Correlation of betacyanin synthesis with cell division in cell suspension cultures of Phytolacca americana

In suspension cultures of Phytolacca americana , betacyanin accumulation was reduced when cell division was inhibited by treatment with various inhibitors of DNA synthesis or anti-microtubule drugs. Aphidicolin (APC), an inhibitor of DNA synthesis, reduced the incorporation of radioactivity from labeled tyrosine into betacyanin, but the incorporation of radioactivity from labeled 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) into betacyanin was not affected by similar treatments. Propyzamide, another anti-microtubule drug, reduced incorporation of radioactivity from tyrosine and DOPA into betacyanin. However, the rate of incorporation from DOPA was higher than that from tyrosine. The results suggest that inhibition of betacyanin accumulation in Phytolacca americana cells by APC and propyzamide is due to suppression of the reaction converting tyrosine to DOPA, which may be closely related to cell division.     

Correlation between size and age at different events in the cell division cycle of Escherichia coli.

The variability of (i) the B period between birth and initiation of chromosome replication, (ii) the U period between initiation of chromosome replication and initiation of cell constriction, and (iii) the interdivision period (tau) have been estimated for slowly growing Escherichia coli B/r F. Cultures synchronized by the membrane elution technique were pulse-labeled with [3H]thymidine or continuously labeled with [3H]thymine. After fixation, the pattern of deoxyribonucleic acid replication was analyzed by electron microscopic radioautography. Cell length was found to increase exponentially with age at two different slow growth rates. The coefficient of variation of the B period was estimated to be 60%, that of the U period was 29%, and that of the interdivision period was 12%. From these values and the coefficient of variation of length at different cell cycle events were calculated a negative correlation between the B and U period (r = -0.9) and a positive correlation between length at birth and cell separation (r = 0.6). Initiation of chromosome replication and cell constriction were strictly correlated both with respect to age (r = 0.7) and length (r = 0.8). On the other hand, length at initiation of chromosome replication was distantly correlated with age (r = 0.1) or length at birth (r = 0.3). This low correlation excludes a model in which chromosome initiation is controlled by a random event in the B period. It favors a model in which chromosome initiation occurs at a particular distributed size independent of cell division.     

Correlation between biomass and medium conductivity in suspension cultures of rice cells

Summary An intercept in the linear relationship between the biomass increase and decrease in medium conductivity was found in suspension cultures of rice cells. It was due to the. consumption of medium salts by the cells during the lag phase. An equation was established for accurate monitoring of the cell growth which aids understanding of the cell physiology especially during the initial stage of cell growth.     

Imprinting with oxytocin and vasopressin in Chang liver cell cultures: hormonal overlap, binding and influence on cell division

In Chang liver cells the administration of oxytocin and vasopressin as well as the combined application of the two hormones will result in a positive binding imprinting for oxytocin and a negative binding imprinting for vasopressin. The hormones are able to increase the mitotic capacity of the liver cells even without previous imprinting, both in the case of treatment for 4 hours and for 24 hours; the change, however, is more marked in the case of treatment for 4 hours. Treatment for 24 hours results also in some functional imprinting.     

Correlation between cell nutrition, cell size and division control. Part I.

The conventional concept of division control assumes that a certain sequence of biochemical events throughout the cell cycle results in the generation of some specific mitotic trigger. An alternative approach has been examined by us on Tetrahymena pyriformis, namely, that division is started without any specific starter but by deficiency in the cell pool of nutrients. This deficiency, in its turn, is caused by various space disproportions accompanying cell growth.In accordance with the hypothesis under examination, a prompt shift-down in cell nutrition has induced a wave of division in an asynchronous culture of Tetrahymena; a shift-up in nutrition has resulted in delay of division and in a stepwise increase of mean volume of dividing cells.     

Correlation between cell nutrition, cell size and division control. Part II.

