Structure of the gill during reproduction in the unionids Anodonta grandis, Ligumia subrostrata, and Carunculina parva texasensis

1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (7) ◽  
pp. 1744-1754 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela E. Richard ◽  
T. H. Dietz ◽  
H. Silverman

This study characterizes the morphological modifications of the gill that establish the functional isolation of the central water channels into brood chambers during reproduction. The anodontids use the entire lateral demibranch for reproduction. The water channels are permanently subdivided by additional septa, resulting in more channels, but they are about one-third the size of those in the medial gill. Immediately before egg deposition, each water channel is subdivided by the formation of two small secondary water channels that receive water from the water canals, and a large brood chamber with no direct exposure to the circulating pond water. The secondary water channels disappear 1 or 2 weeks after release of the larvae. The septal tissue at the suprabranchial chamber becomes enlarged after egg deposition and seals the dorsal opening of the brood chamber from the exhalant water. The lampsilids do not form secondary water channels and the eggs are deposited in the central water channel of the posterior half of the lateral demibranch. The septal tissue enlarges at the suprabranchial chamber after egg deposition. In addition, muscular tissue near the ostial opening of the canal and at the canal – channel junction is able to constrict the canal orifice. In all species studied, the modified gill allows little if any ambient pond water into the brood chamber, and the aqueous environment is under the control of the maternal tissues.

1987 ◽  
Vol 33 (114) ◽  
pp. 239-242
Author(s):  
M. E. R. Walford

AbstractWe discuss the suggestion that small underwater transmitters might be used to illuminate the interior of major englacial water channels with radio waves. Once launched, the radio waves would naturally tend to be guided along the channels until attenuated by absorption and by radiative loss. Receivers placed within the channels or at the glacier surface could be used to detect the signals. They would provide valuable information about the connectivity of the water system. The electrical conductivity of the water is of crucial importance. A surface stream on Storglaciären, in Sweden, was found, using a low-frequency technique, to have a conductivity of approximately 4 × 10−4 S m−1. Although this is several hundred times higher than the conductivity of the surrounding glacier ice, the contrast is not sufficient to permit us simply to use electrical conductivity measurements to establish the connectivity of englacial water channels. However, the water conductivity is sufficiently small that, under favourable circumstances, radio signals should be detectable after travelling as much as a few hundred metres along an englacial water channel. In a preliminary field experiment, we demonstrated semi quantitatively that radio waves do indeed propagate as expected, at least in surface streams. We conclude that under-water radio transmitters could be of real practical value in the study of the englacial water system, provided that sufficiently robust devices can be constructed. In a subglacial channel, however, we expect the radio range would be much smaller, the environment much harsher, and the technique of less practical value.


1996 ◽  
Vol 270 (1) ◽  
pp. C12-C30 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. S. Verkman ◽  
A. N. van Hoek ◽  
T. Ma ◽  
A. Frigeri ◽  
W. R. Skach ◽  
...  

This review summarizes recent progress in water-transporting mechanisms across cell membranes. Modern biophysical concepts of water transport and new measurement strategies are evaluated. A family of water-transporting proteins (water channels, aquaporins) has been identified, consisting of small hydrophobic proteins expressed widely in epithelial and nonepithelial tissues. The functional properties, genetics, and cellular distributions of these proteins are summarized. The majority of molecular-level information about water-transporting mechanisms comes from studies on CHIP28, a 28-kDa glycoprotein that forms tetramers in membranes; each monomer contains six putative helical domains surrounding a central aqueous pathway and functions independently as a water-selective channel. Only mutations in the vasopressin-sensitive water channel have been shown to cause human disease (non-X-linked congenital nephrogenic diabetes insipidus); the physiological significance of other water channels remains unproven. One mercurial-insensitive water channel has been identified, which has the unique feature of multiple overlapping transcriptional units. Systems for expression of water channel proteins are described, including Xenopus oocytes, mammalian and insect cells, and bacteria. Further work should be directed at elucidation of the role of water channels in normal physiology and disease, molecular analysis of regulatory mechanisms, and water channel structure determination at atomic resolution.


1996 ◽  
Vol 270 (5) ◽  
pp. F880-F885 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Ford ◽  
G. Amodeo ◽  
C. Capurro ◽  
C. Ibarra ◽  
R. Dorr ◽  
...  

