The control of DNA replication in a cell-free extract that recapitulates a basic cell cycle in vitro

Development ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 103 (3) ◽  
pp. 553-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.J. Hutchison ◽  
R. Cox ◽  
C.C. Ford
Keyword(s):  
Dna Synthesis ◽  
Chromatin Condensation ◽  
Membrane Vesicles ◽  
Pulse Labelling ◽  
Membrane Structures ◽  
Membrane Breakdown ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Chromosome Formation ◽  
Pronuclear Formation

Cell-free extracts prepared from Xenopus eggs support chromosome decondensation and pronuclear formation on demembranated sperm heads. 32P-dCTP pulse-labelling studies demonstrate that DNA synthesis occurs in multiple bursts of 30–40 min in extracts containing pronuclei, each burst being followed by a period of 20–50 min during which no synthesis occurs. Density substitution with bromodeoxyuridine indicates that the synthesis in each burst is semiconservative and results from new initiations, and that, following multiple bursts of synthesis, reinitiation events can occur. Changes in nuclear morphology have been characterized in the extract by phase-contrast microscopy and by fluorescence microscopy following pulse labelling with biotin-11-dUTP and staining with anti-lamin antibodies. Lamin accumulation occurs as DNA decondenses and parallels the acquisition of membrane structures. Biotin-11-dUTP incorporation is first observed in small nuclei having decondensed DNA and an extensive lamina. While DNA synthesis is occurring nuclei remain relatively small, but rapid swelling accompanied by chromosome condensation occurs when biotin incorporation ceases. Nuclear swelling and chromatin condensation is followed by nuclear membrane breakdown, lamin dispersal and chromosome formation. Mitosis lasts for approximately 20 min. Nuclear reassembly is recognized by the appearance of membrane vesicles around small pieces of decondensed DNA, which parallels the appearance of lamin islands within a chromatin mass. These ‘islands’ incorporate biotin, indicating that DNA synthesis is occurring, and apparently fuse as larger S-phase nuclei are formed. Extensive protein synthesis occurs for at least 4 h in most extracts. This synthesis is required for the initiation of mitotic events and the reinitiation of DNA synthesis.

Increased cell death in osteopontin-deficient cardiac fibroblasts occurs by a caspase-3-independent pathway

2004 ◽  
Vol 287 (4) ◽  
pp. H1730-H1739 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ron Zohar ◽  
Baoqian Zhu ◽  
Peter Liu ◽  
Jaro Sodek ◽  
C. A. McCulloch
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Caspase 3 ◽  
Cardiac Fibroblasts ◽  
Chromatin Condensation ◽  
Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase ◽  
Tunel Staining ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Nuclear Fragmentation ◽  
A Cell

Reperfusion-induced oxidative injury to the myocardium promotes activation and proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts and repair by scar formation. Osteopontin (OPN) is a proinflammatory cytokine that is upregulated after reperfusion. To determine whether OPN enhances fibroblast survival after exposure to oxidants, cardiac fibroblasts from wild-type (WT) or OPN-null (OPN−/−) mice were treated in vitro with H2O2to model reperfusion injury. Within 1 h, membrane permeability to propidium iodide (PI) was increased from 5 to 60% in OPN−/−cells but was increased to only 20% in WT cells. In contrast, after 1–8 h of treatment with H2O2, the percent of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL)-stained cells was more than twofold higher in WT than OPN−/−cells. Electron microscopy of WT cells treated with H2O2showed chromatin condensation, nuclear fragmentation, and cytoplasmic and nuclear shrinkage, which are consistent with apoptosis. In contrast, H2O2-treated OPN−/−cardiac fibroblasts exhibited cell and nuclear swelling and membrane disruption that are indicative of cell necrosis. Treatment of OPN−/−and WT cells with a cell-permeable caspase-3 inhibitor reduced the percentage of TUNEL staining by more than fourfold in WT cells but decreased staining in OPN−/−cells by ∼30%. Although the percentage of PI-permeable WT cells was reduced threefold, the percent of PI-permeable OPN−/−cells was not altered. Restoration of OPN expression in OPN−/−fibroblasts reduced the percentage of PI-permeable cells but not TUNEL staining after H2O2treatment. Thus H2O2-induced cell death in OPN-deficient cardiac fibroblasts is mediated by a caspase-3-independent, necrotic pathway. We suggest that the increased expression of OPN in the myocardium after reperfusion may promote fibrosis by protecting cardiac fibroblasts from cell death.

scholarly journals Primary generation of cytolytic T lymphocytes in the absence of DNA synthesis.

