scholarly journals ClC-3: biophysical properties clarify cellular functions

2018 ◽  
Vol 596 (17) ◽  
pp. 3823-3824
Author(s):  
Raul E. Guzman ◽  
Christoph Fahlke
Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (17) ◽  
pp. 3885
Author(s):  
Luís Borges-Araújo ◽  
Fabio Fernandes

Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) is a minor but ubiquitous component of the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane of eukaryotic cells. However, due to its particular complex biophysical properties, it stands out from its neighboring lipids as one of the most important regulators of membrane-associated signaling events. Despite its very low steady-state concentration, PI(4,5)P2 is able to engage in a multitude of simultaneous cellular functions that are temporally and spatially regulated through the presence of localized transient pools of PI(4,5)P2 in the membrane. These pools are crucial for the recruitment, activation, and organization of signaling proteins and consequent regulation of downstream signaling. The present review showcases some of the most important PI(4,5)P2 molecular and biophysical properties as well as their impact on its membrane dynamics, lateral organization, and interactions with other biochemical partners.


Author(s):  
A. T. Molines ◽  
J. Lemière ◽  
C.H. Edrington ◽  
C-T. Hsu ◽  
I.E. Steinmark ◽  
...  

AbstractThe cytoplasm represents a crowded environment whose properties may change according to physiological or developmental states. Although the effects of crowding and viscosity on in vitro reactions have been well studied, if and how the biophysical properties of the cytoplasm impact cellular functions in vivo remain poorly understood. Here, we probed the effects of cytoplasmic concentration on microtubule (MT) dynamics by studying the effects of osmotic shifts in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Increasing cytoplasmic concentration by hyperosmotic shock led to proportionate reductions in the rates of interphase MT growth and shrinkage. Conversely, dilution of the cytoplasm in hypoosmotic shifts led to proportionately faster rates. Numerous lines of evidence indicate that these effects were due to biophysical properties of the cytoplasm. These effects were recapitulated in in vitro reconstituted MT assays by modulating viscosity, not by crowding. Our findings suggest that even at normal conditions, the viscous properties of cytoplasm modulate the dynamic reactions of MT polymerization and depolymerization.


Author(s):  
Marisa Assunção ◽  
Dorsa Dehghan-Baniani ◽  
Chi Him Kendrick Yiu ◽  
Thomas Später ◽  
Sebastian Beyer ◽  
...  

Cell-derived extracellular matrices (CD-ECMs) captured increasing attention since the first studies in the 1980s. The biological resemblance of CD-ECMs to their in vivo counterparts and natural complexity provide them with a prevailing bioactivity. CD-ECMs offer the opportunity to produce microenvironments with costumizable biological and biophysical properties in a controlled setting. As a result, CD-ECMs can improve cellular functions such as stemness or be employed as a platform to study cellular niches in health and disease. Either on their own or integrated with other materials, CD-ECMs can also be utilized as biomaterials to engineer tissues de novo or facilitate endogenous healing and regeneration. This review provides a brief overview over the methodologies used to facilitate CD-ECM deposition and manufacturing. It explores the versatile uses of CD-ECM in fundamental research and therapeutic approaches, while highlighting innovative strategies. Furthermore, current challenges are identified and it is accentuated that advancements in methodologies, as well as innovative interdisciplinary approaches are needed to take CD-ECM-based research to the next level.


Author(s):  
Robert M. Glaeser ◽  
Thea B. Scott

The carbon-replica technique can be used to obtain information about cell-surface structure that cannot ordinarily be obtained by thin-section techniques. Mammalian erythrocytes have been studied by the replica technique and they appear to be characterized by a pebbly or “plaqued“ surface texture. The characteristic “particle” diameter is about 200 Å to 400 Å. We have now extended our observations on cell-surface structure to chicken and frog erythrocytes, which possess a broad range of cellular functions, and to normal rat lymphocytes and mouse ascites tumor cells, which are capable of cell division. In these experiments fresh cells were washed in Eagle's Minimum Essential Medium Salt Solution (for suspension cultures) and one volume of a 10% cell suspension was added to one volume of 2% OsO4 or 5% gluteraldehyde in 0.067 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.3. Carbon replicas were obtained by a technique similar to that employed by Glaeser et al. Figure 1 shows an electron micrograph of a carbon replica made from a chicken erythrocyte, and Figure 2 shows an enlarged portion of the same cell.


