Adhesion of Golgi cisternae by proteinaceous interactions: intercisternal bridges as putative adhesive structures

1992 ◽  
Vol 103 (3) ◽  
pp. 773-784 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.B. Cluett ◽  
W.J. Brown

We have investigated the nature of the component(s) responsible for holding the cisternal membranes of the Golgi complex into a stacked unit. Isolated Golgi complexes were treated with a variety of agents to induce the separation of intact Golgi stacks into single cisternal elements, i.e. “unstacking”, and the effects were analyzed and quantitated by electron microscopy. In control experiments, isolated, intact Golgi stacks were stable at 4 degrees C and 20 degrees C for > or = 1 h; however, some unstacking occurred at 32 degrees C. Treatment of intact Golgi stacks with a variety of proteolytic enzymes resulted in a time- and dose-dependent unstacking of the cisternae, although stacks were resistant to various other proteases. Following liberation from the stack, single cisternae remained flattened with dilated rims. The integrity of intact Golgi stacks was unaffected by treatment with various concentrations and combinations of monovalent and divalent cations, or chelators of divalent cations. Electron microscopic observations of tannic acid- or negatively stained Golgi complexes, revealed the presence of highly structured, intercisternal “bridges”. When seen within intact Golgi complexes, these bridges were only consistently found between closely apposed cisternae and were not observed on dilated rims or secretory vesicles. These bridges, on both intact stacks and physically disrupted cisternae, were rectangular, being approximately 8.5 nm in width, approximately 11 nm in height. Treatment with proteases under conditions that resulted in the with proteases under conditions that resulted in the unstacking of intact complexes also removed these bridge structures. These data show that proteinaceous components are responsible for holding Golgi cisternae together into a cohesive, stacked unit, and identify a candidate bridge structure that could serve this purpose.

1984 ◽  
Vol 39 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 776-780
Author(s):  
T. K. Mandal ◽  
S. N. Chatterjee

Abstract Polymyxin B produced dose dependent changes in the surface topography of the goat erythrocyte cells. Transformation from the normal biconcave discs through crenated structures to the final rounded or spherical shape was recorded by scanning electron microscopy. A maxim um of three to four crenations per cell was recorded corresponding to a polymyxin dose of 15.62 ng/ml. Transmission electron microscopy of the ultrathin sections of treated or untreated erythrocytes indicated that the crenations were formed by protrusions of the plasma membrane, occurring presumably because of the local increase of membrane fluidity after polymyxin treatment. Changes in the shape of the erythrocytes to the ultimate rounded forms were also indicated by the transmission electron microscopy.


Author(s):  
J. Frank ◽  
P.-Y. Sizaret ◽  
A. Verschoor ◽  
J. Lamy

The accuracy with which the attachment site of immunolabels bound to macromolecules may be localized in electron microscopic images can be considerably improved by using single particle averaging. The example studied in this work showed that the accuracy may be better than the resolution limit imposed by negative staining (∽2nm).The structure used for this demonstration was a halfmolecule of Limulus polyphemus (LP) hemocyanin, consisting of 24 subunits grouped into four hexamers. The top view of this structure was previously studied by image averaging and correspondence analysis. It was found to vary according to the flip or flop position of the molecule, and to the stain imbalance between diagonally opposed hexamers (“rocking effect”). These findings have recently been incorporated into a model of the full 8 × 6 molecule.LP hemocyanin contains eight different polypeptides, and antibodies specific for one, LP II, were used. Uranyl acetate was used as stain. A total of 58 molecule images (29 unlabelled, 29 labelled with antl-LPII Fab) showing the top view were digitized in the microdensitometer with a sampling distance of 50μ corresponding to 6.25nm.


Author(s):  
P.J. Dailey

The structure of insect salivary glands has been extensively investigated during the past decade; however, none have attempted scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in ultrastructural examinations of these secretory organs. This study correlates fine structure by means of SEM cryofractography with that of thin-sectioned epoxy embedded material observed by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM).Salivary glands of Gromphadorhina portentosa were excised and immediately submerged in cold (4°C) paraformaldehyde-glutaraldehyde fixative1 for 2 hr, washed and post-fixed in 1 per cent 0s04 in phosphosphate buffer (4°C for 2 hr). After ethanolic dehydration half of the samples were embedded in Epon 812 for TEM and half cryofractured and subsequently critical point dried for SEM. Dried specimens were mounted on aluminum stubs and coated with approximately 150 Å of gold in a cold sputtering apparatus.Figure 1 shows a cryofractured plane through a salivary acinus revealing topographical relief of secretory vesicles.