The ovarian oocytes from Bufo arenarum (BAO) but not those from Xenopus laevis (XLO) would have water channels (WC). We now report that the injection of the mRNA from BAO into the oocytes from XLO increased their water osmotic permeability (Pi) (reduced by 0.3 mM HgCl2 and reversed by 5 mM beta-mercaptoethanol). A 30-min challenge with progesterone induced, 18 h later, a reduction of the mercury-sensitive fraction of Pf in the BAO (but not in XLO). The mRNA from BAO pretreated with progesterone lost its capacity to induce WC in the XLO, but the hormone did not affect the expression of the WC in XLO previously injected with the mRNA from BAO. Pf was also measured in urinary bladders of BAO. Eighteen hours after a challenge with progesterone, a reduction in the hydrosmotic response to oxytocin was observed. Finally, the mRNA from the urinary bladder of BAO was injected into XLO. An increase in Pf was observed. This was not the case if, before the mRNA extraction, the bladders were treated with progesterone. We conclude that the BAO WC share progesterone sensitivity with the oxytocin-regulated water channel present in the toad urinary bladder.


2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Woochul Song ◽  
Chao Lang ◽  
Yue-xiao Shen ◽  
Manish Kumar

Aquaporins (AQPs) are naturally occurring water channel proteins. They can facilitate water molecule translocation across cellular membranes with exceptional selectivity and high permeability that are unmatched in synthetic membrane systems. These unique properties of AQPs have led to their use as functional elements in membranes in recent years. However, the intricate nature of AQPs and concerns regarding their stability and processability have encouraged researchers to develop synthetic channels that mimic the structure and properties of AQPs and other biological water-conducting channels. These channels have been termed artificial water channels. This article reviews current progress and provides a historical perspective as well as an outlook toward developing scalable membranes based on artificial water channels.


2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (41) ◽  
pp. 22711-22721 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Liu ◽  
Harish Vashisth

Peptide appended pillar[5]arene (PAP) is an artificial water channel resembling biological water channel proteins, which has shown a significant potential for designing bioinspired water purification systems.


1991 ◽  
Vol 261 (1) ◽  
pp. C143-C153 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. W. Harris ◽  
M. L. Zeidel ◽  
C. Hosselet

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) stimulation of toad bladder granular cells rapidly increases the osmotic water permeability (Pf) of their apical membranes by insertion of highly selective water channels. Before ADH stimulation, these water channels are stored in large cytoplasmic vesicles called aggrephores. ADH causes aggrephores to fuse with the apical membrane. Termination of ADH stimulation results in prompt endocytosis of water channel-containing membranes via retrieval of these specialized regions of apical membrane. Protein components of the ADH water channel contained within these retrieved vesicles would be expected to be integral membrane protein(s) that span the vesicle's lipid bilayer to create narrow aqueous channels. Our previous work has identified proteins of 55 (actually a 55/53-kDa doublet), 17, 15, and 7 kDa as candidate ADH water channel components. We now have investigated these candidate ADH water channel proteins in purified retrieved vesicles. These vesicles do not contain a functional proton pump as assayed by Western blots of purified vesicle protein probed with anti-H(+)-ATPase antisera. Approximately 60% of vesicle protein is accounted for by three protein bands of 55, 53, and 46 kDa. Smaller contributions to vesicle protein are made by the 17- and 15-kDa proteins. Triton X-114-partitioning analysis shows that the 55, 53, 46, and 17 kDa are integral membrane proteins. Vectorial labeling analysis with two membrane-impermeant reagents shows that the 55-, 53-, and 46-kDa protein species span the lipid bilayer of these vesicles. Thus the 55-, 53-, and 46-kDa proteins possess characteristics expected for ADH water channel components. These data show that the 55- and 53- and perhaps the 46-, 17-, and 15-kDa proteins are likely components of aqueous transmembrane pores that constitute ADH water channels contained within these vesicles.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Xiao Liang ◽  
Taiyue Qi ◽  
Zhiyi Jin ◽  
Pengtao Chen ◽  
Bo Lei ◽  
...  

Water leaking into metro segments is related directly to the presence of underground water. However, to date, the underground confined water channels formed by metro underpass reinforcement structures have not been considered as causes of the problem. In the present study, based on field investigations and geological data, confined water is identified as the source of segment leakage on Line 5 of Hangzhou Metro in China. It is then hypothesized that the problem stems from an underground confined water channel formed under the reinforced structure of the subway. Numerical simulations predict a settlement difference of 8–10 mm between the reinforcement area and the weak strata, and field monitoring data show this difference to be 8.62 mm. This consistency between the numerical simulations and the field measurements verifies the hypothesis. Finally, given the causes of underground confined water channels, corresponding technical measures such as piecewise secondary grouting are proposed to cut them off and avoid metro-segment leakage. The present research results contribute to the causes of and the laws governing the metro-segment leakage that occurs at subway stations and other reinforced structures.


