scholarly journals Localization of Native Mms13 to the Magnetosome Chain of Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1 Using Immunogold Electron Microscopy, Immunofluorescence Microscopy and Biochemical Analysis

Crystals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 874
Author(s):  
Zachery Oestreicher ◽  
Carmen Valverde-Tercedor ◽  
Eric Mumper ◽  
Lumarie Pérez-Guzmán ◽  
Nadia N. Casillas-Ituarte ◽  
...  

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) biomineralize intracellular magnetite (Fe3O4) crystals surrounded by a magnetosome membrane (MM). The MM contains membrane-specific proteins that control Fe3O4 mineralization in MTB. Previous studies have demonstrated that Mms13 is a critical protein within the MM. Mms13 can be isolated from the MM fraction of Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1 and a Mms13 homolog, MamC, has been shown to control the size and shape of magnetite nanocrystals synthesized in-vitro. The objective of this study was to use several independent methods to definitively determine the localization of native Mms13 in M. magneticum AMB-1. Using Mms13-immunogold labeling and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), we found that Mms13 is localized to the magnetosome chain of M. magneticum AMB-1 cells. Mms13 was detected in direct contact with magnetite crystals or within the MM. Immunofluorescence detection of Mms13 in M. magneticum AMB-1 cells by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) showed Mms13 localization along the length of the magnetosome chain. Proteins contained within the MM were resolved by SDS-PAGE for Western blot analysis and LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry) protein sequencing. Using Anti-Mms13 antibody, a protein band with a molecular mass of ~14 kDa was detected in the MM fraction only. This polypeptide was digested with trypsin, sequenced by LC-MS/MS and identified as magnetosome protein Mms13. Peptides corresponding to the protein’s putative MM domain and catalytic domain were both identified by LC-MS/MS. Our results (Immunogold TEM, Immunofluorescence CLSM, Western blot, LC-MS/MS), combined with results from previous studies, demonstrate that Mms13 and homolog proteins MamC and Mam12, are localized to the magnetosome chain in MTB belonging to the class Alphaproteobacteria. Because of their shared localization in the MM and highly conserved amino acid sequences, it is likely that MamC, Mam12, and Mms13 share similar roles in the biomineralization of Fe3O4 nanocrystals.

2000 ◽  
Vol 149 (3) ◽  
pp. 623-634 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Hausmann ◽  
Lorraine A. O'Reilly ◽  
Rosemary van Driel ◽  
Jennifer G. Beaumont ◽  
Andreas Strasser ◽  
...  

How Bcl-2 and its pro-survival relatives prevent activation of the caspases that mediate apoptosis is unknown, but they appear to act through the caspase activator apoptosis protease–activating factor 1 (Apaf-1). According to the apoptosome model, the Bcl-2–like proteins preclude Apaf-1 activity by sequestering the protein. To explore Apaf-1 function and to test this model, we generated monoclonal antibodies to Apaf-1 and used them to determine its localization within diverse cells by subcellular fractionation and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Whereas Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL were prominent on organelle membranes, endogenous Apaf-1 was cytosolic and did not colocalize with them, even when these pro-survival proteins were overexpressed or after apoptosis was induced. Immunogold electron microscopy confirmed that Apaf-1 was dispersed in the cytoplasm and not on mitochondria or other organelles. After the death stimuli, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL precluded the release of the Apaf-1 cofactor cytochrome c from mitochondria and the formation of larger Apaf-1 complexes, which are steps that presage apoptosis. However, neither Bcl-2 nor Bcl-xL could prevent the in vitro activation of Apaf-1 induced by the addition of exogenous cytochrome c. Hence, rather than sequestering Apaf-1 as proposed by the apoptosome model, Bcl-2–like proteins probably regulate Apaf-1 indirectly by controlling upstream events critical for its activation.


