A cell surface-associated centrosomal layer of microtubule-organizing material in the inner pillar cell of the mouse cochlea

1992 ◽  
Vol 102 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.B. Tucker ◽  
C.C. Paton ◽  
G.P. Richardson ◽  
M.M. Mogensen ◽  
I.J. Russell

This investigation provides evidence that pericentriolar material is divorced from the immediate vicinities of centrioles and becomes functionally associated with the plasmalemma during the differentiation of a mammalian cell type. Such events occur prior to the assembly of large transcellular microtubule bundles in columnar epithelial cells called inner pillar cells in the mouse organ of Corti. The microtubules do not radiate from a typical centrosome and its centrioles. They elongate from a microtubule-organizing centre (MTOC), which is deployed as a subapical cell surface-associated layer in each cell. Most of the dense material of this layer, and the tops of most of the microtubules, are initially concentrated around the sides of a cell about 1 microns below its apical surface. In addition, a pair of centrioles is located above the layer, which acts as if it is a pericellular concentration of the pericentriolar material of a modified centrosome. Although microtubule nucleation takes place in a centrosome-like region, 13 protofilament fidelity is not exercised. Most of the microtubules have 15 protofilaments. Microtubule assembly progresses in these cells after the organ of Corti has been isolated for in vitro culture. However, large numbers of microtubules elongate from pericentriolar material juxtaposed against the centrioles. Hence, there is some reversion by the centrosomes of cultured cells to the operational configuration regarded as typical for animal tissue cells in general.

1994 ◽  
Vol 107 (2) ◽  
pp. 589-600 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.G. Henderson ◽  
J.B. Tucker ◽  
M.A. Chaplin ◽  
J.B. Mackie ◽  
S.N. Maidment ◽  
...  

Reorganization of centrosomal microtubule-organizing centres and the minus ends of microtubules occurs as the centrosomal ends of large microtubule bundles are repositioned and anchored to cell junctions in certain epithelial cells called inner pillar cells in the mouse organ of Corti. The microtubule bundle that assembles in each cell consists of two distinct microtubule arrays that run closely alongside each other. Both arrays are attached to the cell surface at their upper and lower ends. One of the arrays spans the entire length of a cell but the other is confined to its lower portion. Initially, about 3,000 microtubules elongate downwards from an apically situated centrosome in each cell. Subsequently, the minus ends of these microtubules, and the centrosome and its two centrioles, migrate for about 12 microns to the tip of a laterally directed projection. Then, a meshwork of dense material accumulates to link microtubule minus ends and the centrosome to cell junctions at the tip of the projection. Pericentriolar satellite bodies, which form after the initial burst of microtubule nucleation, may represent a condensed and inactive concentration of microtubule-nucleating elements. Surprisingly, as a cell matures, about 2,000 microtubules are eliminated from the centrosomal end of the microtubule bundle. However, about 2,000 microtubules are added to the basal portion of each bundle at levels that are remote with respect to the location of the centrosome. Possibly, these microtubules have escaped from the centrosome. If this is the case, then both the plus and minus ends of most of the errant microtubules are captured by sites at the cell surface where the ends are finally anchored. Alternatively, each cell possesses at least one other major microtubule-nucleating site (which does not possess centrioles) in addition to its centrosome.


1992 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 138-143
Author(s):  
Maria Carrara ◽  
Lorenzo Cima ◽  
Roberto Cerini ◽  
Maurizio Dalle Carbonare

A method has been developed whereby cosmetic products which are not soluble in water or in alcohol can be brought into contact with cell cultures by being placed in a cell culture insert, which is then placed in the cell culture well. Preliminary experiments were carried out with L929 cells, and cytotoxicity was evaluated by measuring neutral red uptake and the total protein content of treated cultured cells. Encouraging results were obtained in comparisons of three cosmetic emulsions and of one emulsion containing a range of concentrations of two preservatives, Kathon CG and Bronopol.


