Hydrodynamics of cytoplasmic streaming and the cytoskeletal tubulin component in cells of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Elodea densa</Emphasis> internodes

A spin-echo NMR method was applied to study hydrodynamic parameters of cytoplasmic streaming and to examine translational diffusion of cytoplasmic water in stems of elodea (Elodea densa (Planch.) Casp.) treated with antimitotic drugs. Within the first few hours after colchicine treatment, the dynamics of translational displacement followed the curve with a transient maximum. The action of vinblastine was manifested in a monotonic decrease of the translational diffusion. After 24-h treatments with colchicine and vinblastine, the translational diffusion was slowed down. All these changes induced by antimitotic drugs were observed on the background of unaltered rate of cytoplasmic streaming.     

The influence of cytoplasmic sodium concentration on the stoichiometry of the sodium pump

Using inside-out vesicles of human red cell membranes, the effects of cytoplasmic Na+ in the range 0-5 mM on ATP-dependent 22Na+ influx (normal efflux) and 86Rb+ efflux (normal influx) were tested. The sodium pump stoichiometry, i.e. the ratio of net 22Na+ influx:86Rb+ efflux was reduced markedly when the cytoplasmic Na+ was reduced to less than 1 mM. Reduction in cytoplasmic Na+ concentration was associated also with a decreased sensitivity of the pump to effects of extracellular Rb+. Thus, extracellular (intravesicular) Rb+ stimulation observed at high ATP concentration and inhibition observed at low ATP concentration were not observed when the cytoplasmic (extravesicular) Na+ concentration was reduced to less than or equal to 0.2 mM. It is suggested that at low cytoplasmic Na+, the pump can operate with less than maximal sites filled with Na+ ions. Under this condition, it is likely that an enzymic step associated with either the ion translocation step or the enzyme's conformational transition becomes rate-limiting.     

Protein kinase C activities are increased in rat thyroid epithelial cells expressing v-ras genes

Both cytoplasmic and membrane-bound protein kinase C activities are increased in: Harvey-Sarcoma Virus, infected thyroid epithelial cells. The cytoplasmic kinase C increase is found in the chromatographic fraction eluted at lower salt concentration (100 mM NaCl-S100), while the more acidic protein fraction eluted at higher salt concentration (35 mM NaCl-S350) is virtually absent. Although the cytoplasmic S100 fraction from the control and ras-virus infected cells display a comparable PBt2 binding activity, they are different in the Ca+2-dependence and the TPA down regulation. In addition, the membranes from the control and ras-virus infected cells are different phosphate acceptors in place of the H1 histones.     

Cytoplasmic streaming and ionic regulation inNitella flexilis having artificial cell saps of low ionic strength

The cell sap of the internode ofNitella flexilis was replaced with the isotonic artificial pond water of high Ca²⁺-concentration (0.1 mM KCl, 0.1 mM NaCl, 10 mM CaCl₂ and 275 mM mannitol) and changes in osmotic value and concentrations of K⁺, Na⁺ and Cl⁻ of the cells were followed. When the operated cells were incubated in the artificial pond water containing 0.1 mM each of KCl, NaCl, CaCl₂, they survived for only a short period of time (<10 hr). The cells did not absorb ions from the artificial pond water and showed a conspicuous decrease in the rate of cytoplasmic streaming. In such cell the concentration of K⁺ in the protoplasm decreased significantly. In order to reverse normal concentration gradients of K⁺ and Na⁺ across the protoplasmic layer, the cells of low vacuolar ionic concentrations were incubated in the artificial cell sap (90 mM KCl, 40 mM NaCl, 15 mM CaCl₂, 10 mM MgCl₂). It was found that the cells rapidly absorbed much K⁺, Na⁺ and Cl⁻ and survived for a longer period (1–2 days). During this period the rate of cytoplasmic streaming was nearly normal. Furthermore, the cell lost much mannitol, indicating an enormous increase in permeability to it. Since both absorption of ions and leakage of mannitol at 1 C occurred at nearly the same rates as at 22 C, the processes are assumed to be passive.     

