scholarly journals Intracellular labeling with ferritin conjugates. A specificity problem due to the affinity of unconjugated ferritin for selected intracellular sites.

1979 ◽  
Vol 27 (7) ◽  
pp. 1095-1102 ◽  
Author(s):  
E L Parr
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Nuclear Envelope ◽  
Phosphate Buffer ◽  
Plasma Membranes ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Purification Procedure ◽  
Nonspecific Binding ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Antibody Conjugates

Nonspecific binding of ferritin to chromatin and the cytoplasmic aspect of the nuclear envelope was observed when nonantigenic, serum-washed hepatocyte nuclei were incubated in ferritin-antibody conjugates. This labeling was duplicated when nuclei from a wide range of species and cell types were exposed to unconjugated ferritin. Unconjugated ferritin binding to nuclei did not depend on a subpopulation of denatured molecules or on the ferritin purification procedure. Binding occurred equally on unfixed and formaldehyde-fixed nuclei, but no ferritin bound to glutaraldehyde-fixed nuclei. Inconjugated ferritin also bound to the cytoplasmic aspects of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and the plasma membrane. The tracer did not bind to lysosomes, mitochondria, Golgi vesicles, the extracellular surface of plasma membranes, or the intracisternal surfaces of ruptured nuclear envelopes. The addition of 0.4 M KCl or 0.7 M NaCl to ferritin solutions and washing media at neutral pH reduced the binding of conjugated and unconjugated ferritin to nuclei to about 3% of that seen in 0.10 M phosphate buffer alone. The added salts caused little extraction of nuclear contents from formaldehyde-fixed nuclei. The use of one of these salts in ferritin conjugates should considerably improve the specificity of intracellular labeling.

Membrane microdomains: lessons from microscopy

1995 ◽  
Vol 53 ◽  
pp. 776-777
Author(s):  
J.M. Robinson ◽  
J.M Oliver
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Plasma Membranes ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Imaging Modalities ◽  
Membrane Microdomains ◽  
Membrane Domains ◽  
Lateral Heterogeneity ◽  
Functional Importance

Specialized regions of plasma membranes displaying lateral heterogeneity are the focus of this Symposium. Specialized membrane domains are known for certain cell types such as differentiated epithelial cells where lateral heterogeneity in lipids and proteins exists between the apical and basolateral portions of the plasma membrane. Lateral heterogeneity and the presence of microdomains in membranes that are uniform in appearance have been more difficult to establish. Nonetheless a number of studies have provided evidence for membrane microdomains and indicated a functional importance for these structures.This symposium will focus on the use of various imaging modalities and related approaches to define membrane microdomains in a number of cell types. The importance of existing as well as emerging imaging technologies for use in the elucidation of membrane microdomains will be highlighted. The organization of membrane microdomains in terms of dimensions and spatial distribution is of considerable interest and will be addressed in this Symposium.

scholarly journals Rtn1p Is Involved in Structuring the Cortical Endoplasmic Reticulum

2006 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 3009-3020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan-Owen De Craene ◽  
Jeff Coleman ◽  
Paula Estrada de Martin ◽  
Marc Pypaert ◽  
Scott Anderson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Nuclear Envelope ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Cell Cortex ◽  
Proteomic Screen ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Membrane Spanning ◽  
Green Fluorescent ◽  
Hydrophilic Loop ◽  
Yeast Mutants

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) contains both cisternal and reticular elements in one contiguous structure. We identified rtn1Δ in a systematic screen for yeast mutants with altered ER morphology. The ER in rtn1Δ cells is predominantly cisternal rather than reticular, yet the net surface area of ER is not significantly changed. Rtn1-green fluorescent protein (GFP) associates with the reticular ER at the cell cortex and with the tubules that connect the cortical ER to the nuclear envelope, but not with the nuclear envelope itself. Rtn1p overexpression also results in an altered ER structure. Rtn proteins are found on the ER in a wide range of eukaryotes and are defined by two membrane-spanning domains flanking a conserved hydrophilic loop. Our results suggest that Rtn proteins may direct the formation of reticulated ER. We independently identified Rtn1p in a proteomic screen for proteins associated with the exocyst vesicle tethering complex. The conserved hydophilic loop of Rtn1p binds to the exocyst subunit Sec6p. Overexpression of this loop results in a modest accumulation of secretory vesicles, suggesting impaired exocyst function. The interaction of Rtn1p with the exocyst at the bud tip may trigger the formation of a cortical ER network in yeast buds.

