Drosophila female germline stem cells undergo mitosis without nuclear breakdown

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Visualization of collagenase-sensitive acetylcholinesterase in isolated cardiomyocytes and in heart tissue

Summary Previous studies have indicated that the asymmetric form of acetylcholinesterase (collagen-tailed) is localized in the basal lamina of the neuromuscular junction of skeletal muscle. The present study shows localization of the asymmetric acetylcholinesterase in the heart of the rat. Antiserum to 14+18 S acetylcholinesterase of the electric eel was raised in rabbits. The purified antibody did not react with collagen type I or laminin. Collagenase reduced the immunoreactivity of the enzyme with the purified antibody. Isolated cardiomyocytes and frozen sections of the heart were stained for acetylcholinesterase with the antibody. Diffuse immunofluorescence appeared over the surface of the cardiomyocytes. In the frozen sections, the immunofluorescence was most intense at the cell boundaries. These data suggest that collagenase-sensitive acetylcholinesterase in the heart is present in the myocytes and occurs in the vicinity of the basal lamina.Abbreviations AChE acetylcholinesterase - BSA bovine serum albumin - PBS phosphate-buffered saline - DME Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium     

The Nuclear Envelope of Amoeba proteus During Mitosis as Studied With a Monoclonal Antibody Against a Membrane-Associated Protein

. The behavior of nuclear envelopes during mitosis in Amoeba proteus was studied by means of indirect immunofluo-rescence staining using a monoclonal antibody against a 220-kD membrane-associated protein of amoebae in conjunction with DAPI staining of chromatin. The antibody selectively recognized antigens on nuclear envelopes during interphase but did not react with the nuclear membranes during mitosis until after cytokinesis had been completed. Thus, it appeared that the membrane-associated protein reacting with the monoclonal antibody and normally present on the nuclear membranes was absent from fragmented nuclear membranes or nuclear membranes that were continuous but did not have the honey-comb lamina. The findings suggested that the 220-kD nuclear-membrane protein may be involved in the dissolution and reformation of the honey-comb lamina during mitosis in amoebae.     

Transient expression of bile-duct-specific cytokeratin in fetal mouse hepatocytes

The differentiation of hepatocytes and biliary epithelial cells has been histochemically analyzed with anti-calf cytokeratin antiserum in the fetal mouse liver. Almost all young fetal hepatocytes transiently express bile-duct-specific cytokeratin; subsequently, the strong staining of the cytokeratin is confined to progenitor cells of intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells around portal veins. These results suggest that all fetal hepatocytes are bi-potent in terms of the differentiation of mature hepatocytes and intrahepatic bile-duct cells, and that the microenvironment around portal veins plays an important role in bile-duct differentiation. Large periportal hepatocytes continue to stain weakly for cytokeratin until 2 weeks after birth, although the number of positive hepatocytes decreases with development. The differentiation of bile ducts from periportal hepatocytes may continue for 2 weeks after birth.     

Towards and understanding of nuclear morphogenesis

In the age of “virtual reality,” the imperfect microscopic silhouettes of cells and organelles are gradually being replaced by calligraphic computer drawings. In this context, textbooks and introductory slides often depict the cell nucleus as a smooth-shaped, featureless object. However, in reality, the nuclei of different cells possess distinct sizes and morphological features which develop in a programmed fashion as each cell differentiates. To dissect this complex morphogenetic process, we need to identify the basic elements that determine nuclear architecture and the regulatory factors involved. Recently, clues about the identity of these components have been obtained both by systematic analysis and by serendipity. This review summarizes a few recent findings and ideas that may serve as a first forum for future discussions and, I hope, for further work on this topic. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

核纤层蛋白B1通过影响端粒酶活性调控肝癌细胞生长

核纤层蛋白B1(nuclear lamina protein B1,LMNB1)高表达于肝癌组织中,通过敲低LMNB1探讨其对肝癌细胞增殖的影响及其机制。利用siRNA在肝癌细胞中敲低LMNB1,Western blotting检测敲低效果,使用端粒重复序列扩增法(telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay,TRAP)检测其端粒酶活性变化。利用实时定量聚合酶链反应(quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction,qPCR)检测其端粒长度变化。并通过CCK-8、克隆形成、Transwell、划痕实验检测其生长,侵袭和迁移能力变化。利用慢病毒系统构建稳定敲低LMNB1的HepG2细胞,检测其端粒长度及端粒酶活性变化,采用SA-β-gal衰老染色检测细胞衰老情况,通过裸鼠皮下成瘤实验及对肿瘤后续的组化染色,SA-β-gal衰老染色,端粒荧光原位杂交(fluorescence in situ hybridization,FISH)检测其对成瘤性的影响。最后利用生物信息分析的方法寻找LMNB1在临床肝癌组织中的表达情况,及其与临床分期、病人生存期的关系。HepG2和Hep3B中敲低LMNB1后端粒酶活性显著降低,细胞增殖、迁移和侵袭能力显著降低,细胞和裸鼠成瘤实验证明稳定敲低LMNB1后端粒酶活性降低的同时端粒长度缩短,细胞发生衰老,此外细胞成瘤性降低,Ki-67表达降低,生物信息分析结果显示,LMNB1高表达于肝癌组织,且与肿瘤分期和患者生存相关。LMNB1在肝癌细胞中过表达,其有望成为评估肝癌患者临床预后的指标和精准治疗的靶点。     

