scholarly journals Membrane histochemistry of Physarum polycephalum myxamoebae.

1982 ◽  
Vol 30 (12) ◽  
pp. 1261-1267 ◽  
Author(s):  
H C Aldrich ◽  
J B Reiskind

Myxamoebae of Physarum polycephalum are the uninucleate, haploid stage of the organism. Histochemical studies were undertaken to characterize intracellular and plasma membranes, and to provide a basis for assaying subcellular fractions for enrichment in plasma membranes. Lead salts deposition techniques were employed for hydrolytic enzymes. Alcian blue-ruthenium red, osmium tetroxide-potassium ferrocyanide, and phosphotungstic acid-chromic acid stains were evaluated for specificity for plasma membranes. Glucose 6-phosphatase was localized in endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and perinuclear space. 5'-Nucleotidase was localized in food vacuoles, chromatin, and plasmalemma. Acid phosphatase was in food vacuoles and Golgi apparatus. Alkaline phosphatase was in food vacuoles and endoplasmic reticulum. We conclude that none of the above enzymes is suitable as a cytochemical marker for plasma membranes of Physarum myxamoebae, but recommend instead staining ultrathin sections of membrane pellets with phosphotungstic acid-chromic acid, which stains plasma membranes selectively.

1985 ◽  
Vol 225 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Saermark ◽  
N Flint ◽  
W H Evans

Endosome fractions were isolated from rat liver homogenates on the basis of the subcellular distribution of circulating ligands, e.g. 125I-asialotransferrin internalized by hepatocytes by a receptor-mediated process. The distribution of endocytosed 125I-asialotransferrin 1-2 min and 15 min after uptake by liver and a monensin-activated Mg2+-dependent ATPase activity coincided on linear gradients of sucrose and Nycodenz. The monensin-activated Mg2+-ATPase was enriched relative to the liver homogenates up to 60-fold in specific activity in the endosome fractions. Contamination of the endosome fractions by lysosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, plasma membranes and Golgi-apparatus components was low. By use of 9-aminoacridine, a probe for pH gradients, the endosome vesicles were shown to acidify on addition of ATP. Acidification was reversed by addition of monensin. The results indicate that endosome fractions contain an ATP-driven proton pump. The ionophore-activated Mg2+-ATPase in combination with the presence of undegraded ligands in the endosome fractions emerge as linked markers for this new subcellular organelle.


1974 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melvyn Weinstock ◽  
C. P. Leblond

The elaboration of dentin collagen precursors by the odontoblasts in the incisor teeth of 30–40-g rats was investigated by electron microscopy, histochemistry, and radioautography after intravenous injection of tritium-labeled proline. At 2 min after injection, when the labeling of blood proline was high, radioactivity was restricted to the rough endoplasmic reticulum, indicating that it is the site of synthesis of the polypeptide precursors of collagen, the pro-alpha chains. At 10 min, when the labeling of blood proline had already declined, radioactivity was observed in spherical portions of Golgi saccules containing entangled threads, and, at 20 min, radioactivity appeared in cylindrical portions containing aggregates of parallel threads. The parallel threads measured 280–350 nm in length and stained with the low pH-phosphotungstic acid technique for carbohydrate and with the silver methenamine technique for aldehydes (as did extracellular collagen fibrils). The passage of label from spherical to cylindrical Golgi portions is associated with the reorganization of entangled into parallel threads, which is interpreted as the packing of procollagen molecules. Between 20 and 30 min, prosecretory and secretory granules respectively became labeled. These results indicate that the cylindrical portions of Golgi saccules transform into prosecretory and subsequently into secretory granules. Within these granules, the parallel threads, believed to be procollagen molecules, are transported to the odontoblast process. At 90 min and 4 h after injection, label was present in predentin, indicating that the labeled content of secretory granules had been released into predentin. This occurred by exocytosis as evidenced by the presence of secretory granules in fusion with the plasmalemma of the odontoblast process. It is proposed that pro-alpha chains give rise to procollagen molecules which assemble into parallel aggregates in the Golgi apparatus. Procollagen molecules are then transported within secretory granules to the odontoblast process and released by exocytosis. In predentin procollagen molecules would give rise to tropocollagen molecules, which would then polymerize into collagen fibrils.


