Models for contact-mediated pattern formation: cells that form parallel arrays

Kinetic continuum models are derived for cells that crawl over a 2D substrate, undergo random reorientation, and turn in response to contact with a neighbor. The integro-partial differential equations account for changes in the distribution of orientations in the population. It is found that behavior depends on parameters such as total mass, random motility, adherence, and sloughing rates, as well as on broad aspects of the contact response. Linear stability analysis, and numerical, and cellular automata simulations reveal that as parameters are varied, a bifurcation leads to loss of stability of a uniform (isotropic) steady state, in favor of an (anisotropic) patterned state in which cells are aligned in parallel arrays.     

A newly established human acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line with characteristics of the earliest B-cell maturation

A new human acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cell line, designated HBL-3, was established from the bone marrow of a patient with non-T-ALL. The HBL-3 cell line expressed B4 (CD 19), BA-1 (CD 24) and HLA-DR antigens, but not surface immunoglobulin (SIg) or cytoplasmic immunoglobulin (CIg). The cell line lacked the common acute lymphoblastic leukemia antigen (CALLA) and antigenic markers characteristic of T-cell and myeloid cell lineages. The HBL-3 cells had structural rearrangements of both the homologous chromosome 9s, including a translocation with chromosome 1 which has been reported in a patient with common ALL. The cell line had rearranged immunoglobulin heavy chain genes but retained germ-line κ light chain genes and germ-line T-cell receptorβ- and γ-chain genes. The HBL-3 cell line was strongly positive for terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT). These findings indicate that the HBL-3 cell line is derived from the earliest B-cell committed to B-cell lineage.     

Chromosomes and their relationship to nuclear components during the cell cycle in Chinese hamster cells

Summary Chromosomes and their relationship to nuclear components during various phases of the cell cycle were studied with different fixation, embedding, and enzyme techniques. The results showed that interphase chromosomes may have oriented in such a way that a given locus became associated with the nuclear membrane. Some chromosomes also appeared to interact with the nucleolus. The nuclear matrix materials, however, were distributed between the chromosomes and formed a delineating boundary for the chromosomes. These matrix materials, furthermore, formed channel-like structures within the nucleus and towards the cytoplasm through their interaction with nuclear pore complexes. During mitosis, chromosomes were encapsulated with material that appeared to be derived from the matrix, disintegrated residues and fragments of the nuclear envelope, the lamina, and nucleolar material. These chromosome-associated materials seen in mitosis appeared to serve as foci for formation of new nuclear components in subsequent interphase.     

Role of cell-cycle in regulating neuroepithelial cell shape during bending of the chick neural plate

Summary Neuroepithelial cells transform from spindle-shaped to wedge-shaped within the median and paired dorsolateral hinge points of the bending neural plate, but the mechanisms underlying these localized changes are unclear. This study was designed to evaluate further the hypothesis that localized wedging of neuroepithelial cells during bending involves basal cellular expansion resulting from alteration of the cell-cycle. Neurulating chick embryos were treated with tritiated thymidine, and transverse sections through the midbrain were examined autoradiographically. Parameters of the cell-cycle as well as nuclear position and size were assessed in the median hinge point, which contains predominantly wedge-shaped cells, and in adjacent lateral areas of the neural plate, which contain predominantly spindle-shaped cells. Both the DNA-synthetic phase and non-DNA synthetic portion of the cell-cycle were significantly longer in the median hinge point than in lateral neuroepithelial areas, some nuclei in both regions were located basally during these phases, and virtually all basal nuclei in the median hinge point were large. Additionally, the mitotic phase was significantly shorter in the median hinge point than in lateral areas. We present a model to explain how alteration of the cell-cycle in the median hinge point could generate wedging of cells in this region.     

The arthropod gap junction and pseudo-gap junction: Isolation and preliminary biochemical analysis

