scholarly journals PHOTOMETRIC EVIDENCE FOR THE OSMOTIC BEHAVIOR OF RAT LIVER MICROSOMES

1963 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 503-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry Tedeschi ◽  
Joseph M. James ◽  
William Anthony

Electron microscope observations are consistent with the interpretation that the elements of the endoplasmic reticulum are osmotically active in situ as well as after isolation. More recently, it has been reported that microsomal suspensions equilibrate almost completely with added C14-sucrose and that no osmotic behavior is evident from photometric data. These findings were considered at variance with the electron microscope data. However, equilibration with added label simply attests to a relatively high permeability, and, in addition, the photometric data need not be critical. Osmotic volume changes, measured photometrically, may be masked by concomitant events (e.g., changes in the refractive index of the test solutions at varying osmotic pressures, breakdown of the particles, and agglutination). For these reasons the photometric experiments were repeated. In this work, the reciprocal of optical density of microsomal suspensions was found to vary linearly with the reciprocal of concentration of the medium at constant refractive index. These changes probably correspond to osmotic volume changes, since the effect was found to be (a) independent of substance used and (b) osmotically reversible. The transmission of the suspension was found to vary with the refractive index of the medium, the concentration of particles, and the wavelength of incident light, according to relationships that are similar to or identical with those obtained for mitochondrial suspensions.

1976 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 551-564 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Remacle ◽  
S Fowler ◽  
H Beaufay ◽  
A Amarcostesec ◽  
J Berthet

The distribution of cytochrome b5 in rat liver microsomes, and in two microsomal subfractions isolated by density equilibration in a linear sucrose gradient, was studied under the electron microscope by means of a ferritin-labeled hybrid anti-cytochrome b5/anti-ferritin antibody. Results of this study show that cytochrome b5 is present in essentially all microsomal vesicles derived from endoplasmic reticulum (ER), whether rough or smooth. Thus, the dissociation of ER constituents into two groups (b and c), achieved by subfractionating microsomes by isopycnic centrifugation (Beaufay, H., A. Amar-Costesec, D. Thines-Sempoux, M. Wibo, M. Robbi, and J. Berthet. 1974. J. Cell Biol. 61:213-231), does not reflect the association of each group with distinct microsomal particles but reflects rather an enzymatic heterogeneity of the ER: the ratio of group c to group b enzymes increasing with the density and ribosome load of the particles.


1971 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maurice Wibo ◽  
Alain Amar-Costesec ◽  
Jacques Berthet ◽  
Henri Beaufay

Rat liver microsomes and microsomal subfractions isolated by density equilibration were submitted to a quantitative morphological and biochemical analysis. The total area of the endoplasmic reticulum was estimated at 7.3 m2 per g of liver. The microsome fraction contained 2.8 mg of phospholipids and 6.7 mg of proteins per m2 of membrane area. After correction for ribosomal and intracisternal proteins, the latter value was lowered to 4.7 mg of membrane protein per m2. More than half of the microsomal vesicles carried ribosomes. After density equilibration of the microsomes, the distribution pattern of ribosomes followed closely that of RNA. The ribosome load of the microsomal vesicles increased steadily along the density gradient, indicating the existence of a continuous spectrum of microsomal entities ranging from entirely ribosome-free vesicles to vesicles heavily coated with ribosomes.


1974 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 717-745 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alain Amar-Costesec ◽  
Maurice Wibo ◽  
Denise Thinès-Sempoux ◽  
Henri Beaufay ◽  
Jacques Berthet

Isopycnic equilibration and sedimentation rate studies of rat liver microsomes led previously to the assignment of microsomal constituents into group a1 (monoamine oxidase), group a2 (5'-nucleotidase, alkaline phosphodiesterase I, alkaline phosphatase and cholesterol), group a3 (galactosyltransferase), group b (NADH cytochrome c reductase, NADPH cytochrome c reductase, aminopyrine demethylase, cytochrome b5 and P 450), and group c (glucose 6-phosphatase, esterase, nucleoside diphosphatase, ß-glucuronidase and glucuronyltransferase). Confirmation and extension of the assignment into groups has been obtained by studying the differential effect of the reagents digitonin, EDTA, and PPi. Digitonin specifically affected the equilibrium density only of the group a2 and (to a lesser extent) group a3, and not of groups b and c under conditions which preserved the structure-linked latency of nucleoside diphosphatase and galactosyltransferase. Within experimental error the rate of sedimentation of all microsomal constituents was unaffected. The morphological appearance under the electron microscope was indistinguishable from that of nondigitonin-treated microsomes, except that a few smooth membranes (< 10%) exhibited broken-looking profiles. Treatment of microsomes with EDTA or PPi detached a substantial part of RNA and released protein in excess over the amount accountable for by detachment of ribosome constituents. This detachment was confirmed by electron microscopy. EDTA and PPi decreased markedly the equilibrium density and the density dispersion of groups b and c, due mainly to the uncoating of rough elements. EDTA and PPi shifted slightly the distribution profiles of groups a towards lower densities, possibly as a result of the release of adsorbed proteins. The combination of EDTA and digitonin, used subsequently, rendered the average equilibrium density of group a2 higher than that of groups b and c. Dense subfractions were thus enriched in constituents of group a2 and showed mainly broken-looking vesicles under the electron microscope. The import of our results on the biochemical and enzymic properties of the subcellular components of the microsome fractions is discussed.