2002 ◽  
Vol 1 (5) ◽  
pp. 319-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. P. Rols ◽  
M. Golzio ◽  
B. Gabriel ◽  
J. Teissié

Electric field pulses are a new approach for drug and gene delivery for cancer therapy. They induce a localized structural alteration of cell membranes. The associated physical mechanisms are well explained and can be safely controlled. A position dependent modulation of the membrane potential difference is induced when an electric field is applied to a cell. Electric field pulses with an overcritical intensity evoke a local membrane alteration. A free exchange of hydrophilic low molecular weight molecules takes place across the membrane. A leakage of cytosolic metabolites and a loading of polar drugs into the cytoplasm are obtained. The fraction of the cell surface which is competent for exchange is a function of the field intensity. The level of local exchange is strongly controlled by the pulse duration and the number of successive pulses. The permeabilised state is long lived. Its lifetime is under the control of the cumulated pulse duration. Cell viability can be preserved. Gene transfer is obtained but its mechanism is not a free diffusion. Plasmids are electrophoretically accumulated against the permeabilised cell surface and form aggregates due to the field effect. After the pulses, several steps follow: translocation to the cytoplasm, traffic to the nucleus and expression. Molecular structural and metabolic changes in cells remain mostly poorly understood. Nevertheless, while most studies were established on cells in culture ( in vitro), recent experiments show that similar effects are obtained on tissue ( in vivo). Transfer remains controlled by the physical parameters of the electrical treatment.


1998 ◽  
Vol 111 (5) ◽  
pp. 557-572 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Roghi ◽  
R. Giet ◽  
R. Uzbekov ◽  
N. Morin ◽  
I. Chartrain ◽  
...  

By differential screening of a Xenopus laevis egg cDNA library, we have isolated a 2,111 bp cDNA which corresponds to a maternal mRNA specifically deadenylated after fertilisation. This cDNA, called Eg2, encodes a 407 amino acid protein kinase. The pEg2 sequence shows significant identity with members of a new protein kinase sub-family which includes Aurora from Drosophila and Ipl1 (increase in ploidy-1) from budding yeast, enzymes involved in centrosome migration and chromosome segregation, respectively. A single 46 kDa polypeptide, which corresponds to the deduced molecular mass of pEg2, is immunodetected in Xenopus oocyte and egg extracts, as well as in lysates of Xenopus XL2 cultured cells. In XL2 cells, pEg2 is immunodetected only in S, G2 and M phases of the cell cycle, where it always localises to the centrosomal region of the cell. In addition, pEg2 ‘invades’ the microtubules at the poles of the mitotic spindle in metaphase and anaphase. Immunoelectron microscopy experiments show that pEg2 is located precisely around the pericentriolar material in prophase and on the spindle microtubules in anaphase. We also demonstrate that pEg2 binds directly to taxol stabilised microtubules in vitro. In addition, we show that the presence of microtubules during mitosis is not necessary for an association between pEg2 and the centrosome. Finally we show that a catalytically inactive pEg2 kinase stops the assembly of bipolar mitotic spindles in Xenopus egg extracts.


2002 ◽  
Vol 277 (51) ◽  
pp. 49989-49997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gang Xu ◽  
Carlos Arregui ◽  
Jack Lilien ◽  
Janne Balsamo

The nonreceptor tyrosine phosphatase PTP1B associates with the cytoplasmic domain of N-cadherin and may regulate cadherin function through dephosphorylation of β-catenin. We have now identified the domain on N-cadherin to which PTP1B binds and characterized the effect of perturbing this domain on cadherin function. Deletion constructs lacking amino acids 872–891 fail to bind PTP1B. This domain partially overlaps with the β-catenin binding domain. To further define the relationship of these two sites, we used peptides to competein vitrobinding. A peptide representing the most NH2-terminal 8 amino acids of the PTP1B binding site, the region of overlap with the β-catenin target, effectively competes for binding of β-catenin but is much less effective in competing PTP1B, whereas two peptides representing the remaining 12 amino acids have no effect on β-catenin binding but effectively compete for PTP1B binding. Introduction into embryonic chick retina cells of a cell-permeable peptide mimicking the 8 most COOH-terminal amino acids in the PTP1B target domain, the region most distant from the β-catenin target site, prevents binding of PTP1B, increases the pool of free, tyrosine-phosphorylated β-catenin, and results in loss of N-cadherin function. N-cadherin lacking this same region of the PTP1B target site does not associate with PTP1B or β-catenin and is not efficiently expressed at the cell surface of transfected L cells. Thus, interaction of PTP1B with N-cadherin is essential for its association with β-catenin, stable expression at the cell surface, and consequently, cadherin function.