1978 ◽  
Vol 33 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 65-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Postius ◽  
H. Kindi

Abstract 1. The time course of activity of soluble and microsomal phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) was studied in dark grown cell cultures of soybean (Glycine max). A distinct activity increase of PAL in the soluble and microsomal fraction occurred prior to the stationary phase of the cell culture. Cinnamic acid p-hydroxylase and NADH : cytochrome c reductase, too, exhibited maximal activity in the log phase, 5 days after the transfer of soybean cells to fresh culture medium.2. Upon subfractionation of the once washed microsomal fraction by sedimentation velocity centrifugation on a sucrose gradient, membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum could be separated from fractions containing mainly membranes from the Golgi apparatus or plasma membranes, respectively. PAL and cinnamic acid p-hydroxylase were found in fractions of endoplasmic reticulum whereas no activity of either enzymes could be detected in fractions containing Golgi apparatus or plasma membranes.3. Repeated washing of microsomal fractions led to a residual membrane-bound PAL representing about 1% of the total PAL activity of the cells. This residual membrane-bound activity could be solubilized almost completely by Triton X-100 or digitonin at concentrations of 0.5 - 5%.


1985 ◽  
Vol 101 (5) ◽  
pp. 1733-1740 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Yamamoto ◽  
R Masaki ◽  
Y Tashiro

The Golgi apparatus mediates intracellular transport of not only secretory and lysosomal proteins but also membrane proteins. As a typical marker membrane protein for endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of rat hepatocytes, we have selected phenobarbital (PB)-inducible cytochrome P-450 (P-450[PB]) and investigated whether P-450(PB) is transported to the Golgi apparatus or not by combining biochemical and quantitative ferritin immunoelectron microscopic techniques. We found that P-450(PB) was not detectable on the membrane of Golgi cisternae either when P-450 was maximally induced by phenobarbital treatment or when P-450 content in the microsomes rapidly decreased after cessation of the treatment. The P-450 detected biochemically in the Golgi subcellular fraction can be explained by the contamination of the microsomal vesicles derived from fragmented ER membranes to the Golgi fraction. We conclude that when the transfer vesicles are formed by budding on the transitional elements of ER, P-450 is completely excluded from such regions and is not transported to the Golgi apparatus, and only the membrane proteins destined for the Golgi apparatus, plasma membranes, or lysosomes are selectively collected and transported.


1983 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 755-764 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Liesi

Laminin was localized in cultured mouse C1300 neuroblastoma cells by applying the peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique in preembedding electron microscopy. The results were compared to those obtained by indirect immunofluorescence and by the colloidal gold second antibody method on Epon-embedded ultrathin sections. Laminin was found in the cell membranes and within the rough endoplasmic reticulum as well as in intracytoplasmic vacuoles. Plasma membranes of the neuroblastoma cells showed a patchy localization of laminin that was apparently involved in cell-to-substrate attachment and in gap junction-like intercellular connections. Under normal conditions, the Golgi cisternae contained no laminin. Pretreatment of cells with micromolar concentrations of monensin, however, lead to an accumulation of laminin within the Golgi cisternae. These results support a role for laminin as an adhesion protein in cultured neuroblastoma cells and indicate that laminin is transported through the Golgi complex.


1971 ◽  
Vol 68 (1_Suppl) ◽  
pp. S190-S204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul K. Nakane

ABSTRACT Hormones were localized immunoenzymocytochemically at the ultrastructural level directly on ultrathin sections of anterior pituitary glands of rats which had been fixed and embedded in either methacrylate or Epon. GH, LTH, ACTH and LH are best localized on methacrylate embedded glands and GH and LTH on Epon embedded glands. GH and LTH were found in secretion granules, and depending on the activity of the cells, the hormones could be found in the Golgi apparatus and in the cisternae of endoplasmic reticulum. The grids on which hormones have been localized may also be processed for electron radioautography, an approach particularly useful to study simultaneously substrate uptake as well as product synthesis.