scholarly journals Fluorescent, short-chain C6-NBD-sphingomyelin, but not C6-NBD-glucosylceramide, is subject to extensive degradation in the plasma membrane: implications for signal transduction related to cell differentiation

1995 ◽  
Vol 309 (3) ◽  
pp. 905-912 ◽  
Author(s):  
J W Kok ◽  
T Babia ◽  
K Klappe ◽  
D Hoekstra
Keyword(s):  
Signal Transduction ◽  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Cell Differentiation ◽  
Plasma Membranes ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Short Chain ◽  
Synthetic Activity ◽  
Intact Cells ◽  
Ht29 Cells ◽  
Extensive Degradation

The involvement of the plasma membrane in the metabolism of the sphingolipids sphingomyelin (SM) and glucosylceramide (GlcCer) was studied, employing fluorescent short-chain analogues of these lipids, 6-[N-(7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-yl) amino]hexanoylsphingosylphosphorylcholine (C6-NBD-SM), C6-NBD-GlcCer and their common biosynthetic precursor C6-NBD-ceramide (C6-NBD-Cer). Although these fluorescent short-chain analogues are metabolically active, some caution is to be taken in view of potential changes in biophysical/biochemical properties of the lipid compared with its natural counterpart. However, these short-chain analogues offer the advantage of studying the lipid metabolic enzymes in their natural environment, since detergent solubilization is not necessary for measuring their activity. These studies were carried out with several cell types, including two phenotypes (differing in state of differentiation) of HT29 cells. Degradation and biosynthesis of C6-NBD-SM and C6-NBD-GlcCer were determined in intact cells, in their isolated plasma membranes, and in plasma membranes isolated from rat liver tissue. C6-NBD-SM was found to be subject to extensive degradation in the plasma membrane, due to neutral sphingomyelinase (N-SMase) activity. The extent of C6-NBD-SM hydrolysis showed a general cell-type dependence and turned out to be dependent on the state of cell differentiation, as revealed for HT29 cells. In undifferentiated HT29 cells N-SMase activity was at least threefold higher than in its differentiated counterpart. In contrast, in all cell types studied, very little if any biosynthesis of C6-NBD-SM from the precursor C6-NBD-Cer occurred. Moreover, in the case of C6-NBD-GlcCer, neither hydrolytic nor synthetic activity was found to be associated with the plasma membrane. These results are discussed in the context of the involvement of the sphingolipids SM and GlcCer in signal transduction pathways in the plasma membrane.

scholarly journals Surface membrane vesicles from mononuclear cells stimulate erythroid stem cells to proliferate in culture

Blood ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 583-594 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Dainiak ◽  
CM Cohen
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Plasma Membranes ◽  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Surface Membrane ◽  
Freeze Fracture ◽  
Membrane Vesicles ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Target Cells ◽  
Freeze Fracture Electron Microscopy

Abstract In order to examine the contribution of cell surface materials to erythroid burst-promoting activity (BPA), we separated media conditioned by a variety of human cell types into pellets and supernatants by centrifugation. When added to serum-restricted cultures of nonadherent human marrow cells, pellets contained about half of the total stimulatory activity. Freeze-fracture electron microscopy of the pellets revealed the presence of unilamellar membrane vesicles ranging from 0.10 to 0.40 microM in diameter. The amount of BPA in culture increased with added vesicle concentration in a saturable fashion. Preparation of leukocyte conditioned medium (LCM) from 125I-wheat germ agglutinin labeled cells and studies comparing the glycoprotein composition of vesicles with that of leukocyte plasma membranes suggest that LCM-derived vesicles are of plasma membrane origin. Moreover, partially purified leukocyte plasma membrane preparations also contained BPA. While disruption of vesicles by freezing/thawing and hypotonic lysis did not alter BPA, heat, trypsin, or pronase treatment removed greater than 65% of BPA, implying that vesicle surface rather than intravesicular molecules express BPA. Results of BPA assays performed in two-layer clots indicated that proximity to target cells is required for vesicle BPA expression. We conclude that membrane vesicles spontaneously shed from cell surfaces may be important regulators of erythroid burst proliferation in vitro.

scholarly journals Paralemmin, a Prenyl-Palmitoyl–anchored Phosphoprotein Abundant in Neurons and Implicated in Plasma Membrane Dynamics and Cell Process Formation

