bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Modulation of osteoblast behaviour by tenascin
Authors: Mackie Eleanor J. , Ramsey Susan 
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACT
The extracellular matrix protein tenascin is secreted by osteoblasts but absent from mineralized bone matrix. The current study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that tenascin regulates osteoblast behaviour. Three osteoblast-like cell lines UMR-106, ROS-17/2.8 (rat) and SAOS-2 (human) were used to investigate the role of tenascin in osteoblast morphology, differentiation and proliferation. Two of three cell lines adhered specifically to tenascin, remaining round and failing to spread. Tenascin as a sub-stratum stimulated alkaline phosphatase activity (a marker of osteoblast differentiation) in two of three cell lines. Moreover, anti-tenascin in the medium caused a reduction in alkaline phosphatase levels in all three cell lines. Anti-tenascin also inhibited collagen synthesis, an important osteoblast function. Since it seemed possible that tenascin may exert its effects on cell function through its ability to cause cell rounding, the ability of cell shape change alone to influence alkaline phosphatase levels was investigated. Cells were incubated in the presence of cytochalasin D and alkaline phosphatase levels assayed. Alkaline phosphatase activity was not elevated by cytochalasin D treatment, indicating that cell rounding alone is insufficient to mimic the effect of tenascin. Anti-tenascin caused a slight increase in proliferation of SAOS-2 cells, indicating that tenascin is itself inhibitory. In ROS 17/2.8 and UMR-106 cells, in contrast, proliferation was inhibited by anti-tenascin. The results presented here indicate that tenascin is able to stimulate osteoblastic differentiation and that endogenous tenascin helps to maintain the functional state of cultured osteoblast-like cells.
Establishment of hepatic cell polarity in the rat hepatoma-human fibroblast hybrid WIF-B9: A biphasic phenomenon going from a simple epithelial polarized phenotype to an hepatic polarized one
Authors: Decaens C. , Rodriguez P. , Bouchaud C. , Cassio D. 
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACT
By immunofluorescence and freeze fracture methods, we have studied the establishment of hepatic cell polarity in WIF-B9 cells, a subclone of the WIF-B rat hepatoma-derived hybrid cell line. As previously shown (Ihrke et al. (1993)J. Cell Biol. 123, 1761-1775; Shanks et al. (1994)J. Cell Sci. 107, 813-825), these cells are a suitable model for in vitro studies of various hepatic functions, particularly polarity: in confluent cultures, the majority of cells form bile canaliculus-like structures; membrane domains are settled, according to plasma membrane protein localization similar to rat hepatocytes in situ. We here report that the establishment of WIF-B9 cell polarity is a slow progressive biphasic phenomenon. During the first days of culture, the majority of cells do not make bile canaliculus-like structures. However, they display a polarity similar to that of simple epithelial cells: apical membrane proteins and villin are found at the cell apex; basolateral ones, excluded from this area, are expressed in the remaining membrane area; the tight junction-associated protein ZO-1 and actin are concentrated at the boundary of these two poles, whereas E-cadherin is present at the lateral pole just under the apex. With time in culture, the number of cells expressing this simple epithelial polarized phenotype decreases progressively and, after 10-15 days, depending on the plating density, nearly all the cells express the typical hepatic polarized phenotype. The expression of these two pheno-types is mutually exclusive. Freeze-fracture replicas of both types of polarized cells show either macula occludens, fascia occludens (simple epithelial polarity) or zonula occludens (hepatic polarity), associated with gap junctions. In this last case, two or three continuous strands are generally present all around the bile canaliculus-like structures.
The unique proline-rich domain of parotid proline-rich proteins functions in secretory sorting
Authors: Stahl Lisa E. , Wright Rhonda L. , Castle J. David , Castle Anna M. 