1979 ◽  
Vol 150 (1) ◽  
pp. 196-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
H R MacDonald ◽  
R K Less
Keyword(s):  
T Lymphocytes ◽  
Dna Synthesis ◽  
Cytolytic Activity ◽  
Target Cells ◽  
Cytolytic T Lymphocytes ◽  
Spleen Cells ◽  
Con A ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Stimulation Of

The requirement for DNA synthesis during the primary differentiation of cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) had been investigated. CTL were induced polyclonally in vitro by stimulation of normal C57BL/6 spleen cells with concanavalin A (Con A)and their cytolytic activity was tested against 51Cr-labeled target cells in the presence of Bacto Phytohemagglutinin M. With this system, CTL activity could first be detected 48 h after exposure of spleen cells to Con A. Addition of cytosine arabinoside at concentrations sufficient to reduce DNA synthesis by 95-98% in Con A-stimulated cultures did not significantly inhibit the generation of cytolytic activity on a cell-to-cell basis. These results demonstrate that derepression of the genetic information required for the expression of CTL function can occur in the absence of detectable DNA synthesis.

A somatic cell-derived system for studying both early and late mitotic events in vitro

1989 ◽  
Vol 94 (3) ◽  
pp. 449-462
Author(s):  
J. Nakagawa ◽  
G.T. Kitten ◽  
E.A. Nigg
Keyword(s):  
Chromatin Condensation ◽  
Nuclear Lamina ◽  
Free System ◽  
Cell Free System ◽  
Protein Substrates ◽  
Nuclear Envelope Breakdown ◽  
Biochemical Fractionation ◽  
A Cell

We describe a cell-free system for studying mitotic reorganization of nuclear structure. The system utilizes soluble extracts prepared from metaphase-arrested somatic chicken cells and supports both the disassembly and subsequent partial reassembly of exogenous nuclei. By fluorescence microscopy, biochemical fractionation, protein phosphorylation assays and electron microscopy, we show that chicken embryonic nuclei incubated in extracts prepared from metaphase-arrested chicken hepatoma cells undergo nuclear envelope breakdown, lamina depolymerization and chromatin condensation. These prophase-like events are strictly dependent on ATP and do not occur when nuclei are incubated in interphase extracts. Compared to interphase extracts, metaphase extracts show increased kinase activities toward a number of nuclear protein substrates, including lamins and histone H1; moreover, they specifically contain four soluble phosphoproteins of Mr 38,000, 75,000, 95,000 and 165,000. Following disassembly of exogenous nuclei in metaphase extracts, telophase-like reassembly of a nuclear lamina and re-formation of nuclear membranes around condensed chromatin can be induced by depletion of ATP from the extract. We anticipate that this reversible cell-free system will contribute to the identification and characterization of factors involved in regulatory and mechanistic aspects of mitosis.

In Vivo and in Vitro Proliferation Kinetics of Sarcoma 180 in Solid Form

1972 ◽  
Vol 58 (5) ◽  
pp. 335-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosella Silvestrini ◽  
Ornella Sanfilippo ◽  
Luigi Lenaz
Keyword(s):  
Double Labelling ◽  
Pulse Labelling ◽  
Sarcoma 180 ◽  
In Vitro Proliferation ◽  
Proliferation Kinetics ◽  
Human Solid Tumors ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Kinetics Of

