scholarly journals Elucidating nuclear size control in the Xenopus model system

2018 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Predrag Jevtic ◽  
Daniel Levy
Keyword(s):  
Functional Significance ◽  
Evolutionary Relationship ◽  
Size Control ◽  
Model System ◽  
Nuclear Size ◽  
Nuclear Lamins ◽  
Egg Extracts ◽  
Cellular Feature

Background. Nuclear size is a tightly regulated cellular feature. Mechanisms that regulate nuclear size and the functional significance of this regulation are largely unknown. Nuclear size and morphology are often altered in many diseases, such as cancer. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms that regulate nuclear size is crucial to provide insight into the role of nuclear size in disease. Scope and Approach. The goal of this review is to summarize the most recent studies about the mechanisms and functional significance of nuclear size control using the Xenopus model system. First, this review describes how Xenopus egg extracts, embryos, and embryo extracts are prepared and used in scientific research. Next, the review focuses on the mechanisms and functional effects of proper nuclear size control that have been learned using the Xenopus system. Key Findings and Conclusions. Xenopus is an excellent in vivo and in vitro experimental platform to study mechanisms of nuclear size control. Given its close evolutionary relationship with mammals and that most cellular processes and pathways are highly conserved between Xenopus and humans, the Xenopus system has been a valuable tool to advance biomedical research. Some of the mechanisms that regulate nuclear size include components of nuclear import such as importin ? and NTF2, nuclear lamins, nucleoporins, proteins that regulate the morphology of the endoplasmic reticulum, and cytoskeletal elements.

scholarly journals Cytoplasmic volume and limiting nucleoplasmin scale nuclear size during Xenopus laevis development

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pan Chen ◽  
Miroslav Tomschik ◽  
Katherine Nelson ◽  
John Oakey ◽  
J. C. Gatlin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Xenopus Laevis ◽  
Size Control ◽  
Scaling Factor ◽  
Nuclear Size ◽  
Developmental Mechanism ◽  
Size Scaling ◽  
Biochemical Fractionation ◽  
Nuclear Histone

SUMMARYHow nuclear size is regulated relative to cell size is a fundamental cell biological question. Reductions in both cell and nuclear sizes during Xenopus laevis embryogenesis provide a robust scaling system to study mechanisms of nuclear size regulation. To test if the volume of embryonic cytoplasm is limiting for nuclear growth, we encapsulated gastrula stage embryonic cytoplasm and nuclei in droplets of defined volume using microfluidics. Nuclei grew and reached new steady-state sizes as a function of cytoplasmic volume, supporting a limiting component mechanism of nuclear size control. Through biochemical fractionation, we identified the histone chaperone nucleoplasmin (Npm2) as a putative nuclear size-scaling factor. Cellular amounts of Npm2 decrease over development, and nuclear size was sensitive to Npm2 levels both in vitro and in vivo, affecting nuclear histone levels and chromatin organization. Thus, reductions in cell volume with concomitant decreases in Npm2 amounts represent a developmental mechanism of nuclear size-scaling that may also be relevant to cancers with increased nuclear size.

scholarly journals Nucleoplasmin is a limiting component in the scaling of nuclear size with cytoplasmic volume

2019 ◽  
Vol 218 (12) ◽  
pp. 4063-4078 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pan Chen ◽  
Miroslav Tomschik ◽  
Katherine M. Nelson ◽  
John Oakey ◽  
Jesse C. Gatlin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Xenopus Laevis ◽  
Cell Volume ◽  
Size Control ◽  
Nuclear Size ◽  
Gastrula Stage ◽  
Biochemical Fractionation ◽  
Nuclear Histone

How nuclear size is regulated relative to cell size is a fundamental cell biological question. Reductions in both cell and nuclear sizes during Xenopus laevis embryogenesis provide a robust scaling system to study mechanisms of nuclear size regulation. To test if the volume of embryonic cytoplasm is limiting for nuclear growth, we encapsulated gastrula-stage embryonic cytoplasm and nuclei in droplets of defined volume using microfluidics. Nuclei grew and reached new steady-state sizes as a function of cytoplasmic volume, supporting a limiting component mechanism of nuclear size control. Through biochemical fractionation, we identified the histone chaperone nucleoplasmin (Npm2) as a putative nuclear size effector. Cellular amounts of Npm2 decrease over development, and nuclear size was sensitive to Npm2 levels both in vitro and in vivo, affecting nuclear histone levels and chromatin organization. We propose that reductions in cell volume and the amounts of limiting components, such as Npm2, contribute to developmental nuclear size scaling.