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACT
When expressed in pituitary AtT-20 cells, parotid proline-rich proteins enter the regulated pathway. Because the short N-terminal domain of a basic proline-rich protein is necessary for efficient export from the ER, it has not been possible to evaluate the role of this polypeptide segment as a sorting signal for regulated secretion. We now show that addition of the six-amino acid propeptide of proparathyroid hormone to the proline-rich protein, and especially to a deletion mutant lacking the N-terminal domain, dramatically accelerates intracellular transport of these polypeptides. Under these conditions the chimeric deletion mutant is stored as effectively as the full-length protein in dense core granules. The propeptide does not function as a sorting signal in AtT-20 cells as it does not reroute a constitutively secreted reporter protein to the regulated pathway. During transit, the propeptide is cleaved from the chimeric polypeptides such that the original structures of the full-length and the deletion mutant proline-rich proteins are reestablished. We have also found that the percentage stimulated secretion of the proline-rich proteins increases incrementally (almost twofold) as their level of expression is elevated. The increase reflects an enrichment of these polypeptides in the granule pool and its incremental nature suggests that sorting of proline-rich proteins involves an aggregation-based process. Because we can now rule out contributions to sorting by both N- and C-terminal segments of the proline-rich protein, we deduce that the unique proline-rich domain is responsible for storage. Thus at least some of the determinants of sorting for regulated secretion are protein-specific rather than universal.
Localised and global cytosolic Ca2+ changes in neutrophils during engagement of Cd11b/CD18 integrin visualised using confocal laser scanning reconstruction
Authors: Pettit E. J. , Hallett M. B. 
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACT
A confocal laser scanning technique was used to provide optical sections in the vertical plane through living neutrophils during engagement of integrin and shape change. This has permitted the visualisation of cytosolic free Ca2+ rises localised to the sites of integrin immobilisation. These localised Ca2+ changes resulted from the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores, and were not inhibited by removal of extracellular Ca2+ or by the Ca2+ channel blocking nickel ions. After integrin engagement and initial cell shape changes, a second rapid phase of cell spreading occurred, which was accompanied by global Ca2+ signalling bursts that continued sporadically after maximum spreading. This global signalling was driven mainly by Ca2+ influx from the extracellular medium. We propose that the localised and global Ca2+ signalling triggered by integrin engagement results from a common underlying mechanism and these signals are important for neutrophil shape change and extravasation.
Formation of crystalloid endoplasmic reticulum in COS cells upon overexpression of microsomal aldehyde dehydrogenase by cDNA transfection
Authors: Yamamoto Akitsugu , Masaki Ryuichi , Tashiro Yutaka 
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACT
When rat liver microsomal aldehyde dehydrogenase (msALDH) was overexpressed in COS-1 cells by cDNA transfection, large granular structures containing both msALDH and endogenous protein disulfide isomerase appeared (Masaki et al. (1994)J. Cell Biol. 126, 1407-1420). Confocal laser microscopy revealed that these granular structures are dispersed throughout the cytoplasm. Electron microscopy showed that the structures are composed of regularly arranged crystalloid smooth endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The formation of the crystalloid ER was accompanied by a remarkable proliferation of smooth ER, which appeared occasionally continuous to the rough ER. We suggest that the smooth ER, proliferated from the rough ER, is transformed and assembled into the crystalloid ER by head-to-head association of the msALDH molecules on the apposed smooth ER membranes.
In order to understand the molecular mechanism of the crystalloid ER formation, we asked which portions of the msALDH molecules are needed for the crystalloid ER formation by expressing deletion mutants or chimera protein of msALDH in COS-1 cells. The overexpression of msALDH molecules lacking the stem region preceding the membrane spanning region, although they were exclusively localized in the ER, did not induce the formation of crystalloid ER. More detailed analysis showed that the amino acid sequence FFLL, located in the stem region, is necessary to form the crystalloid ER. The chimera protein containing the last 35 amino acids of msALDH at the carboxyl terminus of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase was localized to the ER, but did not induce the formation of the crystalloid ER. These results suggest that at least two regions, the bulky amino-terminal region and the FFLL sequence in the stem region of msALDH molecules are required for the formation of the crystalloid ER.
Porcine aortic endothelial gap junctions: identification and permeation by caged InsP3
Authors: Carter T. D. , Chen X. Y. , Carlile G. , Kalapothakis E. , Ogden D. , Evans W. H. 