In order to obtain data for setting up a rapid and relatively inexpensive method for studying the proliferation kinetics of human solid tumors, we have determined the kinetic parameters of an experimental solid tumor (Sarcoma 180). The curve of labelled mitosis after pulse labelling with 3H thymidine and the 3H and 14C thymidine double labelling technic on tumor samples incubated in vitro with the labelled precursors were used. A method of digestion of the tissue with hyaluronidase to obtain a cell suspension is described. This method allows easy identification of cells labelled with 3H or 14C thymidine. The two methods yielded reproducible results, the labelling index being 45%, and the duration of S phase 9.9 hours. The in vitro double labelling method with subsequent hyaluronidase digestion is proposed for studying the proliferation kinetics of solid malignancies.

scholarly journals SPECIFICITY OF CELLULAR IMMUNE RESPONSES

1968 ◽  
Vol 127 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
William E. Paul ◽  
Gregory W. Siskind ◽  
Baruj Benacerraf
Keyword(s):  
Dna Synthesis ◽  
Cell Population ◽  
Guinea Pigs ◽  
Culture Fluid ◽  
Cellular Immune Responses ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Delayed Reactions ◽  
Cellular Immune

In vitro antigen stimulation of DNA synthesis in lymph node cultures from immunized guinea pigs can be obtained with very low (10–4 µg/ml) antigen concentrations in the culture fluid. Immunization with low doses of DNP-GPA leads to a cell population capable of being stimulated, on the average, by low concentration of antigen whereas immunization with large antigen doses results in a sensitive cell population requiring, on the average, high antigen concentrations for stimulation. These findings correlate well with the affinity for hapten of the serum antibodies produced by these guinea pigs. Both delayed reactions in vivo and DNA synthesis in vitro can be stimulated by hapten conjugated to proteins different from that used in primary immunization. However the immunizing conjugate is much more effective in terms of antigen concentration required for a given response. These results can be understood in terms of a thermodynamically driven interaction of antigen (or "processed" antigen) with cell-associated antibody.

scholarly journals The inhibition of nucleic acid synthesis by mycophenolic acid

1969 ◽  
Vol 113 (3) ◽  
pp. 515-524 ◽  
Author(s):  
T J Franklin ◽  
Jennifer M. Cook
Keyword(s):  
Dna Synthesis ◽  
Mycophenolic Acid ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Acid Synthesis ◽  
Purine Nucleotides ◽  
Free System ◽  
L Cells ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Inhibition Of Dna Synthesis

1. Mycophenolic acid, an antibiotic of some antiquity that more recently has been found to have marked activity against a range of tumours in mice and rats, strongly inhibits DNA synthesis in the L strain of fibroblasts in vitro. 2. The extent of the inhibition of DNA synthesis is markedly increased by preincubation of the cells with mycophenolic acid before the addition of [14C]thymidine. 3. The inhibition of DNA synthesis by mycophenolic acid in L cells in vitro is reversed by guanine in a non-competitive manner, but not by hypoxanthine, xanthine or adenine. 4. The reversal of inhibition by guanine can be suppressed by hypoxanthine, 6-mercaptopurine and adenine. 5. Mycophenolic acid does not inhibit the incorporation of [14C]thymidine into DNA in suspensions of Landschütz and Yoshida ascites cells in vitro. 6. Mycophenolic acid inhibits the conversion of [14C]hypoxanthine into cold-acid-soluble and -insoluble guanine nucleotides in Landschütz and Yoshida ascites cells and also in L cells in vitro. There is some increase in the radioactivity of the adenine fraction in the presence of the antibiotic. 7. Mycophenolic acid inhibits the conversion of [14C]hypoxanthine into xanthine and guanine fractions in a cell-free system from Landschütz cells capable of converting hypoxanthine into IMP, XMP and GMP. 8. Preparations of IMP dehydrogenase from Landschütz ascites cells, calf thymus and LS cells are strongly inhibited by mycophenolic acid. The inhibition showed mixed type kinetics with Ki values of between 3·03×10−8 and 4·5×10−8m. 9. Evidence was also obtained for a partial, possibly indirect, inhibition by mycophenolic acid of an early stage of biosynthesis of purine nucleotides as indicated by a decrease in the accumulation of formylglycine amide ribonucleotide induced by the antibiotic azaserine in suspensions of Landschütz and Yoshida ascites cells and L cells in vitro.