1998 ◽  
Vol 143 (3) ◽  
pp. 795-813 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Kutzleb ◽  
Gabriele Sanders ◽  
Raina Yamamoto ◽  
Xiaolu Wang ◽  
Beate Lichte ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Plasma Membranes ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Membrane Dynamics ◽  
Morphological Properties ◽  
Developmentally Regulated ◽  
Membrane Flow ◽  
Western Blots ◽  
Process Formation

We report the identification and initial characterization of paralemmin, a putative new morphoregulatory protein associated with the plasma membrane. Paralemmin is highly expressed in the brain but also less abundantly in many other tissues and cell types. cDNAs from chicken, human, and mouse predict acidic proteins of 42 kD that display a pattern of sequence cassettes with high inter-species conservation separated by poorly conserved linker sequences. Prenylation and palmitoylation of a COOH-terminal cluster of three cysteine residues confers hydrophobicity and membrane association to paralemmin. Paralemmin is also phosphorylated, and its mRNA is differentially spliced in a tissue-specific and developmentally regulated manner. Differential splicing, lipidation, and phosphorylation contribute to electrophoretic heterogeneity that results in an array of multiple bands on Western blots, most notably in brain. Paralemmin is associated with the cytoplasmic face of the plasma membranes of postsynaptic specializations, axonal and dendritic processes and perikarya, and also appears to be associated with an intracellular vesicle pool. It does not line the neuronal plasmalemma continuously but in clusters and patches. Its molecular and morphological properties are reminiscent of GAP-43, CAP-23, and MARCKS, proteins implicated in plasma membrane dynamics. Overexpression in several cell lines shows that paralemmin concentrates at sites of plasma membrane activity such as filopodia and microspikes, and induces cell expansion and process formation. The lipidation motif is essential for this morphogenic activity. We propose a function for paralemmin in the control of cell shape, e.g., through an involvement in membrane flow or in membrane–cytoskeleton interaction.

scholarly journals Cathepsin B activity in human lung tumor cell lines: ultrastructural localization, pH sensitivity, and inhibitor status at the cellular level.

1994 ◽  
Vol 42 (7) ◽  
pp. 917-929 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Spiess ◽  
A Brüning ◽  
S Gack ◽  
B Ulbricht ◽  
H Spring ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Tumor Cell ◽  
Enzymatic Activity ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Cathepsin B ◽  
Lung Tumor ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Cellular Level ◽  
Tumor Cell Lines

We investigated the appearance and activity of the cysteine proteinase cathepsin B and its physiological inhibitors, stefins A and B, at the cellular level in human tumor cell lines HS-24, derived from a primary lung tumor (squamous cell), and SB-3, derived from a metastasis (lung adenocarcinoma). In addition to cathepsin B, these tumor cells also expressed the immunologically and functionally related cathepsin L, but not cathepsin H. Stefin A was found in HS-24 but not in SB-3 cells; stefin B was found in both cell types. Using a specific fluorogenic cytochemical assay, the intracellular activity of the enzyme was localized and quantified. Thus, the cellular cathepsin B kinetics for the synthetic substrates Z-Arg-Arg-4M beta NA and Z-Val-Lys-Lys-Arg-4M beta NA, its pH dependence and inhibition by E64, stefins A and B, and cystatin C could be determined. From these measurements it appeared that the enzyme exhibited different cleavage rates for these substrates in the different cell types, showed considerable cleavage activity at neutral pH, which was stable under these conditions for extended time periods, and was highly sensitive to the inhibitors E64 and cystatin C but was considerably less sensitive to stefins, particularly stefin A. By conventional light microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and electron microscopy the enzymatic activity was localized in lysosomes, as expected, but also in the endoplasmic reticulum, nuclear membrane, and plasma membrane. The endoplasmic reticulum is a site at which only pre-mature enzyme forms exist, which are usually not active. The appearance of enzymatic activity at the plasma membrane confirms earlier biochemical and immunofluorescence microscopic investigations. The different sites of localization within the cells make it likely that different forms of the enzyme are expressed simultaneously, which follow alternate ways of processing and sorting. Taken together, the results support an involvement of the enzyme under extracellular conditions in degradative processes.

scholarly journals Cytochemical staining of the endoplasmic reticulum and glycogen in mouse anterior pituitary cells.

