Surface contraction of dividing newt eggs induced by lowering the external ionic strength or pH, or by trypsinization

1986 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 143-154
Author(s):  
T. Kubota
Keyword(s):  
Ionic Strength ◽  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Similar Type ◽  
Vitelline Membrane ◽  
Common Mechanism ◽  
Surface Material ◽  
Sucrose Medium ◽  
Saline Medium ◽  
Partial Reversal

As the first cleavage progresses, newt (Cynopus pyrrhogaster) eggs deprived of their vitelline membrane grow to expose the new, unpigmented surface to a saline medium full-strength Steinberg solution). Further exposure of these eggs to sucrose medium resulted in rapid and extensive contraction of the unpigmented surface. In the sucrose medium the contraction continued until the next cleavage, and eventually the eggs divided into many blastomeres. But partial reversal of the contraction was observed when, after brief treatment with sucrose medium, the eggs were returned to saline medium. This and other experiments indicated that the contraction was due to lowering of the extracellular ionic strength. A similar type of contraction was induced by acidification of the saline medium or by trypsinization. The contractions induced by these treatments did not absolutely require the presence of external Ca2+, had a rapid time course, and were restricted to the unpigmented region, suggesting that they had a common mechanism. Acidification of the egg cytoplasm with CO2 did not result in significant contraction. These findings, together with those of others, suggest that contraction of the unpigmented surface induced by these treatments is due to conformational changes of surface material.

scholarly journals "Creep currents" in single frog atrial cells may be generated by electrogenic Na/Ca exchange.

1986 ◽  
Vol 87 (6) ◽  
pp. 857-884 ◽  
Author(s):  
J R Hume ◽  
A Uehara
Keyword(s):  
Voltage Clamp ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Single Cells ◽  
Mechanical Activity ◽  
Common Mechanism ◽  
Mechanical Relaxation ◽  
Equilibrium Conditions ◽  
Atrial Cells ◽  
Current Voltage ◽  
Wide Range

The objective of these experiments was to test the hypothesis that the "creep currents" induced by Na loading of single frog atrial cells (Hume, J. R., and A. Uehara. 1986. Journal of General Physiology. 87:833) may be generated by an electrogenic Na/Ca exchanger. Creep currents induced by Na loading were examined over a wide range of membrane potentials. During depolarizing voltage-clamp pulses, outward creep currents were observed, followed by inward creep currents upon the return to the holding potential. During hyperpolarizing voltage-clamp pulses, creep currents of the opposite polarity were observed: inward creep currents were observed during the pulses, followed by outward creep currents upon the return to the holding potential. The current-voltage relations for inward and outward creep currents in response to depolarizing or hyperpolarizing voltage displacements away from the holding potential all intersect the voltage axis at a common potential, which indicates that inward and outward creep currents may have a common reversal potential under equilibrium conditions and may therefore be generated by a common mechanism. Measurements of inward creep currents confirm that voltage displacements away from the holding potential rapidly alter equilibrium conditions. Current-voltage relationships of inward creep currents after depolarizing voltage-clamp pulses are extremely labile and depend critically upon the amplitude and duration of outward creep currents elicited during preceding voltage-clamp pulses. An optical monitor of mechanical activity in single cells revealed (a) a similar voltage dependence for the outward creep currents induced by Na loading and tonic contraction, and (b) a close correlation between the time course of the decay of the inward creep current and the time course of mechanical relaxation. A mathematical model of electrogenic Na/Ca exchange (Mullins, L.J. 1979. Federation Proceedings. 35:2583; Noble, D. 1986. Cardiac Muscle. 171-200) can adequately account for many of the properties of creep currents. It is concluded that creep currents in single frog atrial cells may be attributed to the operation of an electrogenic Na/Ca exchange mechanism.

scholarly journals Different SP1 binding dynamics at individual genomic loci in human cells

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuko Hasegawa ◽  
Kevin Struhl
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Nucleosome Occupancy ◽  
Binding Kinetics ◽  
Common Mechanism ◽  
Sequence Motif ◽  
Promoter Regions ◽  
Pml Bodies ◽  
Slow Turnover