scholarly journals Expression and proteasomal degradation of the major vault protein (MVP) in mammalian oocytes and zygotes

Reproduction ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 129 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Sutovsky ◽  
Gaurishankar Manandhar ◽  
Jozef Laurincik ◽  
Juraj Letko ◽  
Jose Nestor Caamaño ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Vesicles ◽  
Peptide Sequencing ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Cdna Libraries ◽  
Multi Drug Resistance ◽  
Major Vault Protein ◽  
Porcine Oocyte ◽  
Ubiquitin Proteasome ◽  
A Cell

Major vault protein (MVP), also called lung resistance-related protein is a ribonucleoprotein comprising a major part (>70%) of the vault particle. The function of vault particle is not known, although it appears to be involved in multi-drug resistance and cellular signaling. Here we show that MVP is expressed in mammalian, porcine, and human ova and in the porcine preimplantation embryo. MVP was identified by matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization-time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) peptide sequencing and Western blotting as a protein accumulating in porcine zygotes cultured in the presence of specific proteasomal inhibitor MG132. MVP also accumulated in poor-quality human oocytes donated by infertile couples and porcine embryos that failed to develop normally afterin vitrofertilization or somatic cell nuclear transfer. Normal porcine oocytes and embryos at various stages of preimplantation development showed mostly cytoplasmic labeling, with increased accumulation of vault particles around large cytoplasmic lipid inclusions and membrane vesicles. Occasionally, MVP was associated with the nuclear envelope and nucleolus precursor bodies. Nucleotide sequences with a high degree of homology to human MVP gene sequence were identified in porcine oocyte and endometrial cell cDNA libraries. We interpret these data as the evidence for the expression and ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent turnover of MVP in the mammalian ovum. Similar to carcinoma cells, MVP could fulfill a cell-protecting function during early embryonic development.

In vitro development of non-enucleated rat oocytes following microinjection of a cumulus nucleus and chemical activation

Zygote ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wataru Fujii ◽  
Hiroaki Funahashi
Keyword(s):  
Wistar Rats ◽  
Chromatin Condensation ◽  
Chemical Activation ◽  
Blastocyst Stage ◽  
Blastocyst Formation ◽  
Spindle Formation ◽  
Female Wistar Rats ◽  
Pronuclear Formation ◽  
Vitro Development

SummaryThe present study examined in vitro development and the cytological status of non-enucleated rat oocytes after microinjection of cumulus nuclei and chemical activation. Oocyte–cumulus complexes were collected from gonadotropin-treated prepubertal female Wistar rats 14 h after human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injection. Cumulus nuclei were injected into ovulated oocytes and then stimulated in the presence of 5 mM SrCl2 for 20 min at various time points (0–3.5 h) after injection. Some of the reconstituted eggs were cultured to observe the pronuclear formation, cleavage, and blastocyst formation. The incidences of eggs forming at least one pronucleus or containing two pronuclei were not significantly different among the periods (82.4–83.5% and 43.4–51.9%, respectively). Nor did the incidences of eggs cleaving (86.7–97.7%) and developing to the blastocyst stage (0–3.5%) differ depending on when, after injection, stimulation began. When some of the reconstituted eggs were observed for cytological morphology 1–1.5 h after injection, 71.7% of the eggs caused premature chromatin condensation, but only 46.2% of them formed two spindles around each of maternal and somatic chromatins. However, the morphology of the somatic spindles differed from that of the spindles, which formed around the oocyte chromatins. Only 7.5% of the eggs contained the normal chromosomal number. In many reconstituted oocytes, before activation, an abnormal spindle formation was observed in the somatic chromatins. In conclusion, these results show that non-enucleated rat oocytes injected with cumulus nuclei can form pronuclei and cleave following chemical activation, whereas blastocyst formation is very limited, probably caused by abnormalities in the spindle formation and distribution of somatic chromatids.

scholarly journals Bcl-2 inhibits the mitochondrial release of an apoptogenic protease.

