Stochastic and deterministic simulations of heterogeneous cell population dynamics

A Monte Carlo algorithm, which can accurately simulate the dynamics of entire heterogeneous cell populations, was developed. The algorithm takes into account the random nature of cell division as well as unequal partitioning of cellular material at cell division. Moreover, it is general in the sense that it can accommodate a variety of single-cell, deterministic reaction kinetics as well as various stochastic division and partitioning mechanisms. The validity of the algorithm was assessed through comparison of its results with those of the corresponding deterministic cell population balance model in cases where stochastic behavior is expected to be quantitatively negligible. Both algorithms were applied to study: (a) linear intracellular kinetics and (b) the expression dynamics of a genetic network with positive feedback architecture, such as the lac operon. The effects of stochastic division as well as those of different division and partitioning mechanisms were assessed in these systems, while the comparison of the stochastic model with a continuum model elucidated the significance of cell population heterogeneity even in cases where only the prediction of average properties is of primary interest.     

大鼠脑缺血区细胞间粘附分子ICAM-1表达和LFA-1阳性细胞浸润的研究

研究粘附分子和白细胞与脑缺血／再灌流损伤的病理联系,运用原位杂交和免疫组化技术对36只SD大鼠脑缺血区细胞间粘附分子（ICAM－1）表达和淋巴细胞机能相关抗原（LFA－1）阳性细胞浸润进行了观察。结果显示,脑缺血区的毛细胞血管内皮细胞表达ICAM－1 mRNA发生于脑缺血1h,在脑缺血1h／再灌流8h达到高峰。而脑缺血区毛细血管ICAM－1蛋白质的表达则发生于脑缺血1h／再灌流2h,高峰出现于脑缺血1h／再灌流16h,LFA－1阳性细胞在脑缺血区的聚集发生在脑缺血1h,并随再灌流时间延长,其聚集数量逐渐增加。结果提示,脑缺血／再灌流能诱导缺血区的血管内皮细胞表达ICAM－1 mRNA和蛋白质,进而导致白细胞在脑缺血区的浸润,此可能是脑缺血／再灌流损伤的病理机制之一。     

Regulation of expression of c-fos and c-myc in rat lymphoma Nb-2 cells

This study examined the effects of the mitogen, prolactin and the cell cycle inhibitors, cyclosporin A and neomycin sulfate, on expression of the proto-oncogenes c-fos and c-myc in the rat lymphoma Nb-2 cell line. Stimulation of quiescent cultures with prolactin resulted in a 2-3-fold increase in the constitutive levels of c-myc mRNA which peaked at 4 h and declined thereafter. c-Fos mRNA was not detected in quiescent or prolactin-stimulated cultures. Cyclosporin A or neomycin sulfate reversibly blocked the mitogenic effect of prolactin on Nb-2 cells, but had little effect on constitutive levels of c-myc. However, the release of Nb-2 cells from a cyclosporin A or a neomycin sulfate block resulted in a rapid transient induction of c-fos which peaked at 0.5-1 h and declined rapidly thereafter. These results indicate that the rapid transient expression of c-fos following release from cell cycle blockage was not sufficient to elicit cell division, but these cells were competent to respond to prolactin. Prolactin allows progression through the cell cycle and enhances c-myc mRNA levels.     

A new cell division operon in Escherichia coli

Summary At 76 min on theE. coli genetic map there is a cluster of genes affecting essential cellular functions, including the heat shock response and cell division. A combination ofin-vivo andin-vitro genetic analysis of cell division mutants suggests that the cell division genefts E is the second gene in a 3 gene operon. A cold-sensitive mutant, defective in the third gene, is also unable to divide at the restrictive temperature, and we designate this new cell division genefts X. Another cell division gene,fts S, is very close to, but distinct from, the 3 genes of the operon. Thefts E product is a 24.5 Kd polypeptide which shows strong homology with a small group of proteins involved in transport. Both thefts E product and the protein coded by the first gene (fts Y) in the operon have a sequence motif found in a wide range of heterogeneous proteins, including the Ras proteins of yeast. This common domain is indicative of a nucleotide-binding site.     

Functions of the duplicated hik31 operons in central metabolism and responses to light, dark, and carbon sources in Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803

There are two closely related hik31 operons involved in signal transduction on the chromosome and the pSYSX plasmid in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803. We studied the growth, cell morphology, and gene expression in operon and hik mutants for both copies, under different growth conditions, to examine whether the duplicated copies have the same or different functions and gene targets and whether they are similarly regulated. Phenotype analysis suggested that both operons regulated common and separate targets in the light and the dark. The chromosomal operon was involved in the negative control of autotrophic events, whereas the plasmid operon was involved in the positive control of heterotrophic events. Both the plasmid and double operon mutant cells were larger and had division defects. The growth data also showed a regulatory role for the chromosomal hik gene under high-CO(2) conditions and the plasmid operon under low-O(2) conditions. Metal stress experiments indicated a role for the chromosomal hik gene and operon in mediating Zn and Cd tolerance, the plasmid operon in Co tolerance, and the chromosomal operon and plasmid hik gene in Ni tolerance. We conclude that both operons are differentially and temporally regulated. We suggest that the chromosomal operon is the primarily expressed copy and the plasmid operon acts as a backup to maintain appropriate gene dosages. Both operons share an integrated regulatory relationship and are induced in high light, in glucose, and in active cell growth. Additionally, the plasmid operon is induced in the dark with or without glucose.     