Using a tamoxifen-inducible time-course ChIP-seq approach, we show that the ubiquitous transcription factor SP1 has different binding dynamics at its target sites in the human genome that are not correlated with SP1 occupancy levels at those sites. While ~70% of SP1 binding sites are located in promoter regions, loci with slow SP1 binding turnover are enriched in enhancer and Polycomb-repressed regions. Unexpectedly, SP1 sites with fast turnover times tend to have higher quality and more copies of the SP1 sequence motif. Different co-binding factors associate near SP1 binding sites depending on their binding kinetics and on their location at promoters or enhancers. For example, NFY and FOS are preferentially associated near promoter-bound SP1 sites with fast turnover, whereas DNA motifs of ETS and homeodomain proteins are preferentially observed at sites with slow turnover. At promoters but not enhancers, proteins involved in sumoylation and PML bodies associate more strongly with slow SP1 binding sites than with the fast-binding sites. The speed of SP1 binding turnover is not associated with nucleosome occupancy, and it is not necessarily coupled to higher transcriptional activity. These results with SP1 are in contrast from those of human TBP, indicating that there is no common mechanism affecting transcription factor binding kinetics.

scholarly journals Different SP1 binding dynamics at individual genomic loci in human cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (46) ◽  
pp. e2113579118
Author(s):  
Yuko Hasegawa ◽  
Kevin Struhl
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Nucleosome Occupancy ◽  
Binding Kinetics ◽  
Common Mechanism ◽  
Sequence Motif ◽  
Chip Sequencing ◽  
Target Sites ◽  
Maximal Binding

Using a tamoxifen-inducible time-course ChIP-sequencing (ChIP-seq) approach, we show that the ubiquitous transcription factor SP1 has different binding dynamics at its target sites in the human genome. SP1 very rapidly reaches maximal binding levels at some sites, but binding kinetics at other sites is biphasic, with rapid half-maximal binding followed by a considerably slower increase to maximal binding. While ∼70% of SP1 binding sites are located at promoter regions, loci with slow SP1 binding kinetics are enriched in enhancer and Polycomb-repressed regions. Unexpectedly, SP1 sites with fast binding kinetics tend to have higher quality and more copies of the SP1 sequence motif. Different cobinding factors associate near SP1 binding sites depending on their binding kinetics and on their location at promoters or enhancers. For example, NFY and FOS are preferentially associated near promoter-bound SP1 sites with fast binding kinetics, whereas DNA motifs of ETS and homeodomain proteins are preferentially observed at sites with slow binding kinetics. At promoters but not enhancers, proteins involved in sumoylation and PML bodies associate more strongly with slow SP1 binding sites than with the fast binding sites. The speed of SP1 binding is not associated with nucleosome occupancy, and it is not necessarily coupled to higher transcriptional activity. These results with SP1 are in contrast to those of human TBP, indicating that there is no common mechanism affecting transcription factor binding kinetics. The biphasic kinetics at some SP1 target sites suggest the existence of distinct chromatin states at these loci in different cells within the overall population.

scholarly journals Regulation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in sea urchin eggs by reversible association with cell structural elements.

1986 ◽  
Vol 103 (4) ◽  
pp. 1509-1515 ◽  
Author(s):  
R R Swezey ◽  
D Epel
Keyword(s):  
Ionic Strength ◽  
Sea Urchin ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Calcium Concentration ◽  
Metabolic Activation ◽  
Structural Elements ◽  
Ionic Detergent ◽  
Low Ionic Strength ◽  
Glucose 6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase ◽  
Substrate Concentrations

In unfertilized eggs of the sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) associates with the particulate elements remaining either after homogenization or extraction of eggs with non-ionic detergent in low ionic-strength media. At physiological ionic strength, the extent of G6PDH binding to these particulate elements is proportional to the total protein concentration in the extracts. In fertilized eggs this association is prevented by one or more low molecular weight solutes. The dissociation is reversible, and there are no permanent modifications of either G6PDH or its particulate binding site that affect binding. After fertilization, the time course of dissociation of G6PDH from particulate elements is too fast to be caused by a change in intracellular pH, but it could be triggered, but not maintained, by an increase in the intracellular calcium concentration. Binding of G6PDH to the particulate fraction lowers its catalytic activity at all substrate concentrations. Therefore, release of the enzyme into the cytoplasm may be an important part of the suite of events causing metabolic activation of the egg at fertilization.

scholarly journals Efficient Subgroup C Avian Sarcoma and Leukosis Virus Receptor Activity Requires the IgV Domain of the Tvc Receptor and Proper Display on the Cell Membrane

2008 ◽  
Vol 82 (22) ◽  
pp. 11419-11428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Audelia Munguia ◽  
Mark J. Federspiel
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Cell Membrane ◽  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Aromatic Amino Acid ◽  
Receptor Activity ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Receptor Interaction ◽  
Common Mechanism ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Avian Sarcoma