1996 ◽  
Vol 184 (4) ◽  
pp. 1331-1341 ◽  
Author(s):  
S A Susin ◽  
N Zamzami ◽  
M Castedo ◽  
T Hirsch ◽  
P Marchetti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Permeability Transition ◽  
Chromatin Condensation ◽  
Interleukin 1 ◽  
Permeability Transition ◽  
Mitochondrial Inner Membrane ◽  
Nuclear Changes ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Apoptosis Inducing Factor ◽  
In Cells

Bcl-2 belongs to a family of apoptosis-regulatory proteins which incorporate into the outer mitochondrial as well as nuclear membranes. The mechanism by which the proto-oncogene product Bcl-2 inhibits apoptosis is thus far elusive. We and others have shown previously that the first biochemical alteration detectable in cells undergoing apoptosis, well before nuclear changes become manifest, is a collapse of the mitochondrial inner membrane potential (delta psi m), suggesting the involvement of mitochondrial products in the apoptotic cascade. Here we show that mitochondria contain a pre-formed approximately 50-kD protein which is released upon delta psi m disruption and which, in a cell-free in vitro system, causes isolated nuclei to undergo apoptotic changes such as chromatin condensation and internucleosomal DNA fragmentation. This apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) is blocked by N-benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp.fluoromethylketone (Z-VAD.fmk), an antagonist of interleukin-1 beta-converting enzyme (ICE)-like proteases that is also an efficient inhibitor of apoptosis in cells. We have tested the effect of Bcl-2 on the formation, release, and action of AIF. When preventing mitochondrial permeability transition (which accounts for the pre-apoptotic delta psi m disruption in cells), Bcl-2 hyperexpressed in the outer mitochondrial membrane also impedes the release of AIF from isolated mitochondria in vitro. In contrast, Bcl-2 does not affect the formation of AIF, which is contained in comparable quantities in control mitochondria and in mitochondria from Bcl-2-hyperexpressing cells. Furthermore, the presence of Bcl-2 in the nuclear membrane does not interfere with the action of AIF on the nucleus, nor does Bcl-2 hyperexpression protect cells against AIF. It thus appears that Bcl-2 prevents apoptosis by favoring the retention of an apoptogenic protease in mitochondria.

GLUT4-containing vesicles are released from membranes by phospholipase D cleavage of a GPI anchor

2002 ◽  
Vol 283 (2) ◽  
pp. E374-E382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Søren Kristiansen ◽  
Erik A. Richter
Keyword(s):  
Phospholipase D ◽  
Glucose Transporter ◽  
Glucose Transporter 4 ◽  
Protein Fractionation ◽  
Membrane Structures ◽  
Transporter Protein ◽  
Membrane Compartment ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Triton X

We have previously developed a cell-free assay from rat skeletal muscle that displayed in vitro glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) transfer from large to small membrane structures by the addition of a cytosolic protein fraction. By combining protein fractionation and the in vitro GLUT4 transfer assay, we have purified a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) phospholipase D (PLD) that induces transfer of GLUT4 from small to large membranes. The in vitro GLUT4 transfer was activated and inhibited by suramin and 1,10-phenanthroline (an activator and an inhibitor of GPI-PLD activity, respectively). Furthermore, upon purfication of the GLUT4 transporter protein, the protein displayed an elution profile in which the molecular mass was related to the charge, suggesting the presence or absence of phosphate. Second, by photoaffinity labeling of the purified GLUT4 with 3-(trifluoromethyl)-3-(m-[125I]iodopenyl)diazirine, both labeled phosphatidylethanolamine and fatty acids (constituents of a GPI link) were recovered. Third, by using phase transition of Triton X-114, the purified GLUT4 was found to be partly detergent resistant, which is a known characteristic of GPI-linked proteins. Fourth, the purified GLUT4 protein was recognized by an antibody raised specifically against GPI links. In conclusion, GLUT4-containing vesicles may be released from a membrane compartment by action of a GPI-PLD.

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