The correlation between cell size and the rate of cell growth and endocytosis was investigated. The increase in cell volume was found to proceed at a slowing rate throughout interphase. It virtually stops some time before cytokinesis and is rather rapid at the time of cytokinesis, although the divider volume decreases markedly for a short period of cell cleavage.Endocytosis was monitored with the aid of carmine. The oral apparatus is inactive during cytokinesis and some time after it. Then endocytosis increases, reaching a stable level at the middle of interphase. It accelerates significantly again just before cytokinesis. There is a positive correlation between the activity of the oral apparatus throughout interphase and the cell size at the inception of growth.The correlation between the rate of growth and the rate of endocytosis was found to be negative. Calculations which take into account the time of food digestion in Tetrahymena show that the cell pool of nutrients must be maximal at the inception of the generation cycle and minimal at the end of interphase. The rate of cell growth correlates positively with these oscillations, whereas the rate of endocytosis correlates with them negatively.     

Cell division and plant development from protoplasts of carrot cell suspension cultures

Summary Cell regeneration and sustained division have been observed in protoplasts from carrot cell suspension cultures. Carrot plants were produced from the protoplasts by embryogenesis.NRCC No. 12268.     

Regulation of DNA synthesis and cell division by polyamines in Catharanthus roseus suspension cultures

Summary Various inhibitors of polyamine biosynthesis were used to study the role of polyamines in DNA synthesis and cell division in suspension cultures of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don. Arginine decarboxylase (ADC; EC 4.1.1.19) was the major enzyme responsible for putrescine production. DL -difluoromethylarginine inhibited ADC activity, cellular putrescine content, DNA synthesis, and cell division. The effect was reversible by exogenous putrescine. Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC; EC 4.1.1.17) activity was always less than 10% of the ADC activity. Addition of DL -difluoromethylornithine had no effect on ODC activity, cellular polyamine levels, DNA synthesis, and cell division within the first 24 h but by 48 to 72 h it did inhibit these activities. Methylglyoxal bis(guanyl-hydrazone) inhibited S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.50) activity without affecting DNA synthesis and cell division.Abbreviations ADC arginine decarboxylase - ODC ornithine decarboxylase - SAMDC S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase - DFMA DL -difluoro-methylarginine - DFMO DL -difluoromethylornithine - MGBG methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone)     

Variation of cell cycle duration within suspension cultures ofDaucus carota and its consequence for the induction of ploidy changes with colchicine

Summary Continuous exposure to colchicine was used to estimate the variation in cell cycle time between cells within suspension cultures ofDaucus carota. Observations were made of the pattern of disappearance of cells of the initially predominant ploidy levels in diploid and tetraploid cultures having markedly different aggregation patterns. Both cultures showed a similar range of cycle times, normally distributed about the culture mean. Shorter colchicine treatments, followed by regrowth in colchicine-free medium, showed that spread of cycle times in the diploid culture prevented uniform induction of tetraploidy, and that the resulting mixoploid suspensions showed a gradual reversion to diploidy during subsequent subculture.     

Physiological and biochemical effects of the mycotoxin patulin on Chang liver cell cultures.

Patulin exhibits both cytotoxic and cytopathic effects on cultured Chang liver cells. The LD50 found was 1.85 mug per ml of patulin. Effects on growth were observed with as little as 0.1 mug per ml of patulin; a 50% reduction in growth was observed at 0.38 mug per ml of patulin. Using a challenge dose of 2.5 mug per ml of patulin, the cytotoxic effect was reversible after an exposure of 10 min, but was not reversible after 20 min. Protein synthesis was depressed after 60 min and RNA synthesis after 20 min of contact with patulin. Neither protein nor RNA synthesis was completely inhibited after 260 min.     