ABSTRACT We recently identified and cloned the receptor for subgroup C avian sarcoma and leukosis viruses [ASLV(C)], i.e., Tvc, a protein most closely related to mammalian butyrophilins, which are members of the immunoglobulin protein family. The extracellular domain of Tvc contains two immunoglobulin-like domains, IgV and IgC, which presumably each contain a disulfide bond important for native function of the protein. In this study, we have begun to identify the functional determinants of Tvc responsible for ASLV(C) receptor activity. We found that the IgV domain of the Tvc receptor is responsible for interacting with the glycoprotein of ASLV(C). Additional experiments demonstrated that a domain was necessary as a spacer between the IgV domain and the membrane-spanning domain for efficient Tvc receptor activity, most likely to orient the IgV domain a proper distance from the cell membrane. The effects on ASLV(C) glycoprotein binding and infection efficiency were also studied by site-directed mutagenesis of the cysteine residues of Tvc as well as conserved amino acid residues of the IgV Tvc domain compared to other IgV domains. In this initial analysis of Tvc determinants important for interacting with ASLV(C) glycoproteins, at least two aromatic amino acid residues in the IgV domain of Tvc, Trp-48 and Tyr-105, were identified as critical for efficient ASLV(C) infection. Interestingly, one or more aromatic amino acid residues have been identified as critical determinants in the other ASLV(A-E) receptors for a proper interaction with ASLV glycoproteins. This suggests that the ASLV glycoproteins may share a common mechanism of receptor interaction with an aromatic residue(s) on the receptor critical for triggering conformational changes in SU that initiate the fusion process required for efficient virus infection.

scholarly journals Effects of ionic strength on the regulation of Na/H exchange and K-Cl cotransport in dog red blood cells.

1995 ◽  
Vol 105 (6) ◽  
pp. 677-699 ◽  
Author(s):  
J C Parker ◽  
P B Dunham ◽  
A P Minton
Keyword(s):  
Ionic Strength ◽  
Salt Concentration ◽  
Mechanistic Model ◽  
Regulatory Protein ◽  
Thermodynamic Activity ◽  
Common Mechanism ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Set Point ◽  
Weight Percentage ◽  
Empirical Expressions

Dog red cell membranes contain two distinct volume-sensitive transporters: swelling-activated K-Cl cotransport and shrinkage-activated Na/H exchange. Cells were prepared with intracellular salt concentration and weight percentage of cell water (%cw) varied independently by transient permeabilization of the cell membrane to cations. The dependence of transporter-mediated Na and K influxes upon %cw and upon extracellular salt concentration (c(ext)) was measured in cells so prepared. It was found that the critical value of %cw at which transporters are activated, called the set point, is similar for the two transporters, and that the set points for the two transporters decrease similarly with increasing extracellular salt concentration. These findings suggest a common mechanism of regulation of these two transporters. Cellular Na, K, and Cl concentrations were measured as functions of %cw and c(ext). Using these data together with data from the literature for other solute concentrations, empirical expressions were developed to describe the dependence of the intracellular concentrations of all significant small molecule electrolytes, and therefore the intracellular ionic strength, upon %cw and c(ext). A mechanistic model for the dependence of the set point of an individual transporter upon intracellular ionic strength is proposed. According to this model, the set point represents a critical extent of association between the transporter and a postulated soluble regulatory protein, called regulator. Model functions are presented for the calculation of the thermodynamic activity of regulator, and hence extent of regulator-transporter association, as a function of total intracellular protein concentration (or %cw) and ionic strength. The experimentally observed dependence of set point %cw on c(ext) are simulated using these functions and the empirical expressions described above, together with reasonable but not uniquely determined values of model parameters.

scholarly journals Role of the reticulum in the stability and shape of the isolated human erythrocyte membrane

1982 ◽  
Vol 92 (3) ◽  
pp. 714-721 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y Lange ◽  
RA Hadesman ◽  
TL Steck
Keyword(s):  
Ionic Strength ◽  
Erythrocyte Membrane ◽  
Human Erythrocyte ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Isotonic Saline ◽  
Human Erythrocyte Membrane ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Cell Stability ◽  
Mechanically Stabilized ◽  
Low Ionic Strength

