatozoa, when they were in mature ooplasm, could initiate the formation of sperm asters by microtubules. Therefore, centrioles in spermatozoa seem to be able to initiate microtubules in a 2 ways. A possible explanation of the difference between the 2 types of microtubule organization in vivo, i.e. in the sperm cell itself and in the ooplasm, it discussed.


2007 ◽  
Vol 405 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jørgen de Jonge ◽  
Johanna M. Leenhouts ◽  
Marijke Holtrop ◽  
Pieter Schoen ◽  
Peter Scherrer ◽  
...  

Reconstituted influenza virosomes (virus membrane envelopes) have been used previously to deliver pDNA (plasmid DNA) bound to their external surface to a variety of target cells. Although high transfection efficiencies can be obtained with these complexes in vitro, the virosome-associated DNA is readily accessible to nucleases and could therefore be prone to rapid degradation under in vivo conditions. In the present study, we show a new method for the production of DNA–virosomes resulting in complete protection of the DNA from nucleases. This method relies on the use of the short-chain phospholipid DCPC (dicaproylphosphatidylcholine) for solubilization of the viral membrane. The solubilized viral membrane components are mixed with pDNA and cationic lipid. Reconstitution of the viral envelopes and simultaneous encapsulation of pDNA is achieved by removal of the DCPC from the mixture through dialysis. Analysis by linear sucrose density-gradient centrifugation revealed that protein, phospholipid and pDNA physically associated to particles, which appeared as vesicles with spike proteins inserted in their membranes when analysed by electron microscopy. The DNA–virosomes retained the membrane fusion properties of the native influenza virus. The virosome-associated pDNA was completely protected from degradation by nucleases, providing evidence for the DNA being highly condensed and encapsulated in the lumen of the virosomes. DNA–virosomes, containing reporter gene constructs, transfected a variety of cell lines, with efficiencies approaching 90%. Transfection was completely dependent on the fusogenic properties of the viral spike protein haemagglutinin. Thus, DNA–virosomes prepared by the new procedure are highly efficient vehicles for DNA delivery, offering the advantage of complete DNA protection, which is especially important for future in vivo applications.


1981 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 245-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Tsukita ◽  
H Ishikawa ◽  
M Kurokawa

Astroglial filaments approximately 10 nm in diameter were isolated from degenerated mouse optic nerves by Triton X-100 and DNase I treatments followed by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. 2-4 wk after bilateral enucleation, optic nerves contained virtually a single population of 10-nm filaments (astroglial filaments), free from neurofilaments. In negative-staining and thin-section electron microscopy, the isolated filaments were seen as nonbranching linear structures with smooth contour, and were morphologically identical to those in situ. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed the isolated filaments to be composed of two major polypeptides with molecular weights of 45,000 and 55,000, present in an approximate molar ratio of 1:1. These findings, together with the results of one-dimensional peptide mapping and solubility study, indicate that the astroglial filaments in the mouse optic nerve are primarily composed of these two polypeptides.


1982 ◽  
Vol 203 (3) ◽  
pp. 571-575 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Tahara ◽  
Y Maeda ◽  
A Kuroiwa ◽  
K Ueno ◽  
M Obinata ◽  
...  

Storage-protein mRNA was found to be abundant in poly(A)-containing RNA extracted from the fat-body of third-instar larvae of Sarcophaga peregrina (fleshfly). This RNA sedimented at the position of 19S on sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation and the product of its translation in vitro was 75K protein (protein of mol.wt. 75 000), which was precipitated specifically with antibody against storage protein. This product was suggested to contain a signal sequence that is missing in mature storage protein. The poly(A)-containing RNA was also found to contain much of another mRNA coding for 25K protein (protein of mol.wt. 25 000), but the function of this protein is unknown.


1970 ◽  
Vol 119 (4) ◽  
pp. 773-784 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Smith ◽  
L. Martin ◽  
R. J. B. King ◽  
M. Vértes

1. A method is described for separating uterine epithelium that is 80% pure and connective-tissue stroma that is 60% pure. This was used to study the effects of steroid hormones on total and nuclear-protein synthesis in these tissues. 2. Oestradiol-17β given alone produces mitoses in the epithelium but not in the stroma. It stimulated incorporation in vitro of [14C]lysine into total protein, histones and acidic nuclear proteins to a greater extent in epithelium than stroma. Incorporation into acidic nuclear proteins was most markedly stimulated, reaching four to six times the normal value 4h after treatment, and then declining rapidly. This peak was only seen in epithelial preparations. 3. After pretreatment with progesterone, oestradiol-17β has the reverse effect, producing mitoses only in stroma. Progesterone alone had no effect on the amounts or rates of incorporation of [14C]lysine into stromal nuclear proteins, but changes after oestradiol-17β treatment were similar to those seen in epithelium with oestradiol-17β alone. In the epithelium, progesterone alone depressed incorporation into histones and acidic nuclear proteins, but did not abolish the subsequent response to oestradiol-17β. With this treatment there was a rapid, large and transient increase in incorporation into epithelial total protein not seen with oestradiol-17β alone. 4. Progesterone had no qualitative effect on the distribution of specific oestrogen-binding proteins, as judged by sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation. However, progesterone treatment increased the uptake in vivo of [6,7-3H]oestradiol-17β by stroma, and it is possible that this is important although the differences were not apparent after labelling in vitro.


