scholarly journals Intercellular Calcium Waves in HeLa Cells Expressing GFP-labeled Connexin 43, 32, or 26

2000 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1815-1827 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koen Paemeleire ◽  
Patricia E. M. Martin ◽  
Sharon L. Coleman ◽  
Kevin E. Fogarty ◽  
Walter A. Carrington ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gap Junctions ◽  
Hela Cells ◽  
Connexin 43 ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Plasma Membranes ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Dimensional Distribution ◽  
Green Fluorescent ◽  
Intracellular Pathway

This study was undertaken to obtain direct evidence for the involvement of gap junctions in the propagation of intercellular Ca2+ waves. Gap junction-deficient HeLa cells were transfected with plasmids encoding for green fluorescent protein (GFP) fused to the cytoplasmic carboxyl termini of connexin 43 (Cx43), 32 (Cx32), or 26 (Cx26). The subsequently expressed GFP-labeled gap junctions rendered the cells dye- and electrically coupled and were detected at the plasma membranes at points of contact between adjacent cells. To correlate the distribution of gap junctions with the changes in [Ca2+]i associated with Ca2+waves and the distribution of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), cells were loaded with fluorescent Ca2+-sensitive (fluo-3 and fura-2) and ER membrane (ER-Tracker) dyes. Digital high-speed microscopy was used to collect a series of image slices from which the three-dimensional distribution of the gap junctions and ER were reconstructed. Subsequently, intercellular Ca2+ waves were induced in these cells by mechanical stimulation with or without extracellular apyrase, an ATP-degrading enzyme. In untransfected HeLa cells and in the absence of apyrase, cell-to-cell propagating [Ca2+]i changes were characterized by initiating Ca2+ puffs associated with the perinuclear ER. By contrast, in Cx–GFP-transfected cells and in the presence of apyrase, [Ca2+]i changes were propagated without initiating perinuclear Ca2+ puffs and were communicated between cells at the sites of the Cx–GFP gap junctions. The efficiency of Cx expression determined the extent of Ca2+ wave propagation. These results demonstrate that intercellular Ca2+ waves may be propagated simultaneously via an extracellular pathway and an intracellular pathway through gap junctions and that one form of communication may mask the other.

scholarly journals Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-Bisphosphate-Rich Plasma Membrane Patches Organize Active Zones of Endocytosis and Ruffling in Cultured Adipocytes

2004 ◽  
Vol 24 (20) ◽  
pp. 9102-9123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaohui Huang ◽  
Larry Lifshitz ◽  
Varsha Patki-Kamath ◽  
Richard Tuft ◽  
Kevin Fogarty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Plasma Membranes ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Dimensional Space ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Actin Dynamics ◽  
Ph Domain ◽  
Membrane Ruffling ◽  
Green Fluorescent

ABSTRACT A major regulator of endocytosis and cortical F-actin is thought to be phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2] present in plasma membranes. Here we report that in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, clathrin-coated membrane retrieval and dense concentrations of polymerized actin occur in restricted zones of high endocytic activity. Ultrafast-acquisition and superresolution deconvolution microscopy of cultured adipocytes expressing an enhanced green fluorescent protein- or enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (ECFP)-tagged phospholipase Cδ1 (PLCδ1) pleckstrin homology (PH) domain reveals that these zones spatially coincide with large-scale PtdIns(4,5)P2-rich plasma membrane patches (PRMPs). PRMPs exhibit lateral dimensions exceeding several micrometers, are relatively stationary, and display extensive local membrane folding that concentrates PtdIns(4,5)P2 in three-dimensional space. In addition, a higher concentration of PtdIns(4,5)P2 in the membranes of PRMPs than in other regions of the plasma membrane can be detected by quantitative fluorescence microscopy. Vesicular structures containing both clathrin heavy chains and PtdIns(4,5)P2 are revealed immediately beneath PRMPs, as is dense F actin. Blockade of PtdIns(4,5)P2 function in PRMPs by high expression of the ECFP-tagged PLCδ1 PH domain inhibits transferrin endocytosis and reduces the abundance of cortical F-actin. Membrane ruffles induced by the expression of unconventional myosin 1c were also found to localize at PRMPs. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that PRMPs organize active PtdIns(4,5)P2 signaling zones in the adipocyte plasma membrane that in turn control regulators of endocytosis, actin dynamics, and membrane ruffling.

scholarly journals Double-layered two-directional somatopleural cell migration during chicken body wall development revealed with local fluorescent tissue labeling

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nobuyuki Sakamoto ◽  
Hirohiko Aoyama ◽  
Koji Ikegami
Keyword(s):  
Body Wall ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Gene Transfection ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Migration Behavior ◽  
Lateral Migration ◽  
Lateral Plate ◽  
Dimensional Distribution ◽  
Or Gene ◽  
Green Fluorescent

