Lenticular junctions: a form of cell contact between hypodermal cells in the nematode Trichinella spiralis

1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 771-775 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. A. Wright ◽  
H. Hong ◽  
R. R. Shivers
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Thin Section ◽  
Intercellular Space ◽  
Trichinella Spiralis ◽  
Freeze Fracture ◽  
Intercellular Junctions ◽  
Muscle Larva ◽  
Dense Material ◽  
Cell Contact ◽  
Fracture Face

The intercellular junctions between hypodermal cells of the muscle larva of the nematode Trichinella spiralis were examined by thin section and freeze-fracture techniques of electron microscopy. The spacing between membranes varied greatly and the intercellular space contained dense material. In freeze-fractures, the P-fracture face had very few particles (especially compared with the rest of the lateral membranes), and possessed raised areas of an approximately lenticular shape. These areas were not outlined by particles. It is speculated that the form of the membranes is maintained by domains of phospholipids of conical and inverted cone shapes. These junctions likely have adhering and occluding functions.

Myocardial sarcolemma in ischemia: a quantitative freeze-fracture study

1988 ◽  
Vol 255 (3) ◽  
pp. H467-H475 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. Frank ◽  
S. Beydler ◽  
N. Wheeler ◽  
K. I. Shine
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Analysis Of Variance ◽  
Freeze Fracture ◽  
Mixed Effects ◽  
Fracture Face ◽  
Intramembrane Particles ◽  
Fracture Study ◽  
K Concentration ◽  
Freeze Fracture Electron Microscopy ◽  
Fracture Electron

Freeze-fracture electron microscopy permits the visualization of the intramembrane particles (IMP). These IMPs are presumably proteins responsible for the main functions of the membrane. Quantitative techniques (Clark-Evan statistics) were applied to determine in a critical manner whether IMP pattern shifts (random, clustered, or ordered) occur under the ischemic conditions (5-45 min with and without reperfusion) and whether this change is related to the experimental condition. In each case three hearts, eight replicas/heart, one area of 0.25 micron 2 of membrane fracture face/replica was measured to give a total of 6 micron 2 of membrane counted for each condition (control vs. ischemic). A mixed effects nested model analysis of variance was performed in each variable. We found that IMP aggregation can be present in some control membranes, but the degree of aggregation was greater and more consistent in membranes made ischemic and followed by reperfusion. Most striking was the significant clustering of IMPs in membranes from hearts ischemic for only 5 min. Reperfusion after only 5 min of ischemia reversed IMP clustering. Functionally at this time there is an increase in K+ concentration in the interstitial space that reaches approximately 15 mM within 10 min and reverses on reperfusion. The structural alteration in IMPs appears to parallel the function in ischemic hearts.

scholarly journals Preparation and morphology of sarcoplasmic reticulum terminal cisternae from rabbit skeletal muscle.

1984 ◽  
Vol 99 (3) ◽  
pp. 875-885 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Saito ◽  
S Seiler ◽  
A Chu ◽  
S Fleischer
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Sarcoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Thin Section ◽  
Membrane Surface ◽  
Freeze Fracture ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Negative Staining ◽  
Section Electron ◽  
Terminal Cisternae

We have developed a procedure to isolate, from skeletal muscle, enriched terminal cisternae of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), which retain morphologically intact junctional "feet" structures similar to those observed in situ. The fraction is largely devoid of transverse tubule, plasma membrane, mitochondria, triads (transverse tubules junctionally associated with terminal cisternae), and longitudinal cisternae, as shown by thin-section electron microscopy of representative samples. The terminal cisternae vesicles have distinctive morphological characteristics that differ from the isolated longitudinal cisternae (light SR) obtained from the same gradient. The terminal cisternae consist of two distinct types of membranes, i.e., the junctional face membrane and the Ca2+ pump protein-containing membrane, whereas the longitudinal cisternae contain only the Ca2+ pump protein-containing membrane. The junctional face membrane of the terminal cisternae contains feet structures that extend approximately 12 nm from the membrane surface and can be clearly visualized in thin section through using tannic acid enhancement, by negative staining and by freeze-fracture electron microscopy. Sections of the terminal cisternae, cut tangential to and intersecting the plane of the junctional face, reveal a checkerboardlike lattice of alternating, square-shaped feet structures and spaces each 20 nm square. Structures characteristic of the Ca2+ pump protein are not observed between the feet at the junctional face membrane, either in thin section or by negative staining, even though the Ca2+ pump protein is observed in the nonjunctional membrane on the remainder of the same vesicle. Likewise, freeze-fracture replicas reveal regions of the P face containing ropelike strands instead of the high density of the 7-8-nm particles referable to the Ca2+ pump protein. The intravesicular content of the terminal cisternae, mostly Ca2+-binding protein (calsequestrin), is organized in the form of strands, sometimes appearing paracrystalline, and attached to the inner face of the membrane in the vicinity of the junctional feet. The terminal cisternae preparation is distinct from previously described heavy SR fractions in that it contains the highest percentage of junctional face membrane with morphologically well-preserved junctional feet structures.