Effect of catabolite repression on the mer operon

The plasmid-determined mer operon, which provides resistance to inorganic mercury compounds, was subject to a 2.5-fold decrease in expression when glucose was administered at the same time as the inducer HgCl2. This glucose-mediated transient repression of the operon was overcome by the addition of cyclic AMP. Permanent catabolite repression of the operon was observed in the 1.6- to 1.9-fold decrease in expression in mutants lacking either adenyl cyclase (cya) or the catabolite activator protein (crp). The effect of the cya mutation on mer expression could be overcome by the addition of cyclic AMP at the time of induction, In addition to these effects on the whole cells of a wild-type strains, we examined the effect of catabolite repression on the expression of the mercuric ion [Hg(II)] reductase enzyme, assayable in cell extracts, and on the Hg(II) uptake system, assayable in a mutant strain which lacked reductase activity. There was a two- to threefold effect of repression on the Hg(II) reductase enzyme assayable in vitro after induction under catabolite repressing conditions (either with glucose or in the crp and cya mutants). We did not find a similar repressing effect on the induction of the Hg(II) uptake system, which is also determined by the mer operon.     

Effects of plasmid pKM101 on the expression of Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium genes under ultraviolet irradiation

The study focused on plasmid pKM101, which is a necessary component of the short-term test of Eim's system (Salmonella-microsome test), to detect the potential carcinogens through their mutagen activity. We found a previously unknown feature of the plasmid to enhance the expression of certain plasmid and chromosome genes. The purpose of the present study was to examine and specify the role of operon mucAB responsible for the mutation properties of the plasmid in activating the expression of bacterial genes. An ultraviolet-induction examination of bacterial genes, with the mutants of plasmid pKM101 affecting operon mucAB being used, showed that the function of genes mucAB did activate, but, on the contrary, suppressed the induction of genes elt (i.e. of genes controlling the formation of LT-toxin of Escherichia coli) and of sfiA (SOS-regulated gen E. col controlling the cell division.     

Identification of a new inhibitor of essential division gene ftsZ as the kil gene of defective prophage Rac.

A gene function carried by a plasmid, causing arrest of cell division in Escherichia coli, has been identified as the product of a short open reading frame of the prophage Rac, previously designated orfE, expressed only under conditions of prophage induction. Because Rac carries a killing function expressed under conditions of zygotic induction, an orfE-defective Rac+ strain was constructed. This strain had lost the killing function, indicating that orfE is kil. Division inhibition by kil was specifically relieved by overexpression of essential division gene ftsZ. The kil gene product acts independently of the min operon, and its effects are increased in conditions of high cyclic AMP (cAMP) receptor protein-cAMP complex levels in the cell. Furthermore, at high levels of expression, kil product distorts the rod shape of the cells. These features distinguish kil-encoded protein from the inhibitory product of gene dicB, which occupies a similar genetic location in Kim (Qin), another defective prophage of Escherichia coli.     

Relationship of changing delta 4-steroid 5 alpha-reductase activity to [125I]iododeoxyuridine uptake during regeneration of involuted rat prostates

To elucidate the phenotypic expression of proliferating prostatic cells, rats were castrated, and the regenerating process of involuted ventral prostates during testosterone propionate (TP) administration was investigated by examining morphology, [5-125I]iododeoxyuridine (125I-UdR) uptake, DNA content, weight, acid phosphatase, and delta 4-steroid 5 alpha-reductase (5 alpha-reductase) activities. Morphologically, TP treatment initially increased the number of epithelial cells lining glandular lobules and subsequently restored the shape of epithelial cells. 125I-UdR uptake peaked on Day 3 of TP treatment and stayed at higher levels than for uncastrated controls until Day 14 of treatment. Prostatic weight, protein content, acid phosphatase, and DNA content returned to uncastrated control levels by Day 14 of TP treatment. TP administration markedly stimulated prostatic 5 alpha-reductase activity, which peaked on the Day 5 of treatment and decreased to uncastrated control levels by Day 14 of treatment. It is concluded that TP administration to castrated rats initially induced active mitotic division of the remaining stem cells, followed by formation of differentiated functional epithelial cells. Prostatic 5 alpha-reductase was highly active at the initial phase of active mitotic cell division. The major portion of the increased enzyme activity can be regarded as a phenotypic expression of stem or transient cells of prostatic epithelium.