Author(s):  
D. L. Taylor

Cells function through the complex temporal and spatial interplay of ions, metabolites, macromolecules and macromolecular assemblies. Biochemical approaches allow the investigator to define the components and the solution chemical reactions that might be involved in cellular functions. Static structural methods can yield information concerning the 2- and 3-D organization of known and unknown cellular constituents. Genetic and molecular techniques are powerful approaches that can alter specific functions through the manipulation of gene products and thus identify necessary components and sequences of molecular events. However, full knowledge of the mechanism of particular cell functions will require direct measurement of the interplay of cellular constituents. Therefore, there has been a need to develop methods that can yield chemical and molecular information in time and space in living cells, while allowing the integration of information from biochemical, molecular and genetic approaches at the cellular level.


Author(s):  
John C. Garancis ◽  
Robert O. Hussa ◽  
Michael T. Story ◽  
Donald Yorde ◽  
Roland A. Pattillo

Human malignant trophoblast cells in continuous culture were incubated for 3 days in medium containing 1 mM N6-O2'-dibutyryl cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (dibutyryl cyclic AMP) and 1 mM theophylline. The culture fluid was replenished daily. Stimulated cultures secreted many times more chorionic gonadotropin and estrogens than did control cultures in the absence of increased cellular proliferation. Scanning electron microscopy revealed remarkable surface changes of stimulated cells. Control cells (not stimulated) were smooth or provided with varying numbers of microvilli (Fig. 1). The latter, usually, were short and thin. The surface features of stimulated cells were considerably different. There was marked increase of microvilli which appeared elongated and thick. Many cells were covered with confluent polypoid projections (Fig. 2). Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated marked activity of cytoplasmic organelles. Mitochondria were increased in number and size; some giant forms with numerous cristae were observed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 613-620
Author(s):  
Clara Ortegón Salas ◽  
Katharina Schneider ◽  
Christopher Horst Lillig ◽  
Manuela Gellert

Processing of and responding to various signals is an essential cellular function that influences survival, homeostasis, development, and cell death. Extra- or intracellular signals are perceived via specific receptors and transduced in a particular signalling pathway that results in a precise response. Reversible post-translational redox modifications of cysteinyl and methionyl residues have been characterised in countless signal transduction pathways. Due to the low reactivity of most sulfur-containing amino acid side chains with hydrogen peroxide, for instance, and also to ensure specificity, redox signalling requires catalysis, just like phosphorylation signalling requires kinases and phosphatases. While reducing enzymes of both cysteinyl- and methionyl-derivates have been characterised in great detail before, the discovery and characterisation of MICAL proteins evinced the first examples of specific oxidases in signal transduction. This article provides an overview of the functions of MICAL proteins in the redox regulation of cellular functions.


1987 ◽  
Vol 58 (03) ◽  
pp. 936-942 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsey A Miles ◽  
Edward F Plow

SummaryGlu-plasminogen binds to platelets; the monocytoid line, U937, and the human fetal fibroblast line, GM1380 bind both plasminogen and its activator, urokinase. This study assesses the interaction of these fibrinolytic proteins with circulating human blood cells. Plasminogen bound minimally to red cells but bound saturably and reversibly to monocytes, granulocytes and lymphocytes with apparent Kd values of 0.9-1.4 μM. The interactions were of high capacity with 1.6 to 49 × 105 sites/cell and involved the lysine binding sites of plasminogen. Both T cells and non-rosetting lymphocytes and two B cell lines saturably bound plasminogen. Urokinase bound saturably to gianulocytes, monocytes, non-rosetting lymphocytes and a B cell line, but minimally to T cells, platelets and red cells. Therefore, plasminogen binding sites of high capacity, of similar affinities, and with common recognition specificities are expressed by many peripheral blood cells. Urokinase receptors are also widely distributed, but less so than plasminogen binding sites. The binding ol plasminogen and/ or urokinase to these cells may lead to generation of cell- associated proteolytic activity which contributes to a variety of cellular functions.


1989 ◽  
Vol 120 (3_Suppl) ◽  
pp. S194
Author(s):  
B. E. WENZEL ◽  
A. HEUFELDER ◽  
T. MACKENROTH ◽  
P. C. SCRIBA

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