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACT
Gap junction channels permit the direct intercellular transfer of ions and small molecules and allow electrotonic coupling within tissues. Porcine aortic endothelial cells were extensively coupled, as assessed by gap junctional transfer of Lucifer yellow and the fluorescent calcium indicators fluo-3 and furaptra, but were not permeable to rhodamine B isothiocyanate-dextran 10S. The subunit composition of gap junction channels of porcine aortic endothelial cells was characterised using both northern blot analysis and RT-PCR techniques. Messenger RNA encoding connexins 37 and 43, but not 26, 32 or 40, were found in freshly isolated and cultured porcine aortic endothelial cells. Western blots using antipeptide antibodies raised to unique sequences of connexins 37, 40 and 43 showed the presence of connexins 37 and 43, but no connexin 40 was detected. Immunostaining with anticonnexin 43 antibodies showed extensive punctate fluorescent decoration of contacting membranes, whilst antibodies to connexin 37 showed predominantly intracellular staining. Caged InsP3 was found to readily permeate endothelial gap junctions. These results show that primary cultures of porcine aortic endothelial cells express connexin 37 and 43, and provide strong evidence that the second messenger molecule InsP3 can permeate porcine endothelial gap junctions.
Distribution of guanylate cyclase within photoreceptor outer segments
Authors: Hallett Mark A. , Delaat Joan L. , Arikawa Kentaro , Schlamp Cassandra L. , Kong Fansheng , Williams David S. 
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACT
Guanylate cyclases play an essential role in the recovery of vertebrate photoreceptor cells after light activation. Here, we have investigated how one such guanylate cyclase, RetGC-1, is distributed within light- and dark-adapted rod photoreceptor cells. Guanylate cyclase activity partitioned with the photoreceptor outer segment (OS) cytoskeleton in a light-sensitive manner. RetGC-1 was found to bind actin filaments in actin blot overlays, suggesting a mechanism for its association with the OS cytoskeleton. In retinal sections, this enzyme was immunodetected only in the OSs, where it appeared to be distributed throughout the disk membranes.
A novel cytoplasmic dynein heavy chain: expression of DHC1b in mammalian ciliated epithelial cells
Authors: Criswell Peggy S. , Ostrowski Lawrence E. , Asai David J. 
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACT
Organisms that have cilia or flagella express over a dozen dynein heavy chain genes. Of these heavy chain genes, most appear to encode axonemal dyneins, one encodes conventional cytoplasmic dynein (MAP1C or DHC1a), and one, here referred to as DHC1b, encodes an unclassified heavy chain. Previous analysis of sea urchin DHC1b (Gibbons et al. (1994)Mol. Biol. Cell 5, 57-70) indicated that this isoform is either an axonemal dynein with an unusual protein sequence or a cytoplasmic dynein whose expression increases during ciliogenesis. In the present study, we examined the expression of DHC1b in rat tissues. The DHC1b gene is expressed in all tissues examined, including unciliated liver and heart cells. In contrast, rat axonemal dyneins are only expressed in tissues that produce cilia or flagella. In cultured rat tracheal epithelial (RTE) cells, DHC1b is expressed in undifferentiated cells and increases in expression during ciliogenesis. In contrast, the expression of conventional cytoplasmic dynein, DHC1a, does not change during RTE differentiation and axonemal dynein is not expressed until after differentiation commences. In order to examine the expression of DHC1b protein, we produced an isoform-specific antibody to a synthetic peptide derived from the rat DHC1b sequence. The antibody demonstrated that DHC1b is a relatively minor component of partially purified cytoplasmic dynein. Indirect immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that DHC1b is not detected in cilia and remains in the cytoplasm of ciliated RTE cells, often accumulating at the apical ends of the cells. These results suggest that DHC1b is a cytoplasmic dynein that may participate in intracellular trafficking in polarized cells.
Regulation of flagellar dynein by an axonemal type-1 phosphatase in Chlamydomonas
Authors: Habermacher Geoffrey , Sale Winfield S. 