Inhibition of ATP-regulated K+ channels precedes depolarization-induced increase in cytoplasmic free Ca2+ concentration in pancreatic beta-cells

The effects of glucose, diazoxide, K+, and tolbutamide on the activity of K+ channels, membrane potential, and cytoplasmic free Ca2+ concentration were investigated in beta-cells from the Uppsala colony of obese hyperglycemic mice. With [K+]e = [K+]i = 146 mM, it was demonstrated that the dominating channel at the resting potential is a K+ channel with a single-channel conductance of about 65 picosiemens and a reversal potential of about +70 mV (pipette potential). This channel is characterized by complex kinetics with openings grouped in bursts. The channel was completely inhibited by 20 mM glucose in intact cells or by intracellularly applied Mg-ATP (1 mM). The number of active channels was markedly reduced already by 5 mM glucose. However, the single channel current of the channels remaining active was unaffected, indicating no major depolarization. To evoke a substantial depolarization of the membrane and thereby action potentials, a total block in channel activity was necessary. This could be achieved either by increasing the concentration of glucose to 20 mM or by combining 5 mM glucose with 100 microM tolbutamide. In both cases, the effect was counteracted by the hyperglycemic sulfonamide diazoxide. The effects on single channel activity were paralleled by changes in membrane potential and cytoplasmic free Ca2+ concentration, also when the latter measurements were performed at room temperature. The transient increase in the number of active channels and the resulting hyperpolarization observed after raising the glucose concentration to 20 mM probably reflected a drop in cytoplasmic ATP concentration. It is suggested that ATP works as a key regulator of the beta-cell membrane potential and thereby the opening of voltage-activated Ca2+ channels.     

The sided action of Na+ on reconstituted shark Na+/K+-ATPase engaged in Na+-Na+ exchange accompanied by ATP hydrolysis. II. Transmembrane allosteric effects on Na+ affinity

The objective of the present investigation was to characterize the ATP-dependent Na+-Na+ exchange, with respect to cation sensitivity on the two aspects of the Na+/K+-pump protein. In order to accomplish this, we used Na+/K+-ATPase reconstituted with known orientation in the proteoliposomes. Activation by cytoplasmic Na+ shows cooperative interaction between three sites. The apparent intrinsic site constants displayed transmembrane dependence on the extracellular Na+ concentration. However, the apparent K0.5 for cytoplasmic Na+ is independent of the extracellular Na+ concentration. The activation by extracellular Na+ at a fixed cytoplasmic Na+ concentration is biphasic with a component which saturates at a concentration of about 1-2 mM extracellular Na+, a plateau phase up to 20 mM, and another component which tends to saturate at about 80 mM followed by a slight deactivation at higher concentrations of Na+. The apparent K0.5 value for extracellular Na+ is also found to be independent of the Na+ concentration on the opposite side of the membrane. The activation by extracellular Na+ can be explained by the negative cooperativity in the binding of extracellular Na+, but positive cooperativity in the rate of dephosphorylation of enzyme species with one and three sodium ions bound extracellularly. Na+ bound to E2-PNa has a transmembrane effect on the cooperativity between binding of cytoplasmic Na+, and E2-PNa2 does not dephosphorylate. K0.5/Vm for cytoplasmic as well as for extracellular Na+ decreases with an increase in the trans Na+ concentration in the non-saturating concentration range. The experiments indicate that at a step in the reaction simultaneous binding of extracellular and cytoplasmic Na+ occurs.     

Voltage and substrate dependence of the inverse transport mode of the rabbit Na(+)/glucose cotransporter (SGLT1)

Properties of the cytoplasmic binding sites of the rabbit Na(+)/glucose cotransporter, SGLT1, expressed in Xenopus oocytes were investigated using the giant excised patch clamp technique. Voltage and substrate dependence of the outward cotransport were studied using alpha-methyl D-glucopyranoside (alphaMDG) as a substrate. The apparent affinity for alphaMDG depends on the cytoplasmic Na(+) concentration and voltage. At 0 mV the K(M) for alphaMDG is 7 mM at 110 mM Na(+) and 31 mM at 10 mM Na(+). The apparent affinity for alphaMDG and Na(+) is voltage dependent and increases at positive potentials. At 0 mV holding potential the outward current is half-maximal at about 70 mM. The results show that SGLT1 can mediate sugar transport out of the cell under appropriate concentration and voltage conditions, but under physiological conditions this transport is highly improbable due to the low affinity for sugar.     