scholarly journals Exposure of ichnovirus particles to digitonin leads to enhanced infectivity and induces fusion from without in an in vitro model system

2007 ◽  
Vol 88 (11) ◽  
pp. 2977-2984 ◽  
Author(s):  
Don Stoltz ◽  
Renée Lapointe ◽  
Andrea Makkay ◽  
Michel Cusson
Keyword(s):  
Outer Membrane ◽  
In Vitro Model ◽  
Model System ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Fusion Event ◽  
Susceptible Host ◽  
In Vitro Model System ◽  
Vitro Model

Unlike most viruses, the mature ichnovirus particle possesses two unit membrane envelopes. Following loss of the outer membrane in vivo, nucleocapsids are believed to gain entry into the cytosol via a membrane fusion event involving the inner membrane and the plasma membrane of susceptible host cells; accordingly, experimentally induced damage to the outer membrane might be expected to increase infectivity. Here, in an attempt to develop an in vitro model system for studying ichnovirus infection, we show that digitonin-induced disruption of the virion outer membrane not only increases infectivity, but also uncovers an activity not previously associated with any polydnavirus: fusion from without.

TMOD-09. CREATION OF A P53-INDEPENDENT IN VITRO AND IN VIVO MODEL SYSTEM FOR THE STUDY OF H3.1K27M DIPG

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_6) ◽  
pp. vi217-vi217
Author(s):  
Joseph Lagas ◽  
Lihua Yang ◽  
Oren Becher ◽  
Joshua Rubin
Keyword(s):  
Sex Difference ◽  
High Grade Glioma ◽  
Model System ◽  
In Vivo Model ◽  
Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cells ◽  
Cell Of Origin ◽  
Founder Mutations ◽  
Transgenic Mouse Line

Abstract Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) is a devastating pediatric high-grade glioma that occurs in the brainstem with a median survival of less than 1 year. A greater understanding of the early tumorigenic events is essential for the development of effective therapeutics. DIPG is characterized by founder mutations in histone H3, either H3.1K27M or H3.3K27M. These mutations cause global hypomethylation, resulting in aberrant gene expression. It is unknown how this mechanism contributes to tumorigenesis. Interestingly, H3.1K27M DIPG show an increased incidence in females, whereas H3.3K27M DIPG shows no sex difference. This illustrates that the tumorigenic potential of H3.1K27M may be different between the sexes. Few models of DIPG incorporate the study of H3.1K27M despite the fact that it represents a unique opportunity to obtain valuable information on the tumorigenesis of DIPG through the study of the sex difference. Thus, we have created an in vitro and in vivo model system for H3.1K27M DIPG utilizing the RCAS mouse model system. This system utilizes RCAS vectors and a RCAS-ntva transgenic mouse line to deliver specific mutations to nestin expressing cells in the brainstem, including oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs), the predicted cell of origin. Delivering H3.1K27M, ACVR1 R206H, and PDGFaa at postnatal day 7 produces DIPG-like tumors in vivo, confirmed by H and E staining, between 60 – 110 days post injection. Additionally, confirmed through immunofluorescence staining, we can isolate a pure population of OPCs via immunopanning and infect them with RCAS vectors in vitro to produce stable expression of H3.1K27M. Introduction of H3.1K27M alone into male and female OPC cultures provides an opportunity to compare the early tumorigenic effects of H3.1K27M between the sexes in vitro. These results demonstrate that we have created an in vitro and in vivo H3.1K27M DIPG model system for the study of sex differences and tumorigenesis in DIPG.

F-actin serves as a template for cytokeratin organization in cell free extracts

2002 ◽  
Vol 115 (7) ◽  
pp. 1373-1382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kari L. Weber ◽  
William M. Bement
Keyword(s):  
Time Course ◽  
Early Time ◽  
Dynamic Imaging ◽  
Actin Network ◽  
Intact Cells ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Egg Extracts ◽  
Actin Cables