1984 ◽  
Vol 32 (12) ◽  
pp. 1285-1294 ◽  
Author(s):  
A M Cataldo ◽  
R D Broadwell
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Nuclear Envelope ◽  
Anterior Pituitary ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Pituitary Cells ◽  
Cytochemical Staining ◽  
Anterior Pituitary Cells ◽  
G6pase Activity ◽  
Pituitary Glands ◽  
Glycogen Particles

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and glycogen in secretory cells of anterior pituitary glands from control and fasted mice were investigated ultrastructurally using cytochemical staining techniques. Potential enzyme cytochemical markers for the ER included glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) and nucleoside diphosphatase (NDPase) activities. Presumptive glycogen particles were identified in tissue postfixed in 1% osmium tetroxide-1.5% potassium ferrocyanide or in ultrathin sections poststained with periodic acid-thiocarbohydrazide-silver proteinate. The ER appeared to be related structurally and cytochemically to the nuclear envelope and cis Golgi saccules. Similar relationships between the ER and the trans Golgi saccules or GERL were not observed. In anterior pituitary glands from control mice, G6Pase activity was prominent within the lumen of the ER, nuclear envelope, and cis Golgi saccules of all cells; reaction product was absent in the trans Golgi saccules and in GERL. G6Pase activity was sparse to non-existent in anterior pituitary cells from fasted mice. The cytochemical reaction utilizing the Gomori lead capture method indicated that G6Pase in anterior pituitary cells may function as a phosphohydrolase for converting glucose-6-phosphate to glucose. Cytochemical localization of NDPase activity was not evident in the ER; reaction product was localized consistently in one or two trans Golgi saccules and occasionally in GERL and nascent secretory granules. Presumptive glycogen particles in each of the different secretory cell types from control mice appeared as 20-30 nm wide, electron-dense particles scattered as single entities throughout the cytoplasm. Anterior pituitary glands from fasted mice exhibited conspicuous and numerous clumps of glycogen particles in addition to scattered particles in all cell types except corticotrophs, which appeared to be devoid of glycogen. Glycogen particles were absent in anterior pituitary cells incubated in a medium containing diastase. Our results suggest that in anterior pituitary cells of the mouse: 1) the phosphohydrolytic activity of G6Pase is a reliable cytochemical marker for the ER; 2) the ER is associated morphologically and cytochemically with the cis face but not with the trans face of the Golgi apparatus or with GERL; 3) some glucose-6-phosphate, a possible substrate for G6Pase in vivo, may be derived indirectly from glycogen stores; and 4) modulations in G6Pase activity and glycogen storage during fasting may reflect an alteration in energy metabolism.

Incorporation in vivo of [32P]orthophosphate and [Me-3H]choline into rough microsomal, Golgi, and plasma membranes of rat liver

1977 ◽  
Vol 55 (8) ◽  
pp. 876-885 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia L. Chang ◽  
John R. Riordan ◽  
Mario A. Moscarello ◽  
Jennifer M. Sturgess
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Rat Liver ◽  
Plasma Membranes ◽  
Specific Activity ◽  
Specific Radioactivity ◽  
Marker Enzyme ◽  
Golgi Membranes ◽  
Endomembrane Flow

To study membrane biogenesis and to test the validity of the endomembrane flow hypothesis, incorporation of 32P and [Me-3H]choline in vivo into membranes of the rat liver was followed. Rough microsomal, Golgi-rich, and plasma membrane fractions were monitored with marker enzyme assays and shown with morphometric analysis to contain 82% rough microsomes, at least 70% Golgi complexes, and 88% plasma membranes, respectively. Membrane subfractions from the rough microsomal and Golgi-rich fractions were prepared by sonic disruption.At 5 to 30 min after 32P injection, the specific radioactivity of phosphatidylcholine was higher in the rough microsomal membranes than in the Golgi membranes. From 1 to 3 h, the specific activity of phosphatidylcholine in Golgi membranes became higher and reached the maximum at about 3 h. Although the plasma membrane had the lowest specific radioactivity throughout 0.25–3 h, it increased rapidly thereafter to attain the highest specific activity at 5 h. Both rough microsomal and plasma membranes reached their maxima at 5 h.The specific radioactivity of [32P]phosphatidylethanolamine in the three membrane fractions was similar to that of [32P]phosphatidylcholine except from 5 to 30 min, when the specific radioactivity of phosphatidylethanolamine in the Golgi membranes was similar to the rough microsomal membranes.At 15 min to 5 h after [Me-3H]choline injection, more than 90% of the radioactivity in all the membranes was acid-precipitable. The specific radioactivities of the acid-precipitated membranes, expressed as dpm per milligram protein, reached the maximum at 3 h. After [Me-3H]choline injection, the specific radioactivity of phosphatidylcholine separated from the lipid extract of the acid-precipitated membranes (dpm per micromole phosphorus) did not differ significantly in the three membrane fractions. The results indicated rapid incorporation of choline into membrane phosphatidylcholine by the rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi, and plasma membranes simultaneously.The data with both 32P and [Me-3H]choline precursors did not support the endomembrane flow hypothesis. The Golgi complexes apparently synthesized phosphatidylethanolamine and incorporated choline into phosphatidylcholine as well as the endoplasmic reticulum. The results are discussed with relevance to current hypotheses on the biogenesis and transfer of membrane phospholipids.

