Macrophages and their membrane receptorsMacrophage Plasma Membrane Receptors: Structure and Function(1988). Edited by S. Gordon,J. Cell. Sci. Supp.no. 9, Co. of Biologists, Cambridge. Pp. 218. £29.00; $50.00

BioEssays ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 115-116
Author(s):  
O. Eremin
Author(s):  
Elena Chiricozzi

AbstractPlasma membrane interaction is highly recognized as an essential step to start the intracellular events in response to extracellular stimuli. The ways in which these interactions take place are less clear and detailed. Over the last decade my research has focused on developing the understanding of the glycosphingolipids-protein interaction that occurs at cell surface. By using chemical synthesis and biochemical approaches we have characterized some fundamental interactions that are key events both in the immune response and in the maintenance of neuronal homeostasis. In particular, for the first time it has been demonstrated that a glycolipid, present on the outer side of the membrane, the long-chain lactosylceramide, is able to directly modulate a cytosolic protein. But the real conceptual change was the demonstration that the GM1 oligosaccharide chain is able, alone, to replicate numerous functions of GM1 ganglioside and to directly interact with plasma membrane receptors by activating specific cellular signaling. In this conceptual shift, the development and application of multidisciplinary techniques in the field of biochemistry, from chemical synthesis to bioinformatic analysis, as well as discussions with several national and international colleagues have played a key role.


Development ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 95 (1) ◽  
pp. 193-212
Author(s):  
John K. Heath ◽  
Wai-Kang Shi

The expression of plasma membrane receptors for insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) by PC13 embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells, and their immediate differentiated progeny PC13END was examined by binding radiolabelled IGF-I to cell monolayers. Both cell types express high-affinity IGF receptors, but the apparent number of unoccupied receptor sites falls by about 60% upon differentiation. Crosslinking studies reveal that both type 1 and type 2 IGF receptors are expressed by PC13EC cells. PC13END-cell-conditioned medium contains developmentally regulated, separable activities, one of which reacts directly with IGF-II, and the other with IGF for plasma membrane receptors. The former activity represents a soluble secreted IGF-binding protein. The latter activity is structurally and functionally similar to rat IGF-II. Polyclonal antibodies raised against purified rat IGF-II specifically recognize multiple forms of IGF in radiolabelled culture supernatants and material which closely resembles the soluble IGF-binding protein. Immunoprecipitation of radiolabelled culture supernatants with anti-rat IGF-II reveals that the differentiation of PC13EC cells is accompanied by the coexpression of IGF-like molecules and the soluble binding protein, and that IGF-like molecules are expressed by extraembryonic tissues of mesodermal origin in the early postimplantation mouse embryo. These findings show that IGF-like molecules are expressed in early mammalian development and may act in an autocrine fashion in vivo.


‘Cellular structure and function’ covers the roles, structures, and functions of the main four types of macromolecules of the human body, namely proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids. For these macromolecules, the roles and types of each class are discussed (for proteins this includes their roles as structural proteins and enzymes and their kinetics; for lipids, the roles and types of lipid found in the body are considered; for carbohydrates, their roles including structural and metabolic are discussed; and the structure of nucleic acids is described). Then follows a description of the organization of the cell, including the plasma membrane and its components, and the intracellular organelles. Cell growth, division, and apoptosis are covered, as are the formation of gametes, and finally the principles of how cellular functions can be modulated by pharmacological agents through receptors and signalling pathways are discussed.


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