Author(s):  
N. Ridley ◽  
S.A. Al-Salman ◽  
G.W. Lorimer

The application of the technique of analytical electron microscopy to the study of partitioning of Mn (1) and Cr (2) during the austenite-pearlite transformation in eutectoid steels has been described in previous papers. In both of these investigations, ‘in-situ’ analyses of individual cementite and ferrite plates in thin foils showed that the alloying elements partitioned preferentially to cementite at the transformation front at higher reaction temperatures. At lower temperatures partitioning did not occur and it was possible to identify a ‘no-partition’ temperature for each of the steels examined.In the present work partitioning during the pearlite transformation has been studied in a eutectoid steel containing 1.95 wt% Si. Measurements of pearlite interlamellar spacings showed, however, that except at the highest reaction temperatures the spacing would be too small to make the in-situ analysis of individual cementite plates possible, without interference from adjacent ferrite lamellae. The minimum diameter of the analysis probe on the instrument used, an EMMA-4 analytical electron microscope, was approximately 100 nm.


Author(s):  
F. H. Louchet ◽  
L. P. Kubin

Experiments have been carried out on the 3 MeV electron microscope in Toulouse. The low temperature straining holder has been previously described Images given by an image intensifier are recorded on magnetic tape.The microtensile niobium samples are cut in a plane with the two operative slip directions [111] and lying in the foil plane. The tensile axis is near [011].Our results concern:- The transition temperature of niobium near 220 K: at this temperature and below an increasing difference appears between the mobilities of the screw and edge portions of dislocations loops. Source operation and interactions between screw dislocations of different slip system have been recorded.


Author(s):  
W. E. King

A side-entry type, helium-temperature specimen stage that has the capability of in-situ electrical-resistivity measurements has been designed and developed for use in the AEI-EM7 1200-kV electron microscope at Argonne National Laboratory. The electrical-resistivity measurements complement the high-voltage electron microscope (HVEM) to yield a unique opportunity to investigate defect production in metals by electron irradiation over a wide range of defect concentrations.A flow cryostat that uses helium gas as a coolant is employed to attain and maintain any specified temperature between 10 and 300 K. The helium gas coolant eliminates the vibrations that arise from boiling liquid helium and the temperature instabilities due to alternating heat-transfer mechanisms in the two-phase temperature regime (4.215 K). Figure 1 shows a schematic view of the liquid/gaseous helium transfer system. A liquid-gas mixture can be used for fast cooldown. The cold tip of the transfer tube is inserted coincident with the tilt axis of the specimen stage, and the end of the coolant flow tube is positioned without contact within the heat exchanger of the copper specimen block (Fig. 2).


Author(s):  
S. Q. Xiao ◽  
S. Baden ◽  
A. H. Heuer

The avian eggshell is one of the most rapidly mineralizing biological systems known. In situ, 5g of calcium carbonate are crystallized in less than 20 hrs to fabricate the shell. Although there have been much work about the formation of eggshells, controversy about the nucleation and growth mechanisms of the calcite crystals, and their texture in the eggshell, still remain unclear. In this report the microstructure and microchemistry of avian eggshells have been analyzed using transmission electron microscope (TEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS).Fresh white and dry brown eggshells were broken and fixed in Karnosky's fixative (kaltitanden) for 2 hrs, then rinsed in distilled H2O. Small speckles of the eggshells were embedded in Spurr medium and thin sections were made ultramicrotome.The crystalline part of eggshells are composed of many small plate-like calcite grains, whose plate normals are approximately parallel to the shell surface. The sizes of the grains are about 0.3×0.3×1 μm3 (Fig.l). These grains are not as closely packed as man-made polycrystalline metals and ceramics, and small gaps between adjacent grains are visible indicating the absence of conventional grain boundaries.


Author(s):  
S. Hagège ◽  
U. Dahmen ◽  
E. Johnson ◽  
A. Johansen ◽  
V.S. Tuboltsev

Small particles of a low-melting phase embedded in a solid matrix with a higher melting point offer the possibility of studying the mechanisms of melting and solidification directly by in-situ observation in a transmission electron microscope. Previous studies of Pb, Cd and other low-melting inclusions embedded in an Al matrix have shown well-defined orientation relationships, strongly faceted shapes, and an unusual size-dependent superheating before melting.[e.g. 1,2].In the present study we have examined the shapes and thermal behavior of eutectic Pb-Cd inclusions in Al. Pb and Cd form a simple eutectic system with each other, but both elements are insoluble in solid Al. Ternary alloys of Al (Pb,Cd) were prepared from high purity elements by melt spinning or by sequential ion implantation of the two alloying additions to achieve a total alloying addition of up to lat%. TEM observations were made using a heating stage in a 200kV electron microscope equipped with a video system for recording dynamic behavior.


Author(s):  
M.A. O’Keefe ◽  
J. Taylor ◽  
D. Owen ◽  
B. Crowley ◽  
K.H. Westmacott ◽  
...  

Remote on-line electron microscopy is rapidly becoming more available as improvements continue to be developed in the software and hardware of interfaces and networks. Scanning electron microscopes have been driven remotely across both wide and local area networks. Initial implementations with transmission electron microscopes have targeted unique facilities like an advanced analytical electron microscope, a biological 3-D IVEM and a HVEM capable of in situ materials science applications. As implementations of on-line transmission electron microscopy become more widespread, it is essential that suitable standards be developed and followed. Two such standards have been proposed for a high-level protocol language for on-line access, and we have proposed a rational graphical user interface. The user interface we present here is based on experience gained with a full-function materials science application providing users of the National Center for Electron Microscopy with remote on-line access to a 1.5MeV Kratos EM-1500 in situ high-voltage transmission electron microscope via existing wide area networks. We have developed and implemented, and are continuing to refine, a set of tools, protocols, and interfaces to run the Kratos EM-1500 on-line for collaborative research. Computer tools for capturing and manipulating real-time video signals are integrated into a standardized user interface that may be used for remote access to any transmission electron microscope equipped with a suitable control computer.


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