scholarly journals Pancreatic plasma membranes: promiscuous partners in membrane fusion

1994 ◽  
Vol 298 (3) ◽  
pp. 599-604 ◽  
Author(s):  
E G Lee ◽  
S J Marciniak ◽  
C M MacLean ◽  
J M Edwardson

We have developed a system in which the fusion of pancreatic plasma membranes with zymogen granules can be studied in vitro. We show here that pancreatic plasma membranes fuse not only with pancreatic zymogen granules but also with parotid secretory granules. In contrast, parotid membranes fuse only with parotid granules and not with pancreatic granules. The extent of fusion is insensitive to Ca2+ for all combinations of plasma membranes and granules. Guanosine 5′-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]), on the other hand, stimulates fusion of pancreatic membranes with both pancreatic granules and parotid granules, but inhibits fusion between parotid membranes and parotid granules.

1997 ◽  
Vol 322 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Namita SEN ◽  
Alan R. SPITZER ◽  
Avinash CHANDER

Synexin (annexin VII) is a member of the annexin family of calcium and phospholipid binding proteins that promote calcium-dependent aggregation and fusion of lipid vesicles or secretory granules. We have previously suggested that synexin may be involved in membrane fusion processes during exocytosis of lung surfactant since it promotes fusion in vitro of lamellar bodies with plasma membranes. In this study, we characterized calcium-dependency of synexin binding to lamellar bodies and plasma membranes, since such binding is the initial, and, therefore, may be the rate-limiting step in membrane aggregation and fusion. The binding of biotinylated synexin to lamellar bodies and plasma membranes increased in a calcium-dependent manner reaching a maximum at approx. 200 ƁM Ca2+. Binding to lamellar bodies was completely inhibited by unlabelled synexin. Gel-overlay analysis showed that synexin bound to an approx. 76 kDa protein in the lamellar body and plasma membrane fractions. The calcium kinetics were noticeably similar for synexin binding to lamellar bodies and plasma membranes, aggregation of lamellar bodies, and fusion of lamellar bodies with lipid vesicles. At low calcium concentrations, aggregation of lamellar bodies could be increased with increasing synexin concentration, and arachidonic acid increased all three parameters (binding, aggregation, and fusion) in a similar manner. The effects of calcium and arachidonic acid on these three parameters suggest that synexin binding to lamellar bodies may be a rate-determining step for fusion during surfactant secretion. Furthermore, at near physiological calcium levels, the membrane fusion may be enhanced by elevated concentrations of synexin and polyunsaturated fatty acids.


1989 ◽  
Vol 109 (6) ◽  
pp. 2801-2808 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Y Nadin ◽  
J Rogers ◽  
S Tomlinson ◽  
J M Edwardson

The molecular details of the final step in the process of regulated exocytosis, the fusion of the membrane of the secretory granule with the plasma membrane, are at present obscure. As a first step in an investigation of this membrane fusion event, we have developed a cell-free assay for the interaction between pancreatic zymogen granules and plasma membranes. We show here that plasma membranes are able to trigger the release of the granule contents, and that this effect is specific to pancreatic membranes, involves membrane fusion, requires membrane proteins, and is stimulated by activators of G-proteins but not by Ca2+. The assay is simple, reliable, and rapid, and should permit the identification of proteins that are involved in the exocytotic fusion event.


1974 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustav Wägar

ABSTRACT Whether the short-term regulation of thyroidal protein synthesis by TSH occurs at the transcriptional or the translational level was tested by measuring the effect of actinomycin D (act D) on the TSH-induced stimulation of L-14C-leucine incorporation into the thyroidal proteins of rats. TSH was injected 6 h before the rats were killed. The thyroid glands were then removed and incubated in vitro in the presence of L-14C-leucine for 2 h. The pronounced stimulation of leucine incorporation in the TSH-treated animals was depressed as compared with controls but still significant even when the animals had been pre-treated with 100 μg act D 24 and 7 h before sacrifice. On the other hand, act D strongly decreased incorporation of 3H-uridine into RNA. Short-term regulation of thyroidal protein synthesis by TSH appears to be partly but not wholly dependent on neosynthesis of RNA. Hence regulation may partly occur at the translation level of protein synthesis.


1987 ◽  
Vol 52 (9) ◽  
pp. 2317-2325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Hlaváček ◽  
Jan Pospíšek ◽  
Jiřina Slaninová ◽  
Walter Y. Chan ◽  
Victor J. Hruby

[8-Neopentylglycine]oxytocin (II) and [8-cycloleucine]oxytocin (III) were prepared by a combination of solid-phase synthesis and fragment condensation. Both analogues exhibited decreased uterotonic potency in vitro, each being about 15-30% that of oxytocin. Analogue II also displayed similarly decreased uterotonic potency in vivo and galactogogic potency. On the other hand, analogue III exhibited almost the same potency as oxytocin in the uterotonic assay in vivo and in the galactogogic assay.


