Ehrlich cell plasma membrane redox system is modulated through signal transduction pathways involvingcGMP and Ca2+ as second messengers

Ehrlich cell plasma membrane ferricyanide reductase activity increased in the presence of mastoparan, a generic activator of G proteins, using either whole cells or isolated plasma membrane fractions. Agents that increase intracellularcAMP also increased the rate of ferricyanide reduction by Ehrlich cells. For the first time, evidence is shown on a modulation of plasma membrane redox system bycGMP. In fact, permeant analogs ofcGMP, dibutyrylcGMP, and 8-bromo-cGMP increased the rate of ferricyanide reduction by the Ehrlich cell plasma membrane redox system. Furthermore, specific inhibition ofcGMP-phosphodiesterases by dipyridamole was also accompanied by an enhancement in the rate of ferricyanide reduction. On the other hand, treatments expected to increase cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ concentrations were accompanied by a remarkable stimulation of the reductase activity. Taking all these data together, it seems that the Ehrlich cell plasma membrane redox system is under a multiple and complex regulation by different signal transduction pathways involving G proteins, cyclic nucleotides, and Ca²⁺ ions.     

Respiratory sinus arrhythmia as a second order system

The presented study describes the influence of respiration on heart rate, under controlled respiration conditions. In addition, this study makes a comparison of a simple physical model, the spring-mass system, with the biophysics of respiration. It is possible to use the equations describing the behaviour of the respiratory system, under certain conditions, and analyse them in a way similar to the equations that describe the physical spring-mass system. The results of the heart rate and respiration measurements effected on 10 subjects at various respiration frequencies show us that the heart rate behaves as a second order system within the boundary conditions during a longer period of constant respiration. The results also show that the heart rate behaves as a second order system within the intermediate mode during short time intervals when there is no respiration.     

The second valve system in lymphatics

The mechanism for interstitial fluid uptake into the lymphatics of the microcirculation remains speculative and uncertain. There exists a system of intralymphatic valves that prevent reflow along the length of the lymphatic channels, but these valves are insufficient to provide unidirectional flow at the level of the initial lymphatics. We propose that initial lymphatics have a two-valve system: a (primary) valve system at the level of the endothelium in addition to the classical (secondary) intralymphatic valves. The primary valves, in conjunction with the secondary valves, provide a mechanism that facilitates the unidirectional flow during periodic compression and expansion of initial lymphatics.     

The signal sequence receptor has a second subunit and is part of a translocation complex in the endoplasmic reticulum as probed by bifunctional reagents

Bifunctional cross-linking reagents were used to probe the protein environment in the ER membrane of the signal sequence receptor (SSR), a 24-kD integral membrane glycoprotein (Wiedmann, M., T. V. Kurzchalia, E. Hartmann, and T. A. Rapoport. 1987. Nature [Lond.]. 328:830-833). The proximity of several polypeptides was demonstrated. A 22-kD glycoprotein was identified tightly bound to the 34-kD SSR even after membrane solubilization. The 34-kD polypeptide, now termed alpha SSR, and the 22-kD polypeptide, the beta SSR, represent a heterodimer. We report on the sequence of the beta SSR, its membrane topology, and on the mechanism of its integration into the membrane. Cross-linking also produced dimers of the alpha-subunit of the SSR indicating that oligomers of the SSR exist in the ER membrane. Various bifunctional cross-linking reagents were used to study the relation to ER membrane proteins of nascent chains of preprolactin and beta-lactamase at different stages of their translocation through the membrane. The predominant cross-linked products obtained in high yields contained the alpha SSR, indicating in conjunction with previous results that it is a major membrane protein in the neighborhood of translocating nascent chains of secretory proteins. The results support the existence of a translocon, a translocation complex involving the SSR, which constitutes the specific site of protein translocation across the ER membrane.     

Role of inositol trisphosphate as a second messenger in signal transduction processes: An essay

This essay attempts to summarize some of the best evidence for the role of inositol trisphosphate as a second messenger in signal transduction processes. The following aspects are addressed in the essay: (a) The synthesis of inositol trisphosphate and other inositol lipids, (b) Receptor-phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate phospholipase C coupling and the N-ras protooncogene, (c) Inositol trisphosphate and intracellular calcium, (d) Cell growth and oncogenes, (e) Receptors linked to the phosphatidylinositol cycle, (f) Phototransduction and (g) Interactions between inositol trisphosphate and other second messengers.Abbreviations Cyclic AMP Adenosine 3,5-cyclic monophosphate - Cyclic GMP Guanosine 3,5-cyclic monophosphate - DG sn, 1,2-Diacylglycerol - EGF Epidermal growth factor - GDP Guanosine diphosphate - GTP Guanosine triphosphate - IP Inositol 1-monophosphate - IP₂ Inositol 1,4-diphosphate - IP₃ Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate - PA Phosphatidic acid - PDGF Platelet-derived growth factor - PI Phosphatidylinositol - PIP Phosphatidylinositol 4-monophosphate - PIP₂ Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate - PIP₃ Phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate - PLC Phospholipase C     

RecA-mediated homology search as a nearly optimal signal detection system

Homologous recombination facilitates the exchange of genetic material between homologous DNA molecules. This crucial process requires detecting a specific homologous DNA sequence within a huge variety of heterologous sequences. The detection is mediated by RecA in E. coli, or members of its superfamily in other organisms. Here, we examine how well the RecA-DNA interaction is adjusted to its task. By formulating the DNA recognition process as a signal detection problem, we find the optimal value of binding energy that maximizes the ability to detect homologous sequences. We show that the experimentally observed binding energy is nearly optimal. This implies that the RecA-induced deformation and the binding energetics are fine-tuned to ensure optimal sequence detection. Our analysis suggests a possible role for DNA extension by RecA, in which deformation enhances detection. The present signal detection approach provides a general recipe for testing the optimality of other molecular recognition systems.     

Thymic medullary lymphocytes. I. Lymphokines produced by thymic medullary lymphocytes as a second signal for intrathymic stem cell homing

Lymphokines produced by thymic medullary cells (TMC) or by normal spleen cells after allogeneic stimulation have been tested for their chemotactic properties in an in vitro migration test. Lymphokines produced by TMC specifically attract cells from nude spleen or from T-cell-deprived spleen depleted of macrophagic cells, but not from normal adult spleen. Supernatants produced by normal adult spleen cells did not attract any of the cells tested (nude spleen cells, T-cell-deprived spleen cells, or normal spleen cells). These results suggest a role for mature TMC in intrathymic stem cell homing. These cells could deliver a second signal to the stem cell, complementary to those provided by thymic epithelium.