The ventral body wall is derived from the somatic layer of the lateral plate mesoderm, somatopleure, and somite. The primary ventral body wall is formed as a result of the lateral growth of the somatopleure. The secondary body wall is generated through the migration of somitic cells into the somatopleure. While it is reported that the cervical somatopleural cells migrate caudally to the thoracic region during body wall development, the migration of the thoracic somatopleural cells has not been elucidated. To investigate the migration behavior of the somatopleural cells in the thorax during chicken ventral body wall development, we labeled the thoracic somatopleural cells of one somite wide by DiI labeling or gene transfection of enhanced green fluorescent protein and observed the three-dimensional distribution of the labeled cells with the tissue-clearing technique FRUIT. Our labeling experiments revealed the rostral migration of the somatopleural cells into a deep part of the thoracic body wall in embryonic day 6.5 chickens. For embryonic day 8.5 chickens, these deep migrating somatopleural cells were found around the sternal ribs. Thus, we identified the double-layered two-directional migrating pathways of the somatopleural cells: the rostral migration of the deep somatopleural cells and the lateral migration of the superficial somatopleural cells. Our findings imply that the rostral migration of deep somatopleural cells and the lateral migration of superficial ones might be associated with the developing sternal ribs and the innervation of the thoracic cutaneous nerves, respectively.

scholarly journals Microvascular Sprouting, Extension, and Creation of New Capillary Connections with Adaptation of the Neighboring Astrocytes in Adult Mouse Cortex under Chronic Hypoxia

2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 325-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuto Masamoto ◽  
Hiroyuki Takuwa ◽  
Chie Seki ◽  
Junko Taniguchi ◽  
Yoshiaki Itoh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adult Mouse ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Vascular Endothelial Cells ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Vascular Endothelial ◽  
Two Photon Microscopy ◽  
Two Photon ◽  
Mouse Cortex ◽  
Hypoxia Adaptation ◽  
Green Fluorescent

The present study aimed to determine the spatiotemporal dynamics of microvascular and astrocytic adaptation during hypoxia-induced cerebral angiogenesis. Adult C57BL/6J and Tie2-green fluorescent protein (GFP) mice with vascular endothelial cells expressing GFP were exposed to normobaric hypoxia for 3 weeks, whereas the three-dimensional microvessels and astrocytes were imaged repeatedly using two-photon microscopy. After 7 to14 days of hypoxia, a vessel sprout appeared from the capillaries with a bump-like head shape (mean diameter 14  μm), and stagnant blood cells were seen inside the sprout. However, no detectable changes in the astrocyte morphology were observed for this early phase of the hypoxia adaptation. More than 50% of the sprouts emerged from capillaries 60  μm away from the center penetrating arteries, which indicates that the capillary distant from the penetrating arteries is a favored site for sprouting. After 14 to 21 days of hypoxia, the sprouting vessels created a new connection with an existing capillary. In this phase, the shape of the new vessel and its blood flow were normalized, and the outside of the vessels were wrapped with numerous processes from the neighboring astrocytes. The findings indicate that hypoxia-induced cerebral angiogenesis provokes the adaptation of neighboring astrocytes, which may stabilize the blood–brain barrier in immature vessels.

scholarly journals The Krebs Cycle Enzyme α-Ketoglutarate Decarboxylase Is an Essential Glycosomal Protein in Bloodstream African Trypanosomes

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 206-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Sykes ◽  
Anthony Szempruch ◽  
Stephen Hajduk
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membranes ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Krebs Cycle ◽  
Content Type ◽  
African Trypanosomes ◽  
Atp Production ◽  
Cycle Enzyme ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Direct Localization ◽  
Green Fluorescent

ABSTRACT α-Ketoglutarate decarboxylase (α-KDE1) is a Krebs cycle enzyme found in the mitochondrion of the procyclic form (PF) of Trypanosoma brucei . The bloodstream form (BF) of T. brucei lacks a functional Krebs cycle and relies exclusively on glycolysis for ATP production. Despite the lack of a functional Krebs cycle, α-KDE1 was expressed in BF T. brucei and RNA interference knockdown of α-KDE1 mRNA resulted in rapid growth arrest and killing. Cell death was preceded by progressive swelling of the flagellar pocket as a consequence of recruitment of both flagellar and plasma membranes into the pocket. BF T. brucei expressing an epitope-tagged copy of α-KDE1 showed localization to glycosomes and not the mitochondrion. We used a cell line transfected with a reporter construct containing the N-terminal sequence of α-KDE1 fused to green fluorescent protein to examine the requirements for glycosome targeting. We found that the N-terminal 18 amino acids of α-KDE1 contain overlapping mitochondrion- and peroxisome-targeting sequences and are sufficient to direct localization to the glycosome in BF T. brucei . These results suggest that α-KDE1 has a novel moonlighting function outside the mitochondrion in BF T. brucei .