Summary The hepatopancreas of the crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, contains an unusual abundance of gap junctions, suggesting that this tissue might provide an ideal source from which to isolate the arthropod-type of gap junction. A membrane fraction obtained by subcellular fractionation of this organ contained smooth septate junctions, zonulae adhaerentes, gap junctions and pentalaminar membrane structures (pseudo-gap junctions) as determined by electron microscopy. A further enrichment of plasma membranes and gap junctions was achieved by the use of linear sucrose gradients and extraction with 5 mM NaOH. The enrichment of gap junctions correlated with the enrichment of a 31 Kd protein band on polyacrylamide gels. Extraction with 20 mM NaOH or 0.5% (w/v) Sarkosyl NL97 resulted in the disruption and/or solubilization of gap junctions. Negative staining revealed a uniform population of 9.6 nm diameter subunits within the gap junctions with an apparent sixfold symmetry. Using antisera to the major gap junctional protein of rat liver (32 Kd) and to the lens membrane protein (MP 26), we failed to detect any homologous antigenic components in the arthropod material by immunoblotting-enriched gap junction fractions or by immunofluorescence on tissue sections. The enrichment of another membrane structure (pseudo-gap junctions), closely resembling a gap junction, correlated with the enrichment of two protein bands, 17 and 16Kd, on polyacrylamide gels. These structures appeared to have originated from intracellular myelin-like figures in phagolysosomal structures. They could be distinguished from gap junctions on the basis of their thickness, detergent-alkali insolubility, and lack of association with other plasma membrane structures, such as the septate junction. Pseudo-gap junctions may be related to a class of pentalaminar contacts among membranes involved in intracellular fusion in many eukaryotic cell types. We conclude that pseudo-gap junctions and gap junctions are different cellular structures, and that gap junctions from this arthropod tissue are uniquely different from mammalian gap junctions of rat liver in their detergentalkali solubility, equilibrium density on sucrose gradients, and protein content (antigenic properties).     

Localized insertion of new S-layer during growth of Bacillus stearothermophilus strains

Bacillus stearothermophilus strains PV 72 and ATCC 12980 carry a crystalline surface layer (S-layer) with hexagonal (p6) and oblique (p2) symmetry, respectively. Sites of insertions of new subunits into the regular lattice during cell growth have been determined by the indirect fluorescent antibody technique and the protein A/colloidal gold technique.During S-layer growth on both bacillus strains the following common features were noted: 1. shedding of intact S-layer or turnover of individual subunits was not seen; 2. new S-layer was deposited in helically-arranged bands over the cylindrical surface of the cell at a pitch angle related to the orientation of the lattice vectors of the crystalline array; 3. little or no S-layer was inserted into pre-existing S-layer at the poles, and 4. septal regions and, subsequently, newly formed cell poles were covered with new S-layer protein.     

Flow cytometric screening and isolation of Escherichia coli clones which express surface antigens of the oil-degrading microorganism Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RAG-1

Flow cytometry (FCM) in conjunction with immunocytochemical-labeling was used to analyze and screen a population of Escherichia coli clones containing a genomic library from the oil-degrading microorganism Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RAG-1 for the isolation of clones which expressed specific RAG-1 surface antigens. Reconstruction experiments using mixed populations indicated that RAG-1 cells could be clearly distinguished at a ratio of one RAG-1 cell to 500 Escherichia coli cells. Using this technique two clones, WM143 and WM191, were isolated and shown by restriction endonuclease cleavage and Southern hybridization to contain plasmids carrying inserts of RAG-1 DNA of 9.4 and 9.8 kb respectively.Non-common abbreviations FCM flow cytometry - FITC fluorescein-iso-thiocyanate - LB Luria broth - MM minimal salt medium - PBS phosphate buffered saline - PMSF phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride     

Further studies on the biological characteristics of an endogenous colon mitosis inhibitor: Comparison with some structurally related peptides

Previous work indicates that the colonic epithelial cell proliferation in mice is reversibly inhibited by the tripeptide pGlu-His-GlyOH found in aqueous extracts of the intestine. In the present study we examined the possible tissue specificity of the colon mitosis inhibitor. The mitotic rate in the small intestine, epidermis and forestomach in mice was registered after a single i.p. injection of the tripeptide. A significantly reduced rate of cell renewal was found at 18 h in the epidermis whereas no inhibition was observed in the forestomach or ileal epithelium. To investigate whether the amino acid sequence of the tripeptide is essential for the inhibitory effect, three structurally related bioactive peptides were tested and compared to the effect of CMI. CMI showed a bell-shaped dose-response relationship as previously shown, whereas the mitotic rate was not reduced in the colonie epithelium after treatment with either an epidermal mitosis inhibitory pentapeptide, or the dipeptide pGlu-GlyOH, or an analogue of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone. The efficacy of the tripeptide was dependent on the basal rate of cell renewal in the colonie epithelium. When the tripeptide was given at the circadian nadir of cell proliferation a delayed reduction of the proliferative activity was observed at 6 h after treatment, whereas treatment when the rate of cell proliferation was at its circadian zenith gave an immediate mitotic inhibition.     

Partitioning of gonococcal LPS into phenol and water: Different LPS composition of in vivo and in vitro selected variants

Abstract Depending on the culture conditions, Pyrodictium occultum cells revealed two different types of fibers with significant differences in their width in the electron microscope. During growth on elemental sulfur preferentially fibres with a diameter of about 23 nm (type I) were produced. When elemental sulfur was substituted by thiosulfate fibers with a diameter of around 15 nm (type II), were the main appendages. Both types form hollow cylinders consisting of helically arranged sub-units with a wall thickness of 2–3 nm. A triple- layered unit membrane could not be found.