1997 ◽  
Vol 62 (11) ◽  
pp. 1804-1814 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Stiborová ◽  
Hana Hansíková

Tulip bulbs (Tulipa fosteriana, L.) contain peroxidases catalyzing the oxidation of the xenobiotics N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and N-nitroso-N-methylaniline (NMA). Three anionic (A1, A2, A3) and four cationic (B, C, D, E) peroxidases were purified from this tissue, partially characterized and used for kinetic studies. Demethylation of NDMA and NMA producing formaldehyde is catalyzed by one anionic (A1) and three cationic (C, D, E) peroxidases. The oxidation of NDMA by tulip peroxidases exhibits the Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The apparent Michaelis constant and the maximal velocity values for this substrate were determined. On the other hand, non-Michaelian kinetics for the NMA oxidation were observed with tulip peroxidases. The most abundant cationic peroxidase (peroxidase C) was used for detailed enzymatic studies. In addition to formation of formaldehyde, methylaniline, aniline, 4-aminophenol and phenol were found to be metabolites formed from NMA. Phenol was formed presumably by N-demethylation via a benzenediazonium ion, while methylaniline, aniline and 4-aminophenol were products of denitrosation of the substrate. The efficiencies of plant peroxidases to oxidize NDMA and NMA in vitro are compared with those of cytochromes P450 and discussed.


Blood ◽  
1978 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 539-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
DH Chui ◽  
SK Liao ◽  
K Walker

Abstract Erythroid progenitor cells in +/+ and Sl/Sld fetal livers manifested as burst-forming units-erythroid (BFU-E) and colony-forming units- erythroid (CFU-E) were assayed in vitro during early development. The proportion of BFU-E was higher as mutant than in normal fetal livers. On the other hand, the proportion of CFU-E was less in the mutant than in the normal. These results suggest that the defect in Sl/Sld fetal hepatic erythropoiesis is expressed at the steps of differentiation that effect the transition from BFU-E to CFU-E.


1917 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 557-580 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carroll G. Bull

Streptococci cultivated from the tonsils of thirty-two cases of poliomyelitis were used to inoculate various laboratory animals. In no case was a condition induced resembling poliomyelitis clinically or pathologically in guinea pigs, dogs, cats, rabbits, or monkeys. On the other hand, a considerable percentage of the rabbits and a smaller percentage of some of the other animals developed lesions due to streptococci. These lesions consisted of meningitis, meningo-encephalitis, abscess of the brain, arthritis, tenosynovitis, myositis, abscess of the kidney, endocarditis, pericarditis, and neuritis. No distinction in the character or frequency of the lesions could be determined between the streptococci derived from poliomyelitic patients and from other sources. Streptococci isolated from the poliomyelitic brain and spinal cord of monkeys which succumbed to inoculation with the filtered virus failed to induce in monkeys any paralysis or the characteristic histological changes of poliomyelitis. These streptococci are regarded as secondary bacterial invaders of the nervous organs. Monkeys which have recovered from infection with streptococci derived from cases of poliomyelitis are not protected from infection with the filtered virus, and their blood does not neutralize the filtered virus in vitro. We have failed to detect any etiologic or pathologic relationship between streptococci and epidemic poliomyelitis in man or true experimental poliomyelitis in the monkey.


2012 ◽  
Vol 16 (01) ◽  
pp. 114-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tapan K. Saha ◽  
Yutaka Yoshikawa ◽  
Hirouki Yasui ◽  
Hiromu Sakurai

We prepared [meso-tetrakis(4-carboxylatophenyl)porphyrinato]oxovanadium(IV) tetrasodium, ([VO(tcpp)]Na4), and investigated its in vitro insulin-mimetic activity and in vivo metallokinetic feature in healthy rats. The results were compared with those of previously proposed insulin-mimetic oxovanadium(IV)porphyrin complexes and oxovanadium(IV) sulphate. The in vitro insulin-mimetic activity and bioavailability of [VO(tcpp)]Na4 were considerably better than those of [meso-tetrakis (1-methylpyridinium-4-yl)porphyrinato]oxovanadium(IV)(4+) tetraperchlorate ([VO(tmpyp)](ClO4)4) and oxovanadium(IV) sulphate. On the other hand, [VO(tcpp)]Na4 and [meso-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl) porphyrinato]oxidovanadate(IV)(4-)([VO(tpps)]) showed very similar in vitro insulin-mimetic activity and in vivo metallokinetic feature in healthy rats. In particular, the order of in vitro insulin-mimetic activity of the complexes was determined to be: [VO(tcpp)]Na4 ≈ [VO(tpps)] > ([VO(tmpyp)](ClO4)4 > oxovanadium(IV) sulphate.


2005 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 613-615 ◽  
Author(s):  
DANTE J. BUENO ◽  
LILIANA DI MARCO ◽  
GUILLERMO OLIVER ◽  
ALICIA BARDÓN

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a potent estrogenic metabolite produced by some Fusarium species. No treatment has been successfully employed to get rid of the ZEA contained in foods. This study was conducted to evaluate the ability (adsorptive power) of five adsorbents—activated carbon, bentonite, talc, sandstone, and calcium sulfate—to trap ZEA in vitro. Activated carbon was the best adsorbent, binding 100% ZEA (pH 3 and 7.3) at 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, and 1% dose levels. Bentonite, talc, and calcium sulfate were less efficient than activated carbon but still could bind ZEA to some extent. On the other hand, sandstone was inactive in the experimental conditions employed. Our results indicate that activated carbon could be a good candidate for detoxification of ZEA present in foods.


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