scholarly journals Integrin-associated protein: a 50-kD plasma membrane antigen physically and functionally associated with integrins.

1990 ◽  
Vol 111 (6) ◽  
pp. 2785-2794 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Brown ◽  
L Hooper ◽  
T Ho ◽  
H Gresham
Keyword(s):  
Signal Transduction ◽  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Synthetic Peptides ◽  
Plasma Membranes ◽  
Protein A ◽  
Hematopoietic Cells ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Cell Biol ◽  
Leukocyte Response ◽  
Stimulation Of

Phagocytosis by monocytes or neutrophils can be enhanced by interaction with several proteins or synthetic peptides containing the Arg-Gly-Asp sequence. Recently we showed that an mAb, B6H12, specifically inhibited this enhancement of neutrophil phagocytosis by inhibiting Arg-Gly-Asp binding to the leukocyte response integrin (Gresham, H. D., J. L. Goodwin, P. M. Allen, D. C. Anderson, and E. J. Brown. 1989. J. Cell Biol. 108:1935-1943). Now, we have purified the antigen recognized by B6H12 to homogeneity. Surprisingly, it is a 50-kD molecule that is expressed on the plasma membranes of all hematopoietic cells, including erythrocytes, which express no known integrins. On platelets and placenta, but not on erythrocytes, this protein is associated with an integrin that can be recognized by an anti-beta 3 antibody. In addition, both the anti-beta 3 and several mAbs recognizing the 50-kD protein inhibit Arg-Gly-Asp stimulation of phagocytosis. These data demonstrate an association between integrins and the 50-kD protein on several cell types. For this reason, we call it Integrin-associated Protein (IAP). We hypothesize that IAP may play a role in signal transduction for enhanced phagocytosis by Arg-Gly-Asp ligands.

scholarly journals The Fine Structure of the Rod-Bipolar Cell Synapse in the Retina of the Albino Rat

1958 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 459-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron J. Ladman
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Fine Structure ◽  
Bipolar Cell ◽  
Plasma Membranes ◽  
Lower Pole ◽  
Albino Rat ◽  
Cytoplasmic Vesicles ◽  
Thin Lamella ◽  
Cell Synapse

The fine structure of the rod-bipolar synapse is described and illustrated. Each rod spherule possesses a large, single, oval or elongate mitochondrion approximately 0.5 x 2.0 microns. Surrounding the mitochondrion are elements of agranular endoplasmic reticulum. The bipolar dendrite projects into the lower pole of the spherule and usually terminates in two lobes separated by a cleft. The plasma membranes appear dense and thicker in the region of the synapse. In the rod spherule cytoplasm, contiguous with the plasma membrane is a dense, slightly concave arciform structure, the rod arciform density, extending from the base of the bipolar bifid process through the cleft to an equivalent point on the opposite side. Also within the spherule, and external (towards the sclera) to the rod arciform density, is a parallel, dense, thin lamella, the rod synaptic lamella. This is approximately 25 mµ in thickness and 400 mµ in width at its widest extent. This halfmoon-shaped plate straddles the cleft between the two lobes of the bipolar process. The lamella appears to consist of short regular rodlets or cylinders 5 to 7 mµ in diameter, oriented with their long axes perpendicular to the plane of the lamella. Minute cytoplasmic vesicles found in the cytoplasm of both the rod spherule and the bipolar terminal are most abundant near the rod synaptic lamella.

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