In order to examine the widely held hypothesis that the reticulum of proteins which covers the cytoplamsic surface of the human erythrocyte membrane controls cell stability and shape, we have assessed some of its properties. The reticulum, freed of the bilayer by extraction with Triton X-100, was found to be mechanically stable at physiological ionic strength but physically unstable at low ionic strength. The reticulum broke down after a characteristic lag period which decreased 500-fold between 0 degrees and 37 degrees C. The release of polypeptide band 4.1 from the reticulum preceded that of spectrin and actin, suggesting that band 4.1 might stabilize the ensemble but is not essential to its integrity. The time-course of breakdown was similar for ghosts, the reticulum inside of ghosts, and the isolated reticulum. However, at very low ionic strength, the reticulum was less stable within the ghost than when free; at higher ionic strength, the reverse was true. Over a wide range of conditions the membrane broke down to vesicles just as the reticulum disintegrated, presumably because the bilayer was mechanically stabilized by this network. The volume of both ghosts and naked reticula varied inversely and reversibly with ionic strength. The volume of the naked reticulum varied far more widely than the ghost, suggesting that its deformation was normally limited by the less extensible bilayer. The contour of the isolated reticulum was discoid and often dimpled or indented, as visualized in the fluorescence microscope after labeling of the ghosts with fluoroscein isothiocyanate. Reticula derived from ghosts which had lost the ability to crenate in isotonic saline were shriveled, even though the bilayer was smooth and expanded. Conversly, ghosts crenated by dinitrophenol yielded smooth, expanded reticula. We conclude that the reticulum is a durable, flexible, and elastic network which assumes and stabilizes the contour of the membrane but is not responsible for its crenation.

scholarly journals 3′-Azido-3′-deoxythymidine drug resistance mutations in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase can induce long range conformational changes

1998 ◽  
Vol 95 (16) ◽  
pp. 9518-9523 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingshan Ren ◽  
Robert M. Esnouf ◽  
Andrew L. Hopkins ◽  
E. Yvonne Jones ◽  
Ian Kirby ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Resistance ◽  
Reverse Transcriptase ◽  
Long Range ◽  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Active Site ◽  
Common Mechanism ◽  
Resistance Mutations ◽  
Hiv Reverse Transcriptase ◽  
Drug Resistance Mutations ◽  
Hiv Rt

HIV reverse transcriptase (RT) is one of the main targets for the action of anti-AIDS drugs. Many of these drugs [e.g., 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine (AZT) and 2′,3′-dideoxyinosine (ddI)] are analogues of the nucleoside substrates used by the HIV RT. One of the main problems in anti-HIV therapy is the selection of a mutant virus with reduced drug sensitivity. Drug resistance in HIV is generated for nucleoside analogue inhibitors by mutations in HIV RT. However, most of these mutations are situated some distance from the polymerase active site, giving rise to questions concerning the mechanism of resistance. To understand the possible structural bases for this, the crystal structures of AZT- and ddI-resistant RTs have been determined. For the ddI-resistant RT with a mutation at residue 74, no significant conformational changes were observed for the p66 subunit. In contrast, for the AZT-resistant RT (RTMC) bearing four mutations, two of these (at 215 and 219) give rise to a conformational change that propagates to the active site aspartate residues. Thus, these drug resistance mutations produce an effect at the RT polymerase site mediated simply by the protein. It is likely that such long-range effects could represent a common mechanism for generating drug resistance in other systems.

scholarly journals Shaker potassium channel gating. II: Transitions in the activation pathway.

1994 ◽  
Vol 103 (2) ◽  
pp. 279-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
W N Zagotta ◽  
T Hoshi ◽  
J Dittman ◽  
R W Aldrich
Keyword(s):  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Voltage Dependence ◽  
Single Channel ◽  
Ionic Current ◽  
Activation Process ◽  
Charge Movement ◽  
Open Probability ◽  
Current Time ◽  
Gating Charge

Voltage-dependent gating behavior of Shaker potassium channels without N-type inactivation (ShB delta 6-46) expressed in Xenopus oocytes was studied. The voltage dependence of the steady-state open probability indicated that the activation process involves the movement of the equivalent of 12-16 electronic charges across the membrane. The sigmoidal kinetics of the activation process, which is maintained at depolarized voltages up to at least +100 mV indicate the presence of at least five sequential conformational changes before opening. The voltage dependence of the gating charge movement suggested that each elementary transition involves 3.5 electronic charges. The voltage dependence of the forward opening rate, as estimated by the single-channel first latency distribution, the final phase of the macroscopic ionic current activation, the ionic current reactivation and the ON gating current time course, showed movement of the equivalent of 0.3 to 0.5 electronic charges were associated with a large number of the activation transitions. The equivalent charge movement of 1.1 electronic charges was associated with the closing conformational change. The results were generally consistent with models involving a number of independent and identical transitions with a major exception that the first closing transition is slower than expected as indicated by tail current and OFF gating charge measurements.

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