New Evidence for Membrane Specialization in the Diatom Thalassiosira Antarctica Comber

1980 ◽  
Vol 38 ◽  
pp. 624-625
Author(s):  
Gregory J. Doucette
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Thin Section ◽  
Freeze Fracture ◽  
Marine Diatom ◽  
Supplementary Data ◽  
Ultra Structure ◽  
Membrane Specialization ◽  
Freeze Fracture Electron Microscopy ◽  
New Evidence ◽  
Fracture Electron

The present investigation was undertaken to examine the nonsiliceous ultra-structure of diatoms (BacilIariophyta) by means of freeze fracture electron microscopy. Freeze fracture procedures are complicated by the difficulties encountered in fracturing silica-based components and the removal of these materials subsequent to replica casting. Supplementary data was obtained through conventional thin section methodologies. This report is a prelim¬inary account of observations made on selected nonsiliceous, cellular con¬stituents of Thalassiosira antarctica Comber, a planktonic, marine diatom.

scholarly journals STUDIES OF EXCITABLE MEMBRANES

1974 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 567-586 ◽  
Author(s):  
John E. Rash ◽  
Mark H. Ellisman
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Thin Section ◽  
Nerve Terminal ◽  
Freeze Fracture ◽  
Staining Procedure ◽  
Fiber Types ◽  
Mammalian Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Thin Section Electron Microscopy ◽  
Section Electron ◽  
Section Electron Microscopy

The neuromuscular junctions and nonjunctional sarcolemmas of mammalian skeletal muscle fibers were studied by conventional thin-section electron microscopy and freeze-fracture techniques. A modified acetylcholinesterase staining procedure that is compatible with light microscopy, conventional thin-section electron microscopy, and freeze-fracture techniques is described. Freeze-fracture replicas were utilized to visualize the internal macromolecular architecture of the nerve terminal membrane, the chemically excitable neuromuscular junction postsynaptic folds, and the electrically excitable nonjunctional sarcolemma. The nerve terminal membrane is characterized by two parallel rows of 100–110-Å particles which may be associated with synpatic vesicle fusion and release. On the postsynpatic folds, irregular rows of densely packed 110–140-Å particles were observed and evidence is assembled which indicates that these large transmembrane macromolecules may represent the morphological correlate for functional acetylcholine receptor activity in mammalian motor endplates. Differences in the size and distribution of particles in mammalian as compared with amphibian and fish postsynaptic junctional membranes are correlated with current biochemical and electron micrograph autoradiographic data. Orthogonal arrays of 60-Å particles were observed in the split postsynaptic sarcolemmas of many diaphragm myofibers. On the basis of differences in the number and distribution of these "square" arrays within the sarcolemmas, two classes of fibers were identified in the diaphragm. Subsequent confirmation of the fiber types as fast- and slow-twitch fibers (Ellisman et al. 1974. J. Cell Biol. 63[2, Pt. 2]:93 a. [Abstr.]) may indicate a possible role for the square arrays in the electrogenic mechanism. Experiments in progress involving specific labeling techniques are expected to permit positive identification of many of these intriguing transmembrane macromolecules.

Evidence for septate junctions in the syzygy of the protozoon Gregarina polymorpha (Protozoa, Apicomplexa)

1988 ◽  
Vol 89 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-224
Author(s):  
ROMANO DALLAI ◽  
MARIA VEGNI TALLURI
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Intercellular Space ◽  
Plasma Membranes ◽  
Freeze Fracture ◽  
Septate Junction ◽  
Fracture Face ◽  
Septate Junctions ◽  
Thin Sections ◽  
Intramembranous Particles ◽  
Lanthanum Tracer

A septate junction is described in reproductive pairs of the protozoon Gregarina polymorpha, using conventional thin sections, lanthanum tracer and freeze-fracture techniques. The septate junction is established between the plasma membranes at the tips of the joined epicytic folds. It is characterized by an intercellular space of 14–17 nm traversed by septa with a repeat of 15–25 nm. Lanthanum-treated material exhibits transparent curves forming a meshwork. Freeze-fracture replicas show membrane modifications in the shape of short rows of intramembranous particles on the E fracture face of the plasma membrane. The significance of the finding of such a septate junction between protozoan cells is discussed.

scholarly journals Coalescence of microsomal vesicles from rat liver: a phenomenon occurring in parallel with enhancement of the glycosylation activity during incubation of stripped rough microsomes with GTP.

1980 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Paiement ◽  
H Beaufay ◽  
D Godelaine
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Thin Section ◽  
Rat Liver ◽  
Freeze Fracture ◽  
Endogenous Protein ◽  
Previously Treated ◽  
Nucleotide Sugars ◽  
Freeze Fracture Electron Microscopy ◽  
Fracture Electron

Rough microsomes from rat liver have been subjected to various treatments and incubated afterwards with UDP-N-acetyl-[14C]glucosamine and GDP-mannose in the presence of GTP (0.5 mM), or of other nucleotides. In agreement with earlier results from this laboratory, the preparations previously treated to strip off the ribosomes and incubated in the presence of GTP assembled dolichol-linked oligosaccharides and transferred these oligosaccharides to endogenous protein acceptors much more actively than untreated preparations, or stripped preparations incubated in the absence of GTP. Thin-section and freeze-fracture electron microscopy have revealed that pyrophosphate-treated preparations incubated with GTP are aggregated and contain numerous vesicles as large as 1-4 micrometer, or more. Such large vesicles were not present before incubation and thus were considered to have been formed through coalescence of regular-sized ones. Like glycosylation, the coalescence phenomenon depends upon the removal of ribosomes, because it occurred whether ribosomes had been stripped, at least partly, with pyrophosphate, KCl, or puromycin, but not when rough microsomes had been washed with 0.25 M sucrose or with KCl and MgCl2. Like glycosylation, it also depends on the addition of GTP and was not induced by ATP, UTP, CTP, and nonhydrolysable analogues of GTP. Rough microsomes coalesced, however, when pyrophosphate-treated preparations were incubated with GTP in the absence of nucleotide sugars, or in the presence f tunicamycin, indicating that the coalescence phenomenon does not result from the glycosylation of some membrane constituents.

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