Author(s):  
William J. Dougherty

The regulation of secretion in exocrine and endocrine cells has long been of interest. Electron microscopic and other studies have demonstrated that secretory proteins synthesized on ribosomes are transported by the rough ER to the Golgi complex where they are concentrated into secretory granules. During active secretion, secretory granules fuse with the cell membrane, liberating and discharging their contents into the perivascular spaces. When secretory activity is suppressed in anterior pituitary cells, undischarged secretory granules may be degraded by lysosomes. In the parathyroid gland, evidence indicates that the level of blood Ca ions regulates both the production and release of parathormone. Thus, when serum Ca is low, synthesis and release of parathormone are both stimulated; when serum Ca is elevated, these processes are inhibited.


Author(s):  
Joseph E. Mazurkiewicz

Immunocytochemistry is a powerful investigative approach in which one of the most exacting examples of specificity, that of the reaction of an antibody with its antigen, isused to localize tissue and cell specific molecules in situ. Following the introduction of fluorescent labeled antibodies in T950, a large number of molecules of biological interest had been studied with light microscopy, especially antigens involved in the pathogenesis of some diseases. However, with advances in electron microscopy, newer methods were needed which could reveal these reactions at the ultrastructural level. An electron dense label that could be coupled to an antibody without the loss of immunologic activity was desired.


Author(s):  
E, R. Walker ◽  
N. O. Olson ◽  
M. H. Friedman

An unidentified virus, responsible for an arthritic-like condition in chickens was studied by electron microscopy and other methods of viral investigation. It was characterized in chorio-allantoic membrane (CAM) lesions of embryonating chicken eggs and in tissue culture as to: 1) particle size; 2) structure; 3) mode of replication in the cell; and 4) nucleic acid type.The inoculated virus, coated and uncoated, is first seen in lysosomal-like inclusions near the nucleus; the virions appear to be uncoated in these electron dense inclusions (Figure 1), Although transfer of the viral genome from these inclusions is not observable, replicating virus and mature virus crystals are seen in the cytoplasm subsequent to the uncoating of the virions.The crystals are formed in association with a mass of fibrils 50 to 80 angstroms in diameter and a ribosome-studded structure that appears to be granular endoplasmic reticulum adapted to virus replication (Figure 2). The mature virion (Figure 3) is an icosahedral particle approximately 75 millimicrons in diameter. The inner core is 45 millimicrons, the outer coat 15 millimicrons, and the virion has no envelope.


Author(s):  
Loren Anderson ◽  
Pat Pizzo ◽  
Glen Haydon

Transmission electron microscopy of replicas has long been used to study the fracture surfaces of components which fail in service. Recently, the scanning electron microscope (SEM) has gained popularity because it allows direct examination of the fracture surface. However, the somewhat lower resolution of the SEM coupled with a restriction on the sample size has served to limit the use of this instrument in investigating in-service failures. It is the intent of this paper to show that scanning electron microscopic examination of conventional negative replicas can be a convenient and reliable technique for determining mode of failure.


Author(s):  
Li Li-Sheng ◽  
L.F. Allard ◽  
W.C. Bigelow

The aromatic polyamides form a class of fibers having mechanical properties which are much better than those of aliphatic polyamides. Currently, the accepted morphology of these fibers as proposed by M.G. Dobb, et al. is a radial arrangement of pleated sheets, with the plane of the pleats parallel to the axis of the fiber. We have recently obtained evidence which supports a different morphology of this type of fiber, using ultramicrotomy and ion-thinning techniques to prepare specimens for transmission and scanning electron microscopy.


Author(s):  
G. C. Smith ◽  
R. L. Heberling ◽  
S. S. Kalter

A number of viral agents are recognized as and suspected of causing the clinical condition “gastroenteritis.” In our attempts to establish an animal model for studies of this entity, we have been examining the nonhuman primate to ascertain what viruses may be found in the intestinal tract of “normal” animals as well as animals with diarrhea. Several virus types including coronavirus, adenovirus, herpesvirus, and picornavirus (Table I) were detected in our colony; however, rotavirus, astrovirus, and calicivirus have not yet been observed. Fecal specimens were prepared for electron microscopy by procedures reported previously.


Author(s):  
Peter M. Andrews

Although there have been a number of recent scanning electron microscopic reports on the renal glomerulus, the advantages of scanning electron microscopy have not yet been applied to a systematic study of the uriniferous tubules. In the present investigation, scanning electron microscopy was used to study the ultrastructural morphology of the proximal, distal, thin loop, and collecting tubules. Material for observation was taken from rat kidneys which were fixed by vascular perfusion, sectioned by either cutting or fracturing technigues, and critically point dried.The brush border characterising proximal tubules is first detected on the luminal surface of Bowman's capsule adjacent to the urinary pole orifice. In this region one frequently finds irregular microvilli characterized by broad and flattened bases with occasional bulbous structures protruding from their surfaces.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document