scholarly journals Tools to Study Plant Organelle Biogenesis. Point Mutation Lines with Disrupted Vacuoles and High-Speed Confocal Screening of Green Fluorescent Protein-Tagged Organelles

2003 ◽  
Vol 133 (4) ◽  
pp. 1673-1676 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily L. Avila ◽  
Jan Zouhar ◽  
April E. Agee ◽  
David G. Carter ◽  
S. Narasimha Chary ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Green Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Point Mutation ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Organelle Biogenesis ◽  
Green Fluorescent

Developmental derivation of vocal fold mucosa from human induced pluripotent stem cells

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vlasta Lungova ◽  
Susan Thibeault
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽  
Vocal Fold ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Stratified Squamous Epithelium ◽  
Three Dimensional Models ◽  
Induced Pluripotent ◽  
Green Fluorescent

Abstract Development of treatments for vocal dysphonia has been inhibited by lack of human vocal fold (VF) mucosa models because of difficulty in procuring VF epithelial cells, epithelial cells’ limited proliferative capacity and absence of cell lines. We report development of engineered VF mucosae from hiPSC, transfected via TALEN constructs for green fluorescent protein, that mimic development of VF epithelial cells in utero. Modulation of FGF signaling achieves stratified squamous epithelium from definitive and anterior foregut derived cultures. Robust culturing of these cells on collagen-fibroblast constructs produces three-dimensional models comparable to in vivo VF mucosa.

Heart gap junction preparations reveal hemiplaques by atomic force microscopy

1995 ◽  
Vol 268 (4) ◽  
pp. C968-C977 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Lal ◽  
S. A. John ◽  
D. W. Laird ◽  
M. F. Arnsdorf
Keyword(s):  
Gap Junctions ◽  
Gap Junction ◽  
Long Range ◽  
Connexin 43 ◽  
Plasma Membranes ◽  
Aqueous Media ◽  
Freeze Fracture ◽  
Isolated Rat Heart ◽  
Hexagonal Packing ◽  
Atomic Force

Current structural models of gap junctions indicate two apposed plasma membranes with hexagonally packed hemichannels in each membrane aligning end to end. These channels connect the cytoplasms of contacting cells. Images of isolated rat heart gap junctions have been made with the atomic force microscope in aqueous media. We show that native cardiac gap junctions have a thickness of 25 +/- 0.6 nm. This decreases to 17 nm when they are treated with trypsin, which is known to remove some cytoplasmic components of connexin 43. Imaging shows subunits with a center to center spacing of approximately 9-10 nm and long range hexagonal packing, measurements in agreement with studies using freeze-fracture and negative-stain electron microscopy. In addition to gap junctions, we imaged structures that had all the characteristics of native gap junctions except their thickness was limited to 9-11 nm. They also show long range hexagonal packing and center to center spacing of 9-10 nm. These structures decrease in thickness, to 6-9 nm, when treated with trypsin. We have called these structures hemiplaques. They appear to be present endogenously in the preparation, as we have ruled out their being an artifact of imaging by AFM. However, it remains to be determined if they are a consequence of the procedure used in isolating gap junctions or a possible intermediary in gap junction formation.

scholarly journals A high-speed, bright, red fluorescent voltage sensor to detect neural activity

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Connor Beck ◽  
Yiyang Gong
Keyword(s):  
Blue Light ◽  
Neural Activity ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Resonance Energy ◽  
Fluorescent Sensors ◽  
Fast Kinetics ◽  
Spectral Separation ◽  
Green Fluorescent

Abstract Genetically encoded voltage indicators (GEVIs) have emerged as a technology to optically record neural activity with genetic specificity and millisecond-scale temporal resolution using fluorescence microscopy. GEVIs have demonstrated ultra-fast kinetics and high spike detection fidelity in vivo, but existing red-fluorescent voltage indicators fall short of the response and brightness achieved by green fluorescent protein-based sensors. Furthermore, red-fluorescent GEVIs suffer from incomplete spectral separation from green sensors and blue-light-activated optogenetic actuators. We have developed Ace-mScarlet, a red fluorescent GEVI that fuses Ace2N, a voltage-sensitive inhibitory rhodopsin, with mScarlet, a bright red fluorescent protein (FP). Through fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), our sensor detects changes in membrane voltage with high sensitivity and brightness and has kinetics comparable to the fastest green fluorescent sensors. Ace-mScarlet’s red-shifted absorption and emission spectra facilitate virtually complete spectral separation when used in combination with green-fluorescent sensors or with blue-light-sensitive sensors and rhodopsins. This spectral separation enables both simultaneous imaging in two separate wavelength channels and high-fidelity voltage recordings during simultaneous optogenetic perturbation.

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