Disruption of microfilaments alters laminin synthesis but not laminin trafficking in NHEKin vitro

Summary Laminin synthesis and deposition are concomitant with the development of a basal lamina between the human epidermis and the underlying dermis. One of the challenges in tissue engineering of human epidermal models is to develop substrates and conditions that encourage the development of a basement membrane. The purpose of this study was to determine if actin filaments and/or microtubules are involved in the synthesis/secretion of laminin by normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK)in vitro. NHEK synthesize and secrete laminin subunits B1, B2, and M but little, if any, of laminin subunit A. Data indicate that disruption of microfilaments by the destabilizing agent, cytochalasin D, had no apparent effect on the relative synthesis rates of most cytosolic proteins as, revealed by one-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) gel electrophoresis. This drug, however, increased laminin B2 synthesis several fold over untreated controls. This enhanced synthetic rate was independent of the type of collagen, matrix on which the NHEK were grown. Similar increases in synthesis of the M and B1 laminin chains were not observed. To determine if this increase in synthesis lead to increases in laminin B2 secretion, laminin B2 was immunoprecipitated from both the apical and basal domains of NHEK cells grown on microporous membranes. While more laminin B1, B2, and M were secreted basally than apically, an observation consistent with laminin’s role in basal lamina formation, cytochalasin D had no apparent effect on either basal or apical laminin B2 secretion. Experiments with the microtubule destabilizer, nocodazole, showed no similar effects on laminin synthesis and/or secretion. We conclude that (a) disruption of the actin network in NHEK selectively increases the synthesis of laminin B2, (b) the secretion of laminin B2 from NHEK cells is not governed by either the microfilamentous cytoskeleton or the amount of laminin synthesized by NHEK, and (c) disruption of the microtubular network does not alter laminin synthesis or secretion.     

Brassinosteroid-induced rice lamina joint inclination and its relation to indole-3-acetic acid and ethylene

Brassinosteroid (BR)-induced rice (Oriza sativa L.) lamina joint (RLJ) inclination and its relationship to indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and ethylene were investigated using BR isolated from beeswax. The effect of BR on RLJ inclination was time- and concentration-dependent. Etiolated lamina were more sensitive to BR than green lamina. The BR-induced inclination was accompanied by increased lamina fresh weight, total water content, free-water content, proton extrusion and ethylene production, and decreased bound-water content. Lamina dry weight was not changed. The inclination was due to greater expansion of the adaxial cells relative to the dorsal cells in the lamina joint. This response was caused by BR and/or BR-induced signal(s) that were transported from the leaf sheath to the leaf blade. Both BR-induced RLJ inclination and ethylene production were inhibited by cobalt chloride (CoCl₂), an inhibitor of ACC oxidase. BR-induced inclination was much higher than that of IAA, and was inhibited by high concentration of 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA), an inhibitor of IAA transport. A synergistic effect was observed between BR and IAA. These results suggest that the effects of BR on RLJ inclination and pulvinus cell expansion may be resulted from BR-increased water potential and proton extrusion in the lamina. The BR-induced RLJ inclination may involve the action of ethylene but may be independent of IAA.Abbreviations BR brassinolide or brassinosteroid(s) - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - TIBA 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid - RLJ rice lamina joint     

Removal of insect basal laminae using elastase

We have used the enzyme elastase to remove the basal lamina of epithelia from two insects: the upper Malpighian tubules of Rhodnius prolixus and imaginai discs of Drosophila melanogaster. Removal of the basal lamina was confirmed using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Use of the technique on the Malphighian tubules of Rhodnius reveals for the first time the three-dimensional organization of the circumferential folds of the basal plasma membrane. Elastase is much more effective in removing the basal lamina than are the enzymes hyaluronidase, collagenase, and chymotrypsin, either alone or in combination. Following elastase treatment, cells of the Malpighian tubules dissociate with only mild mechanical agitation into single, viable cells. Treatment with elastase removes the basal laminae of imaginai discs of Drosophila and accelerates evagination as has been previously described for trypsin. To obtain single cell preparations from elastase-treated imaginai discs, mechanical stirring in Ringer low in Ca²⁺ was required. In addition to its usefulness in cell isolation, elastase treatment allows examination of the effect of removal of basal laminae on the physiology and development of insect epithelia.