The relationship between cell size and cell division in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Cell numbers in synchronous cultures of yeast cultured at fast growth rates increase from N to 2N after the first division and from 2N to 4N after the second division. At these fast growth rates, there are equal numbers of parents and daughters. In contrast, at slow growth rates the cell number increases from N to 2N after one division and from 2N to 3N rather than 4N after the second division. Moreover, the percentage of daughters increases with decreasing growth rate. Thus, slowly growing cultures actually consist of two sub-populations having different cell cycle transit times. These observations are predicted if a yeast cell requires a critical size before a particular cell cycle event can be completed and that after completion of this event cell division occurs following a period of time independent of growth rate.     

Conjugation in Tetrahymena: the relationship between the division cycle and cell pairing

Conjugation, a sexual stage in the life cycle of Tetrahymena, is marked by the pairing of two cells of opposite mating types. Pairing establishes cytoplasmic continuity between the two cells and initiates the complex of nuclear events involved in sexual exchange. After mixing cells of opposite mating types in nonnutrient medium, a 3-hr refractory period ensues before pairing begins.A wave of cell division occurs concurrently with the onset of pairing. However, although all cells pair, the population does not double. This indicates that some cells do not divide and yet are capable of pairing. Apparently division per se is not required for pairing but does occur in most of the cells.Autoradiographic analysis demonstrates that the cells that divide before pairing were at a stage in the cell cycle beyond the initiation of macronuclear replication at the time they were transferred to nonnutrient medium. Cells that did not divide were in G₁ at the time of shift-down. Thus, neither replication nor division is required to be able to fuse. However, since fusion occurs only in G₁ and most cells are not in G₁ at the time of shift-down, a traverse of the cell cycle is required.Shift-down induces G₁ arrest and preparations for the mating reaction. Mixing the cells induces a synchronous wave of division for cells beyond the $\text{G}{}_1\text{S}$ interface. Preparations for the mating reaction occur independently of but simultaneous with the preparations for cell division.     

Regulatory mechanisms of biosynthesis of betacyanin and anthocyanin in relation to cell division activity in suspension cultures

Regulatory mechanisms of betacyanin biosynthesis in suspension cultures of Phytolacca americana and anthocyanin in Vitis sp. were investigated in relation to cell division activity.Betacyanin biosynthesis in Phytolacca cells clearly shows a positive correlation with cell division, as the peak of betacyanin accumulation was observed at the log phase of batch cultures. Incorporation of radioactivity from labelled tyrosine into betacyanin also showed a peak at early log phase. Aphidicolin, an inhibitor of DNA synthesis, and propyzamide, an antimicrotubule drug, reduced betacyanin accumulation and inhibited the incorporation of radioactivity from labelled tyrosine into betacyanin at concentrations which were inhibitory to cell division. Both inhibitors reduced the incorporation of radioactivity from labelled tyrosine to 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA), but the incorporation of labelled DOPA into betacyanin was not affected. These results suggest that the conversion of tyrosine to DOPA is coupled with cell division activity.In contrast, the anthocyanin accumulation in Vitis cells showed a negative correlation with cell division. Accumulation occurred at the stationary phase in batch cultures when cell division ceased. Aphidicolin or reduced phosphate concentration induced a substantial increase in anthocyanin accumulation as well as the inhibition of cell division. Chalcone synthase (CHS) activity increased at the time of anthocyanin accumulation. Northern blotting analysis indicated that changes in CHS mRNA levels corresponded to similar changes in enzymatic activity. The pool size of endogenous phenylalanine was low during active cell division, but increased before anthocyanin began to accumulate and concomitantly with increasing levels of CHS mRNA. Exogenous supply of phenylalanine at the time of low endogenous levels induced the elevation of CHS mRNA and anthocyanin accumulation. These results indicate that the elevation of endogenous phenylalanine levels, when cell division ceases, may cause the increase in CHS mRNA levels, resulting in increased CHS activity and subsequently in anthocyanin accumulation in Vitis suspension cultures.Abbreviations CHS chalcone synthase - CHFI chalcone flavanone isomerase - DOPA 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine - PAL phenylalanine ammonia lyase