1988 ◽  
Vol 168 (2) ◽  
pp. 687-698 ◽  
Author(s):  
T J Mercolino ◽  
L W Arnold ◽  
L A Hawkins ◽  
G Haughton

We have found that, in the peritoneums of normal adult mice, 5-15% of lymphocytes bind a fluorescent liposome probe. In ontogeny, cells with this specificity were shown to appear by 8 d after birth, and increase to the adult frequency by 2-3 wk. Some older mice contain an expanded population of these cells. We have shown that liposome binding occurs by cell surface IgM recognizing the common membrane phospholipid, phosphatidyl choline (PtC). Virtually all of these PtC-specific cells bear the cell surface marker Ly-1. Our results indicate that roughly 1 in 10 peritoneal Ly-1+ B cells has this single specificity. We have found that the precursors to all the cells that form plaques on protease-treated autologous erythrocytes (BrMRBC) are included in the PtC-specific population and can be isolated by FACS. We believe this is the first report of sorting large numbers of B cells with a single antigen specificity from normal, unimmunized animals. This method will allow for in vitro and in vivo studies of differentiative and proliferative properties of Ly-1+ B cells, which may help define their role in development and disease.


1984 ◽  
Vol 160 (1) ◽  
pp. 341-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
E S Vitetta ◽  
R J Fulton ◽  
J W Uhr

In vitro killing of the human Daudi cell line by either univalent [F(ab')] or divalent (IgG) forms of rabbit anti-human Ig (RAHIg) coupled to ricin A chain can be specifically potentiated by a "piggyback" treatment with ricin B chain coupled to goat anti-rabbit Ig (GARIg). When cells are treated with univalent immunotoxin (IT) [F(ab') RAHIg-A] and then cultured, IT can be detected on the cell surface for at least 5 h, since GARIg-B can still enhance killing at this time. These results provide a strategy for in vivo use of A chain- and B chain-containing IT.


2008 ◽  
Vol 295 (1) ◽  
pp. G16-G26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mubeen Jafri ◽  
Bryan Donnelly ◽  
Steven Allen ◽  
Alex Bondoc ◽  
Monica McNeal ◽  
...  

Inoculation of BALB/c mice with rhesus rotavirus (RRV) in the newborn period results in biliary epithelial cell (cholangiocyte) infection and the murine model of biliary atresia. Rotavirus infection of a cell requires attachment, which is governed in part by cell-surface expression of integrins such as α2β1. We hypothesized that cholangiocytes were susceptible to RRV infection because they express α2β1. RRV attachment and replication was measured in cell lines derived from cholangiocytes and hepatocytes. Flow cytometry was performed on these cell lines to determine whether α2β1 was present. Cholangiocytes were blocked with natural ligands, a monoclonal antibody, or small interfering RNA against the α2-subunit and were infected with RRV. The extrahepatic biliary tract of newborn mice was screened for the expression of the α2β1-integrin. Newborn mice were pretreated with a monoclonal antibody against the α2-subunit and were inoculated with RRV. RRV attached and replicated significantly better in cholangiocytes than in hepatocytes. Cholangiocytes, but not hepatocytes, expressed α2β1 in vitro and in vivo. Blocking assays led to a significant reduction in attachment and yield of virus in RRV-infected cholangiocytes. Pretreatment of newborn pups with an anti-α2 monoclonal antibody reduced the ability of RRV to cause biliary atresia in mice. Cell-surface expression of the α2β1-integrin plays a role in the mechanism that confers cholangiocyte susceptibility to RRV infection.


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