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACT
Physiological studies have demonstrated that flagellar radial spokes regulate inner arm dynein activity in Chlamydomonas and that an axonemal cAMP-dependent kinase inhibits dynein activity in radial spoke defective axonemes. These studies also suggested that an axonemal protein phosphatase is required for activation of flagellar dynein. We tested whether inhibitors of protein phosphatases would prevent activation of dynein by the kinase inhibitor PKI in Chlamydomonas axonemes lacking radial spokes. As predicted, preincubation of spoke defective axonemes (pf14 and pf17) with ATPγS maintained the slow dynein-driven microtubule sliding characteristic of paralyzed axonemes lacking spokes, and blocked activation of dynein-driven microtubule sliding by subsequent addition of PKI. Preincubation of spoke defective axonemes with the phosphatase inhibitors okadaic acid, microcystin-LR or inhibitor-2 also potently blocked PKI-induced activation of microtubule sliding velocity: the non-inhibitory okadaic acid analog, 1-norokadaone, did not. ATPγS or the phosphatase inhibitors blocked activation of dynein in a double mutant lacking the radial spokes and the outer dynein arms (pf14pf28). We concluded that the axoneme contains a type-1 phosphatase required for activation of inner arm dynein.
We postulated that the radial spokes regulate dynein through the activity of the type-1 protein phosphatase. To test this, we performed in vitro reconstitution experiments using inner arm dynein from the double mutant pf14pf28 and dynein-depleted axonemes containing wild-type radial spokes (pf28). As described previously, microtubule sliding velocity was increased from ∼2 μm/second to ∼7 μm/second when inner arm dynein from pf14pf28 axonemes was reconstituted with axonemes containing wild-type spokes. In contrast, pretreatment of inner arm dynein from pf14pf28 axonemes with ATPγS, or reconstitution in the presence of microcystin-LR, blocked increased velocity following reconstitution, despite the presence of wild-type radial spokes. We conclude that the radial spokes, through the activity of an axonemal type-1 phosphatase, activate inner arm dynein by dephosphorylation of a critical dynein component. Wild-type radial spokes also operate to inhibit the axonemal cAMP-dependent kinase, which would otherwise inhibit axonemal dynein and motility.
Identification of endoplasmic reticulum in the primitive eukaryote Giardia lamblia using cryoelectron microscopy and antibody to BiP
Authors: Soltys Bohdan J. , Falah Mizied , Gupta Radhey S. 
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACT
Giardia lamblia trophozoites contain a complex endomembrane system as demonstrated by fluorescence and cryoelectron microscopy. The endomembrane system was weakly detected in live cells using the fluorescent membrane dye 3,3′-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide. The definitive identification of endoplasmic reticulum required the development of a molecular label. We expressed Giardial Bip in Escherichia coli and raised a polyclonal antibody to the purified protein. In western blots, the antibody was specific for Giardial Bip and did not react with human, monkey and rodent homologs. By immunofluorescence microscopy in methanol fixed cells the antibody visualized tubular structures and other subcellular components that required characterization by electron microscopy. Using cryotechniques we directly demonstrate the presence of a complex endomembrane system at the ultrastructural level. In conjunction with Bip immunogold labeling of cryosections we identify: (1) endoplasmic reticulum cisternae and tubules; (2) stacked perinuclear membranes; and (3) Bip presence in the nuclear envelope. Both the endoplasmic reticulum and nuclear envelope were found either with or without a cleft region suggesting each may contain common specialized sub-regions. In stacked perinuclear membranes, which may represent either multilamellar endoplasmic reticulum or a Golgi apparatus, Bip labeling was restricted to peripheral layers, also suggesting specialized sub-regions. Labeled endomembrane systems could be observed associated with microtubule structures, including axonemes and the adhesive disk. The presence of an extensive endomembrane system in Giardia lamblia, which represents one of the earliest diverging eukaryotic species, supports the view that both the nucleus and endomembrane system co-evolved in a common ancestor of eukaryotic cells.