1972 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 195-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.-C. Roland ◽  
Carole A. Lembi ◽  
D. James Morré

1963 ◽  
Vol s3-104 (65) ◽  
pp. 135-140
Author(s):  
S. AHMAD SHAFIQ

The tracheoblasts associated with the flight-muscles of Drosophila were studied by electron microscopy. During the developmental stages the cytoplasm of such tracheoblasts shows extensive membrane structures arranged in whorls. It seems that these membranes become aligned in pairs, spread out in tracheoblast cytoplasm, and form the walls of the new tracheolar vessels. The membranous whorls appear to have no obvious relationship with the usual endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus or plasma membranes. They are probably produced from certain large granules distributed irregularly in the cytoplasm of the young tracheoblasts. Membranes limiting the tracheoles from the tracheoblast cytoplasm (the so-called mestracheons) are not usually seen in the younger stages. They are sometimes seen after the cuticular lining of the tracheoles has been formed.


1966 ◽  
Vol 123 (4) ◽  
pp. 757-766 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zanvil A. Cohn ◽  
Martha E. Fedorko ◽  
James G. Hirsch

A combined morphological, autoradiographic, and cytochemical study at the electron microscope level has been directed towards the formation of electron-opaque granules of cultured macrophages. Labeling of the membrane-bound vesicular structures of pinocytic origin was accomplished with colloidal gold. The initial uptake of gold occurred within micropinocytic vesicles. These electron-lucent vesicles subsequently fused with and discharged their contents into larger pinocytic vacuoles. Colloidal gold was homogeneously distributed in the large pinosomes. In contrast, gold was initially deposited in the periphery of preformed dense granules indicating that these structures were also in constant interaction with the external environment. Colloidal gold was not observed within the cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum nor within the saccules or vesicles of the Golgi apparatus. There were, however, many small, gold-free vesicles, indistinguishable from Golgi vesicles, which were preferentially aligned about and appeared to fuse with the large pinosomes. The intracellular flow of leucine-H3-labeled protein was followed by electron microscopic autoradiography. After a 15 min pulse of labeled amino acid there was initial labeling of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Subsequently, much of the label appeared in the Golgi complex. At still later time periods the cytoplasmic dense granules contained the majority of the isotope. Acid phosphatase activity was localized to the dense granules and in the majority of cells to the Golgi apparatus. It is suggested that hydrolytic enzymes are initially synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum and are then transferred to the Golgi apparatus. Here they are packaged into small Golgi vesicles which represent the primary lysosome of macrophages. The Golgi vesicles subsequently fuse with pinosomes, thereby discharging their hydrolases and forming digestive granules or secondary lysosomes.


1971 ◽  
Vol 26 (10) ◽  
pp. 1031-1039 ◽  
Author(s):  
Werner W. Franke ◽  
D. James Morre ◽  
Barbara Deumling ◽  
Ronald D. Cheetham ◽  
Jürgen Kartenbeck ◽  
...  

The kinetics of synthesis and degradation of the protein constituents of nuclear membranes, endoplasmic reticulum membranes (rough-surfaced microsomes), Golgi apparatus membranes and plasma membranes were determined following a single administration of L- [guanido-14C] arginine by intraperitoneal injection. Membrane protein was determined as the fraction which resists sonication and sequential extrations with 1.5 M KCl, 0.1% deoxycholate and water to remove intravesicular, intracisternal (secretory), nucleo-, adsorbed and ribosome-associated proteins.The order of maximum labeling of membrane proteins was a) endoplasmic reticulum (nuclear membrane), b) Golgi apparatus, and c) plasma membrane. Rapid decreases in specific radioactivity followed maximal labeling of endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus membranes. These rapid turnover components of endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus were sufficient to account for labeling of plasma membranes via a flow mechanism.Incorporation of radioactivity into plasma membranes showed two distinct phases. The ultrastructural features underlying the biphasic pattern of incorporation into plasma membranes are discussed.Following initial incorporation and rapid turnover, membrane proteins were characterized by degradation kinetics approximating 1st order. Rates of degradation for Golgi apparatus and plasma membranes were faster than those for nuclear envelope and endoplasmic reticulum membranes.Assuming steady state conditions, an absolute synthetic rate of 7.1 mpg/min/avergage hepatocyte was calculated for membrane proteins of the plasma membrane.The results are compatible with intracellular movement and conversion of rough endoplasmic reticulum to plasma membrane via the membranes of the Golgi apparatus, i. e., membrane flow. Additionally, the kinetics indicate that membrane synthesis and transfer is restricted to specific parts of the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus.


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