Toxicological studies of pesticides on cytoplasmic streaming in Nitella

In the present study, changes in velocity of cytoplasmic streaming in the giant internodal cells of Nitella for varying concentration of the pesticides, 2,4-D, dieldrin, malathion, methyl parathion and endosulfan, were measured. Marked decrease in the velocity of cytoplasmic streaming was found at the concentrations of 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 and 100mM. Dieldrin was the most toxic to all the pesticides investigated, followed by methyl parathion, endosulfan, malathion and 2,4-D. Threshold values for dieldrin, methylparathion, endosulfan, malathion and 2,4-D as indicated by the onset of decrease in the normal cytoplasmic streaming velocity were less than 6.25 x 10(-6), 2.5 x 10(-5), 5 x 10(-5), 5 x 10(-5) and 1.25 x 10(-5)M respectively. Cessation of streaming was noticed above 1mM in dieldrin and above 10mM when exposed to methylparathion and endosulfan. Cessation of streaming was not seen up to 100mM concentration of 2,4-D and malathion.     

Glucose-dependent increase in mitochondrial membrane potential, but not cytoplasmic calcium, correlates with insulin secretion in single islet cells

We examined the effects of different physiological concentrations of glucose on cytoplasmic Ca(2+) handling and mitochondrial membrane potential (Deltapsi(m)) and insulin secretion in single mouse islet cells. The threshold for both glucose-induced changes in Ca(2+) and Deltapsi(m) ranged from 6 to 8 mM. Glucose step-jumps resulted in sinusoidal oscillations of cytoplasmic Ca(2+), whereas Deltapsi(m) reached sustained plateaus with oscillations interposed on the top of these plateaus. The amplitude of the Ca(2+) rise (height of the peak) did not vary with glucose concentration, suggesting a "digital" rather than "analog" character of this aspect of the oscillatory Ca(2+) response. The average glucose-dependent elevation of cytoplasmic Ca(2+) concentration during glucose stimulation reached saturation at 8 mM stimulatory glucose, whereas Deltapsi(m) showed a linear glucose dose-response relationship over the range of stimulatory glucose concentrations (4-16 mM). Glucose-dependent increases in insulin secretion correlated well with Deltapsi(m), but not with average Ca(2+) concentration. These data show that an ATP-dependent K(+) channel-independent pathway is operative at the single cell level and suggest mitochondrial metabolism may be a determining factor in explaining graded, glucose concentration-dependent increases in insulin secretion.     

GAT1 (GABA:Na+:Cl-) cotransport function. Steady state studies in giant Xenopus oocyte membrane patches.

Neurotransmitter transporters are reported to mediate transmembrane ion movements that are poorly coupled to neurotransmitter transport and to exhibit complex "channel-like" behaviors that challenge the classical "alternating access" transport model. To test alternative models, and to develop an improved model for the Na+- and Cl--dependent gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transporter, GAT1, we expressed GAT1 in Xenopus oocytes and analyzed its function in detail in giant membrane patches. We detected no Na+- or Cl--dependent currents in the absence of GABA, nor did we detect activating effects of substrates added to the trans side. Outward GAT1 current ("reverse" transport mode) requires the presence of all three substrates on the cytoplasmic side. Inward GAT1 current ("forward" transport mode) can be partially activated by GABA and Na+ on the extracellular (pipette) side in the nominal absence of Cl-. With all three substrates on both membrane sides, reversal potentials defined with specific GAT1 inhibitors are consistent with the proposed stoichiometry of 1GABA:2Na+:1Cl-. As predicted for the "alternating access" model, addition of a substrate to the trans side (120 mM extracellular Na+) decreases the half-maximal concentration for activation of current by a substrate on the cis side (cytoplasmic GABA). In the presence of extracellular Na+, the half-maximal cytoplasmic GABA concentration is increased by decreasing cytoplasmic Cl-. In the absence of extracellular Na+, half-maximal cytoplasmic substrate concentrations (8 mM Cl-, 2 mM GABA, 60 mM Na+) do not change when cosubstrate concentrations are reduced, with the exception that reducing cytoplasmic Cl- increases the half-maximal cytoplasmic Na+ concentration. The forward GAT1 current (i.e., inward current with all extracellular substrates present) is inhibited monotonically by cytoplasmic Cl- (Ki, 8 mM); cytoplasmic Na+ and cytoplasmic GABA are without effect in the absence of cytoplasmic Cl-. In the absence of extracellular Na+, current-voltage relations for reverse transport current (i.e., outward current with all cytoplasmic substrates present) can be approximated by shallow exponential functions whose slopes are consistent with rate-limiting steps moving 0.15-0.3 equivalent charges. The slopes of current-voltage relations change only little when current is reduced four- to eightfold by lowering each cosubstrate concentration; they increase twofold upon addition of 100 mM Na+ to the extracellular (pipette) side.     