Author(s):  
Tomoyuki Takabatake ◽  
Yukinobu Oda ◽  
Kazunori Ito ◽  
Takahide Honda

When tsunami enters a water channel of an industrial facility, the water surface inside the channel rises and uplift pressures act on the ceiling if it is reached by the water surface. In this study, magnitudes and characteristics of this uplift pressure are investigated both experimentally and numerically. The results show that (1) the uplift pressure comprises an initial impulsive pressure and a following more slowly varying pressure; (2) trapped air reduces the impulsive pressure, and thus attaching a vertical barrier to the ceiling could act as a countermeasure; and (3) the impulsive pressure can be evaluated approximately with conventional predictive methods and by appropriate numerical simulations.


1987 ◽  
Vol 33 (114) ◽  
pp. 239-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. E. R. Walford

AbstractWe discuss the suggestion that small underwater transmitters might be used to illuminate the interior of major englacial water channels with radio waves. Once launched, the radio waves would naturally tend to be guided along the channels until attenuated by absorption and by radiative loss. Receivers placed within the channels or at the glacier surface could be used to detect the signals. They would provide valuable information about the connectivity of the water system. The electrical conductivity of the water is of crucial importance. A surface stream on Storglaciären, in Sweden, was found, using a low-frequency technique, to have a conductivity of approximately 4 × 10−4S m−1. Although this is several hundred times higher than the conductivity of the surrounding glacier ice, the contrast is not sufficient to permit us simply to use electrical conductivity measurements to establish the connectivity of englacial water channels. However, the water conductivity is sufficiently small that, under favourable circumstances, radio signals should be detectable after travelling as much as a few hundred metres along an englacial water channel. In a preliminary field experiment, we demonstrated semi quantitatively that radio waves do indeed propagate as expected, at least in surface streams. We conclude that under-water radio transmitters could be of real practical value in the study of the englacial water system, provided that sufficiently robust devices can be constructed. In a subglacial channel, however, we expect the radio range would be much smaller, the environment much harsher, and the technique of less practical value.


1994 ◽  
Vol 266 (1) ◽  
pp. C121-C133 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. I. Piqueras ◽  
M. Somers ◽  
T. G. Hammond ◽  
K. Strange ◽  
H. W. Harris ◽  
...  

Although lysosomes maintain large pH gradients and may be subjected to significant osmotic gradients in vivo, little is known about their passive permeability properties. In recent studies, vacuolar H(+)-adenosine-triphosphatases (ATPases), such as those found in lysosomes, have been suggested to act as water channels. In addition, the erythrocyte and proximal tubule water channel CHIP28 is present on the plasma membrane of proximal tubule cells and may undergo endocytosis so that it is incorporated in lysosomes. We therefore examined water, proton, and small nonelectrolyte permeabilities in freshly purified lysosomes from rat renal proximal tubule. Lysosomes were purified by differential and Percoll gradient centrifugation. The preparation contained only lysosomes when examined by electron microscopy. Moreover, analysis by flow cytometry showed virtually all particles to be positive for acid phosphatase and cathepsin B activities. Permeabilities were measured on a stopped-flow fluorimeter by monitoring the self-quenching or pH-sensitive quenching of entrapped fluorescein derivatives. Osmotic water permeability (Pf) averaged 0.011 +/- 0.003 cm/s (n = 6), a value similar to that of biological membranes containing water channels. However, Pf was insensitive to the organic mercurial reagent p-chloromercuribenzene-sulfonate and to HgCl2 and exhibited an activation energy of 10.8 +/- 0.8 kcal/mol. These results indicate that water flux in lysosomes occurred via the lipid bilayer, and not via water channels. Addition of ATP led to lysosomal acidification (proton flux = 4.6 +/- 0.8 x 10(-11) mmol H+.s-1.cm-2), which was completely inhibited by 0.1 microM bafilomycin. Pf was insensitive to this agent as was the passive proton permeability (0.36 +/- 0.18 cm/s, n = 4). Permeabilities to small nonelectrolytes varied in proportion to the oil-water partition coefficient, confirming the applicability of Overton's rule to lysosomes. We conclude that proximal tubular lysosomes exhibit high Pf, which occurs via the lipid bilayer and not via vacuolar H(+)-ATPase.


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