1977 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 263-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean Y. Dubé ◽  
Pierre Chapdelaine ◽  
Roland R. Tremblay

The presence of cytoplasmic dihydrotestosterone receptors in the lungs, the comb, the wattle, and the ear lobes of the cock was demonstrated by sucrose density-gradient centrifugation. All these tissues exhibited saturable 'in vitro' binding of dihydrotestosterone in the 8–11S region of the gradient. When 0.5 M KCl was added to the lung, wattle, and comb cytosols and to the gradients, the radioactive dihydrotestosterone migrated in the 4–5S region. These studies suggest that the mechanism of action of androgens in the head appendages of the cock and in other target tissues is similar.


1993 ◽  
Vol 105 (2) ◽  
pp. 433-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.F. Chou ◽  
C.L. Riopel ◽  
L.S. Rott ◽  
M.B. Omary

We studied the solubility of keratin polypeptides 8 and 18 (K8/18), which are the predominant intermediate filaments in the human colonic epithelial cell line HT29. We find that asynchronously growing cells (G0/G1 stage of the cell cycle) have a substantial pool of soluble keratin that constitutes approx. 5% of total cellular keratin. This soluble keratin pool was observed after immunoprecipitation of K8/18 from the cytosolic fraction of cells disrupted using three detergent-free methods. Several other cell lines showed a similar significant soluble cytosolic K8/18 pool. Arrest of HT29 cells in G2/M stage of the cell cycle was associated with a concurrent increase in keratin solubility. Comparison of K8/18 obtained from the soluble cytosolic fraction and the insoluble high-speed pellet fraction showed similar levels of phosphorylation and glycosylation and similar tryptic radiolabeled phospho- and glycopeptide patterns. Soluble K8/18 can form characteristic 10 nm filaments in vitro as determined by electron microscopy. Cross-linking of soluble K8/18 followed by immunoprecipitation resulted in dimeric and tetrameric forms, based on migration in SDS-polyacrylamide gels. In addition, cross-linked and native soluble K8/18 showed similar migration on nondenaturing gels and similar sedimentation after sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Our results indicate that simple epithelial keratins are appreciably more soluble than previously recognized. The soluble keratin form is assembly competent and appears to be primarily tetrameric. Although K8/18 solubility was found to increase during mitotic arrest, glycosylation and phosphorylation did not play an obvious role in generating the soluble fraction, suggesting an alternate mechanism for keratin solubility.


1979 ◽  
Vol 92 (3_Supplb) ◽  
pp. S82-S99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katsuichiro Sudo ◽  
Keiji Yoshida ◽  
Ryo Nakayama

ABSTRACT Inhibitory effect of a synthetic steroidal anti-androgen TSAA-291 (16β-ethyl-17β-hydroxy-4-oestren-3-one) on the in vitro formation of 5α-dihydrotestosterone(5α-DHT)-receptor complex was examined. An aliquot of the cytosol from rat ventral prostates was incubated with [3H]5α-DHT in the presence of various amounts of the anti-androgen. By means of dextran-coated charcoal assay and sucrose density-gradient centrifugation analysis, TSAA-291 was demonstrated to inhibit directly, in a competitive manner, the binding of 5α-DHT to a component analogous in its properties to the cytosol androgen receptor. Further, displacing study using a variety of TSAA-291 analogues was undertaken to examine which of the functional groups of TSAA-291 is important for the affinity to the 5α-DHT binding component, and elucidated that 3-hydroxy or 5α-dihydro derivatives of TSAA-291 and others having axial methyl group at C-10 were less potent competitors for [3H]5α-DHT binding than TSAA-291. Furthermore, using other steroids including androgens and anti-androgens, considerable knowledge was obtained about structural requirements for a steroid molecule to displace the bound [3H] 5α-DHT, and this displacing activity of the steroids was discussed in terms of their anti-androgenic activity.


1986 ◽  
Vol 103 (4) ◽  
pp. 1539-1545 ◽  
Author(s):  
P J Hollenbeck ◽  
K Chapman

We report the isolation of a protein from mammalian nerve which shows ATP-sensitive binding to microtubules and ATPase activity. This protein, which we have designated HMW4, was prepared from bovine spinal nerve roots by microtubule affinity and ATP-induced release, and was further purified by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. It is a high molecular weight protein with a denatured Mr of 315,000, a Stokes radius of 90 A, and a sedimentation value of approximately 19S. It can be resolved electrophoretically from the well-characterized bovine brain microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) and also appears to be distinct from MAP 1C. HMW4 has a vanadate-sensitive and azide-insensitive ATPase activity which averages 20 nmol Pi/min per mg protein and is different from dynein and myosin ATPases. HMW4 prepared on sucrose gradients exhibits binding to MAP-free microtubules in the absence of ATP which is reduced by ATP addition. Assayed by darkfield microscopy, HMW4 causes bundling of MAP-free microtubules which is reversed by ATP addition.


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