Stability and Enzymatic Studies of Glucose Dehydrogenase from the Archaeon Haloferax mediterranei in reverse micelles

Reverse micelles were used as a cytoplasmic model to study the kinetics of an extreme halophilic enzyme such as the recombinant glucose dehydrogenase from the Archaeon Haloferax mediterranei. This enzyme was solubilized in reverse micelles of hexadecyltrimethylammoniumbromide in cyclohexane, with 1-butanol as co-surfactant. Glucose dehydrogenase retained its catalytic properties in this organic medium, showing good stability at low water content, even at low salt concentration (125 mM NaCl). The dependence of the enzymatic activity on the molar water surfactant ratio (w₀=[H₂O]/[surfactant]) increased with rising water content. Surprisingly, the activity of this extreme halophilic enzyme did not depend on the salt concentration in reverse micelles. The kinetic of the enzymatic oxidation of β-D-glucose to D-glucono-1,5-lactone using NADP⁺ as coenzyme for the glucose dehydrogenase from Haloferax mediterranei was also studied in the reverse micellar system.     

Alteration in growth and peroxidase activity by heavy metals in Phaseolus seedlings

The aim of the present work was to see the effect of mercury and chromium on elongation growth of phaseolus seedlings and changes in chlorophyll content. Phaseolus seedlings were treated with two different concentrations of two heavy metals viz. mercury (0.05 mM and 0.4 mM HgCl₂, and chromium (0.5 mM and 1.0 mM K₂Cr₂O₇). Both mercury and chromium inhibited root and hypocotyl elongation growth. Changes in cytoplasmic and wall bound peroxidase activities were studied using guaiacol as a hydrogen donor. Peroxidase activity was higher in both mercury and chromium treated seedlings as compared to distilled water control; they showed a clear concentration effect. Peroxidase activity showed inverse relation with growth i.e. distilled water treated seedlings had maximum growth and minimum activity while higher concentration of heavy metal treated seedlings had minimum growth and maximum activity. Chlorophyll content was also decreased by mercury. The role of peroxidase activity in defense mechanism in response to heavy metal toxicity is discussed.     

Relationship between Na+-dependent cytoplasmic pH homeostasis and Na+-dependent flagellar rotation and amino acid transport in alkalophilic Bacillus

The cytoplasmic pH homeostasis of alkalophilic Bacillus strains required the presence of Na+ in the medium, and Li+ was found to be equivalently substitutable for Na+. Flagellar rotation and amino acid transport of these bacteria also required Na+ but Li+ was not substitutable for Na+. Na+ concentration of about 1 mM was enough for the cytoplasmic pH homeostasis, while more than 10 mM Na+ was required for the full activities of flagellar rotation and amino acid transport. The addition of 150 mM ethanolamine to the cells at pH 9.6 disrupted the pH homeostasis and increased the cytoplasmic pH close to the external pH. Under this condition, however, flagellar rotation and amino acid transport were not so much affected. Thus, it is clear that flagellar rotation and amino acid transport themselves require the presence of Na+ in the medium, independent of the Na+-dependent cytoplasmic pH homeostasis.     

Dynamics of orthophosphate in yeast cytoplasm

Summary Orthophosphate concentration of baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was investigated during dynamic conditions. As an example for those dynamics in cell metabolism the transition from glucose limitation to glucose excess (Crabtree-effect) was choosen. As a result of the metabolic switch from complete to partial oxidative metabolism, the cytoplasmic phosphate concentration increased suddenly from 8.4 mM to a maximum of 17.5 mM and transiently decreased to a minimum of 7.0 mM.     

氯仿对非洲绿猴肾细胞损伤机理的研究

目的　实验研究氯仿染毒 2 4h对非洲绿猴肾细胞的损伤及其机理。方法　运用显微荧光术测定了非洲绿猴肾细胞 (Vero细胞 )内活性氧 (ROS)含量及游离Ca2 + 浓度 ,同时 ,测定Vero细胞培养上清液乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)活力用于检查Vero细胞受损情况。结果　接触浓度为 4 0mmol L氯仿的Vero细胞内ROS含量及游离Ca2 +浓度与对照组比较无显著性差异 (P >0 0 5 ) ,同时 ,表示Vero细胞受损指标 (LDH活力 )也无显著性差异 (P >0 0 5 ) ;而接触浓度为 8 0mmol L、12 0mmol L氯仿的Vero细胞内ROS含量显著高于对照组 (P <0 0 1) ,其Vero细胞受损也显著增加 (P <0 0 5、P <0 0 1)。结论　较高浓度的氯仿能损伤Vero细胞 ,其损伤的可能途径是通过提高Vero细胞内ROS含量     