Coatings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 464
Author(s):  
Simona Liliana Iconaru ◽  
Mihai Valentin Predoi ◽  
Patrick Chapon ◽  
Sofia Gaiaschi ◽  
Krzysztof Rokosz ◽  
...  

In this study, the cerium-doped hydroxyapatite (Ca10−xCex(PO4)6(OH)2 with xCe = 0.1, 10Ce-HAp) coatings obtained by the spin coating method were presented for the first time. The stability of the 10Ce-HAp suspension particles used in the preparation of coatings was evaluated by ultrasonic studies, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The surface morphology of the 10Ce-HAp coating was studied by SEM and atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques. The obtained 10Ce-HAp coatings were uniform and without cracks or unevenness. Glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy (GDOES) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used for the investigation of fine chemical depth profiling. The antifungal properties of the HAp and 10Ce-HAp suspensions and coatings were assessed using Candida albicans ATCC 10231 (C. albicans) fungal strain. The quantitative antifungal assays demonstrated that both 10Ce-HAp suspensions and coatings exhibited strong antifungal properties and that they successfully inhibited the development and adherence of C. albicans fungal cells for all the tested time intervals. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) visualization of the C. albicans fungal cells adherence to the 10Ce-HAp surface also demonstrated their strong inhibitory effects. In addition, the qualitative assays also suggested that the 10Ce-HAp coatings successfully stopped the biofilm formation.


2016 ◽  
Vol 186 ◽  
pp. 45-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Radhika Poojari ◽  
Rohit Srivastava ◽  
Dulal Panda

Polymeric nanoassemblies represent an attractive strategy for efficient cellular internalization of microtubule targeted anticancer drugs. Using dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, the physical properties and surface morphology of microtubule-binding PEGylated PLGA assembled nanospheres (100–200 nm) were analyzed. The present approach leads to strong internalization as observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy and transmission electron microscopy in hepatocarcinoma cells. The effect of these nanoassemblies on microtubules and mitosis were explored using immunofluorescence microscopy. The effects of these nanoassemblies on cancer cell proliferation and cell death revealed their antitumor enhancing effects. Perturbation of the microtubule assembly, mitosis and nuclear modulations potentiated the antineoplastic effects delivered via nanospheres in hepatocarcinoma cells. The extensive biomolecular and physical characterizations of the synthesized nanoassemblies will help to design potent therapeutic materials and the present approach can be applied to deliver microtubule-targeted drugs for liver cancer therapy.


2000 ◽  
Vol 348 (1) ◽  
pp. 183-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank DOMBROWSKI ◽  
Ralf KUBITZ ◽  
Anila CHITTATTU ◽  
Matthias WETTSTEIN ◽  
Nirmalendu SAHA ◽  
...  

Immunohistochemical studies suggest that canalicular secretion via multidrug resistance protein 2 (Mrp2), a conjugate export pump encoded by the Mrp2 gene, is regulated by rapid transporter retrieval from/insertion into the canalicular membrane. The present study was undertaken in order to investigate this suggestion by means of immunogold electron microscopy. Therefore the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and osmolarity on Mrp2 localization were studied following immunogold labelling in the perfused rat liver by quantitative electron microscopy and morphometric analyses, and by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Mrp2 activity was assessed in the isolated perfused rat liver by measuring the excretion of dinitrophenyl-S-glutathione as a substrate of Mrp2. Both LPS and hyperosmolarity resulted in a statistically significant decrease in immunogold-labelled Mrp2 in the canalicular membrane and canalicular villi, and an increase in labelling in the pericanalicular cytoplasm. Canalicular morphometric parameters were unchanged under these conditions compared with controls. Under hyperosmolar perfusion Mrp2, but not the canalicular protein dipeptidylpeptidase IV, was found inside the cells, as shown by double immunofluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The findings suggest a selective retrieval of Mrp2 from the canalicular membrane under the influence of hyperosmolarity and LPS, whereas canalicular morphology remains unchanged.


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