Function of spindle microtubules in directing cortical movement and actin filament organization in dividing cultured cells
Authors: Fishkind Douglas J. , Silverman John D. , Wang Yu-li 
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACT
The mitotic spindle has long been recognized to play an essential role in determining the position of the cleavage furrow during cell division, however little is known about the mechanisms involved in this process. One attractive hypothesis is that signals from the spindle may function to induce reorganization of cortical structures and transport of actin filaments to the equator during cytokinesis. While an important idea, few experiments have directly tested this model. In the present study, we have used a variety of experimental approaches to identify microtubuledependent effects on key cortical events during normal cell cleavage, including cortical flow, reorientation of actin filaments, and formation of the contractile apparatus. Single-particle tracking experiments showed that the microtubule disrupting drug nocodazole induces an inhibition of the movements of cell surface receptors following anaphase onset, while the microtubule stabilizing drug taxol causes profound changes in the overall pattern of receptor movements. These effects were accompanied by a related set of changes in the organization of the actin cytoskeleton. In nocodazole-treated cells, the three-dimensional organization of cortical actin filaments appeared less ordered than in controls. Measurements with fluorescencedetected linear dichroism indicated a decrease in the alignment of filaments along the spindle axis. In contrast, actin filaments in taxol-treated cells showed an increased alignment along the equator on both the ventral and dorsal cortical surfaces, mirroring the redistribution pattern of surface receptors. Together, these experiments show that spindle microtubules are involved in directing bipolar flow of surface receptors and reorganization of actin filaments during cell division, thus acting as a stimulus for positioning cortical cytoskeletal components and organizing the contractile apparatus of dividing tissue culture cells.
Determination of spatial patterns of DNA damage and repair in intestinal crypts by multi-cell gel electrophoresis
Authors: Brooks Roger A. , Winton Douglas J. 
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACTWe have developed a method to quantitate DNA strand breaks as a measure of DNA damage and repair in intact, isolated intestinal crypts. The assay is a modified form of the single-cell gel electrophoresis or ‘comet’ assay. By maintaining the spatial relationship between the cells we were able to characterise the repair response and the susceptibility to DNA damage of cells as a function of their position in the crypt. All cells were equally repair competent over the first 30 minutes of the repair of UV-C and γ-radiation induced lesions. DNA damage was equally distributed following γ-radiation but following incubation with the topoisomerase II inhibitor etoposide, damage was greater in the lower crypt with an unusual component to the comet tail which was tapered, implying an incremental change in susceptibility by cell position. This tapered component of the comet tail resolved rapidly after removal of etoposide. The pattern of damage produced by hydrogen peroxide was dose dependent with lower doses producing more strand breaks in the base of the crypt-an effect lost at higher doses. The assay has the ability to detect differences between cells in their susceptibility to DNA damage and their subsequent repair response which may vary with their proliferative or differentiative status.
Tenascin-X expression in tumor cells and fibroblasts: glucocorticoids as negative regulators in fibroblasts
Authors: Sakai Takao , Furukawa Yusuke , Chiquet-Ehrismann Ruth , Nakamura Mitsuru , Kitagawa Seiichi , Ikemura Toshimichi , Matsumoto Ken-ichi 
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACT
Tenascin-X has recently been shown to be a novel member of the tenascin family and its distribution is often reciprocal to that of tenascin-C in the developing mouse embryo. We have investigated the expression of tenascin-X in fibroblasts and carcinoma cells in culture. Tenascin-X protein was secreted in vitro in the conditioned media at an apparent molecular mass of ∼450 kDa. In addition fibroblasts contained a major tenascin-X isoform of 220 kDa. On northern blots, a single major transcript with a size of ∼13 kb was detected. No overexpression of tenascin-X protein was found in primary fibroblasts of the tenascin-C-gene knockout mice. Steroid hormone glucocorticoids, were found to downregulate tenascin-X mRNA levels and protein synthesis in fibroblasts but not carcinoma cells at physiological concentrations. None of the growth factors or cytokines examined affected the expression level of tenascin-X. As in vivo study, carcinoma cells were transplanted into nude mice. In contrast to the ubiquitous presence of tenascin-X in adult skin, expression of tenascin-X protein during tumorigenesis was found to be downregulated considerably not only in tumor cells themselves but also in tumor stroma. These findings provide evidence that the expression of tenascin-X can be influenced by stromal-epithelial interactions. We have identified glucocorticoids as physiological inhibitors of tenascin-X and suggest that glucocorticoids may in part participate in the downregulation of tenascin-X in fibroblasts in vivo.