The microtubule, F-actin, and intermediate filament systems are often studied as isolated systems, yet the three display mutual interdependence in living cells. To overcome limitations inherent in analysis of polymer-polymer interactions in intact cells, associations between these systems were assessed in Xenopus egg extracts. In both fixed and unfixed extract preparations, cytokeratin associated with F-actin cables that spontaneously assembled in the extracts. Time-course experiments revealed that at early time points cytokeratin cables were invariably associated with F-actin cables,while at later time points they could be found without associated F-actin. In extract samples where F-actin assembly was prevented, cytokeratin formed unorganized aggregates rather than cables. Dynamic imaging revealed transport of cytokeratin by moving F-actin as well as examples of cytokeratin release from F-actin. Experimental alteration of F-actin network organization by addition of α-actinin resulted in a corresponding change in the organization of the cytokeratin network. Finally, pharmacological disruption of the F-actin network in intact, activated eggs disrupted the normal pattern of cytokeratin assembly. These results provide direct evidence for an association between F-actin and cytokeratin in vitro and in vivo, and indicate that this interaction is necessary for proper cytokeratin assembly after transition into the first mitotic interphase of Xenopus.

Methylation and expression of the Myo D1 determination gene

1990 ◽  
Vol 326 (1235) ◽  
pp. 277-284 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
De Novo ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Model System ◽  
Parental Line ◽  
Molecular Control ◽  
Embryo Cells ◽  
End Stage ◽  
Derivatives Of

Mouse embryo cells induced to differentiate with the demethylating agent 5- azacytidine represent an excellent model system to investigate the molecular control of development. Clonal derivatives of 10T1/2 cells that have become determined to the myogenic or adipogenic lineages can be isolated from the multipotential parental line after drug treatment. These determined derivatives can be cultured indefinitely and will differentiate into end-stage phenotypes on appropriate stimulation. A gene called Myo D1, recently isolated from such a myoblast line, will confer myogenesis when expressed in 10T1/2 or other cell types (Davis et al. 1987). The cDNA for Myo D1 contains a large number of CpG sequences and the gene is relatively methylated in 10T1/2 cells and an adipocyte derivative, but is demethylated in myogenic derivatives. Myo D1 may therefore be subject to methylation control in vitro . On the other hand, preliminary observations suggest that Myo D1 is not methylated at CCGG sites in vivo so that a de novo methylation event may have occurred in vitro . These observations may have significance in the establishment of immortal cell lines and tumours.

Functional significance of the dorsal respiratory group in adult and newborn rats: in vivo and in vitro studies

1990 ◽  
Vol 111 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 133-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Hilaire ◽  
R. Monteau ◽  
P. Gauthier ◽  
P. Rega ◽  
D. Morin
Keyword(s):  
Functional Significance ◽  
In Vitro Studies ◽  
Newborn Rats ◽  
Dorsal Respiratory Group

scholarly journals Stepwise Reconstitution of Interphase Microtubule Dynamics in Permeabilized Cells and Comparison to Dynamic Mechanisms in Intact Cells

1998 ◽  
Vol 142 (6) ◽  
pp. 1519-1532 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasmina Saoudi ◽  
Rati Fotedar ◽  
Ariane Abrieu ◽  
Marcel Dorée ◽  
Jürgen Wehland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Model System ◽  
Microtubule Dynamics ◽  
In Vitro Assays ◽  
Microtubule Depolymerization ◽  
Dynamic Activity ◽  
Intact Cells ◽  
Permeabilized Cells ◽  
Cell Extracts

Microtubules in permeabilized cells are devoid of dynamic activity and are insensitive to depolymerizing drugs such as nocodazole. Using this model system we have established conditions for stepwise reconstitution of microtubule dynamics in permeabilized interphase cells when supplemented with various cell extracts. When permeabilized cells are supplemented with mammalian cell extracts in the presence of protein phosphatase inhibitors, microtubules become sensitive to nocodazole. Depolymerization induced by nocodazole proceeds from microtubule plus ends, whereas microtubule minus ends remain inactive. Such nocodazole-sensitive microtubules do not exhibit subunit turnover. By contrast, when permeabilized cells are supplemented with Xenopus egg extracts, microtubules actively turn over. This involves continuous creation of free microtubule minus ends through microtubule fragmentation. Newly created minus ends apparently serve as sites of microtubule depolymerization, while net microtubule polymerization occurs at microtubule plus ends. We provide evidence that similar microtubule fragmentation and minus end–directed disassembly occur at the whole-cell level in intact cells. These data suggest that microtubule dynamics resembling dynamics observed in vivo can be reconstituted in permeabilized cells. This model system should provide means for in vitro assays to identify molecules important in regulating microtubule dynamics. Furthermore, our data support recent work suggesting that microtubule treadmilling is an important mechanism of microtubule turnover.

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