The motility of Chara corallina myosin was inhibited reversibly by 2,3-butanedione monoxime (BDM)

We studied the effects of 2,3-butanedione monoxime (BDM) on the cytoplasmic streaming of Chara corallina and on the motility of myosin prepared from the same plant to examine whether this reagent really affects the plant class XI myosin. It was found that BDM inhibited both cytoplasmic streaming and the motility of myosin at a very similar concentration range (10-100 mM). BDM introduced directly into tonoplast-free cells also inhibited cytoplasmic streaming. These results suggested that effect of BDM on cytoplasmic streaming was exerted through myosin and not through ion channels at least in Chara corallina, though a very high concentration of BDM was required.     

The dynamics of protein hydration water: a quantitative comparison of molecular dynamics simulations and neutron-scattering experiments

We present results from an extensive molecular dynamics simulation study of water hydrating the protein Ribonuclease A, at a series of temperatures in cluster, crystal, and powder environments. The dynamics of protein hydration water appear to be very similar in crystal and powder environments at moderate to high hydration levels. Thus, we contend that experiments performed on powder samples are appropriate for discussing hydration water dynamics in native protein environments. Our analysis reveals that simulations performed on cluster models consisting of proteins surrounded by a finite water shell with free boundaries are not appropriate for the study of the solvent dynamics. Detailed comparison to available x-ray diffraction and inelastic neutron-scattering data shows that current generation force fields are capable of accurately reproducing the structural and dynamical observables. On the time scale of tens of picoseconds, at room temperature and high hydration, significant water translational diffusion and rotational motion occur. At low hydration, the water molecules are translationally confined but display appreciable rotational motion. Below the protein dynamical transition temperature, both translational and rotational motions of the water molecules are essentially arrested. Taken together, these results suggest that water translational motion is necessary for the structural relaxation that permits anharmonic and diffusive motions in proteins. Furthermore, it appears that the exchange of protein-water hydrogen bonds by water rotational/librational motion is not sufficient to permit protein structural relaxation. Rather, the complete exchange of protein-bound water molecules by translational displacement seems to be required.     

Glucose-induced oscillations of cytoplasmic Ca2+ in the pancreatic beta-cell

The cytoplasmic calcium concentration (Ca2+i) was measured in individual mouse pancreatic beta-cells loaded with fura-2 by recording the 340/380 nm fluorescence excitation ratio. An increase of the glucose concentration from 3 to 20 mM, caused initial lowering of Ca2+i followed by a rise with a peak preceding constant elevation at an intermediary level. However, at 11 mM glucose there were large Ca2+i oscillations with a frequency of 1 cycle per 2-6 min. The results indicate that both first and second phase secretion depend on elevated Ca2+i, and that many electrically coupled cells collectively determine the pace of rhythmic depolarization.     

Increased permeability and subsequent resealing of the host cell membrane early after infection of Escherichia coli with bacteriophage T1.

The addition of T1 to cells growing at 37 degrees C in a minimal medium at 0.4 mM Mg2+ rapidly induced an irreversible loss of K+ and Mg2+ and uptake of Na+ by the cells. Both the ATP pool of the cells and the transmembrane proton motive force were reduced. These cells did not lyse from within, since viral DNA replication and the maturation of the 36,000-molecular-weight phage head protein were inhibited. By contrast, cells lysed when infected at 5.4 mM Mg2+. In these cells, T1 initially induced K+ efflux and Na+ influx and lowered the cytoplasmic ATP concentration. After a few minutes, the cation gradients and ATP pool were restored to levels close to that of control cells. At 5.4 mM Mg2+, the shutoff of host protein synthesis was delayed and coincided with the restoration of the ATP pool. In an ATP synthase-negative mutant, infection with T1 did not affect the cytoplasmic ATP concentration but inhibited host protein synthesis with the same rate as it did in wild-type cells.     

The NMR spin-echo method is used for measurements of the translational water diffusion selectively along the apoplast and the vacuolar and cytoplasmic symplasts of plant tissue

Simple methods for the registration of translational diffusion of water in apoplast and vacuolar and cytoplasmic symplasts were developed. The methods are based on spin-echo NMR with a pulsed magnetic field gradient and are realized by preliminary inversion of magnetization and the use of paramagnetic doping. It was shown that the diffusion of a part of root water in segments of mais roots is more enhanced than that for the bulk water. The results are explained by the appearance of the rotational movement of the protoplasm and in terms of the hypothesis of water transfer along the apoplast, which balances the cytoplasmic symplast.