Stimulus secretion coupling in vitro: a rapid perfusion apparatus for monitoring efflux of transmitter substances from tissue samples.

An apparatus for monitoring efflux rates of specific substances from cellular preparations is described. Tissue samples (homogenates, subcellular fractions, small tissue slices, cell suspensions etc.) are placed on a filter, perfused with several different media sequentially and aliquots of the perfusate collected at intervals of 5 sec. Under maximum perfusion rates, the changeover in perfusion media is completed in less than 1 sec, produces no detectable disturbance of the sample and allows only minimal mixing of the different media. The apparatus has been used successfully to study stimulus secretion coupling during release of the neurotransmitter [¹⁴C]γ-aminobutyric acid from synaptosomes.     

Photorespiration in diatoms. Mitochondrial glycolate dehydrogenase in clyindrotheca fusiformis and Nitzschia alba.

Glycolate dehydrogenase activity has been localized in the mitochondria of two marine diatoms. Polarographic data and difference spectra show that the enzyme is linked indirectly to oxygen via the electron transport system. The results presented indicate that the system responsible for the oxidation of glycolic acid in the diatom has evolved along lines distinctly different from glycolate oxidation in higher plants.     

Alterations of cAMP metabolism and hormone responsiveness of cloned differentiated rat liver cells (RL-PR-C) upon spontaneous transformation

In normal Rat Liver Primary Culture (RL-PR-C) liver cells, cAMP was low prior to confluency, then rose continuously as cells became contact inhibited. In contrast, spontaneously transformed RL-PR-C cells did not become contact inhibited, and cAMP decreased steadily with increasing cell density. Normal cells released large amounts of cAMP into the extracellular fluid at all densities, while transformed cells did not do so at any density. Neither exogenous db-cAMP nor phosphodiesterase inhibitors reversed the uncontrolled growth of transformed cells, nor did conditioned media from contact-inhibited normal cells.While both normal and transformed RL-PR-C hepatocytes produced large amounts of cAMP in response to epinephrine and cholera toxin, transformed cells were much more sensitive to these agents; however, only normal cells responded to glucagon. Although the plasma membrane adenylate cyclase of transformed hepatocytes responded better than did that of normal cells to epinephrine, cholera toxin and fluoride, the basal cyclase activity of transformed cells was only about half that of normal cells. The adenylate cyclase of transformed cells did not respond to glucagon, although the number of glucagon receptors of such cells far exceeded that of normal cells. The V_max of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase of normal hepatocytes was five times that of transformed cells, although the K_m was unchanged.The data indicate that spontaneous transformation of diploid differentiated RL-PR-C hepatocytes leads to cultural hormone receptor and cAMP changes similar to those seen in undifferentiated fibroblasts and other cells transformed by viruses and chemical carcinogens. Although there are significant changes in various parameters of cAMP metabolism upon transformation, decreased cAMP per se does not seem to be responsible for transformation. Furthermore, it is possible that following transformation, these hepatocytes lose some factor necessary for coupling of the glucagon receptor to adenylate cyclase.     

Hormone receptors. 7. Characteristics of insulin receptors in a new line of cloned neonatal rat hepatocytes

1. A new line of cloned, differentiated rat hepatocytes (RL-PR-C) was evaluated for its usefulness as an in vitro system for studying the regulation of the insulin receptor. 2. Insulin rapidly reversibly and specifically bound to RL-PR-C hepatocytes. Binding of tracer 125I-labeled insulin, which was competitively inhibited by native insulin as well as by proinsulin and analogs of insulin and proinsulin in proportion to their biological activity, was not influenced by glucagon, corticotropin, or human growth hormone. Anti-insulin receptor serum from a patient with Acanthosis Nigricans Type B competed with 125I-labeled insulin for binding to cell surface sites. 3. Trypsinization destroyed insulin binding sites, but these were restored by incubation under growth conditions; a 75% restoration of binding sites was achieved by one cell population doubling. 4. RL-PR-C hepatocytes responded to insulin binding by an increase in glycogen synthesis from glucose. The insulin effect was maximal at 85 nM, but was detectable at lower, more physiological, concentrations. 5. Chronic exposure (for at least 3h) of hepatocytes to insulin (10(-10)--(10(-8) M) reduced by up to 60% the number of binding sites for insulin (down-regulation). Down-regulation was prevented by cycloheximide at concentration (10 micron) sufficient to inhibit markedly protein synthesis from tracer isoleucine. Recovery from down-regulation induced by native insulin at 10(-7 M or lower concentrations was complete by 18 h under growth conditions. 6. Although RL-PR-C hepatocytes spontaneously transform after about 90 population doublings, no significant differences between normal and transformed cells were observed in insulin binding characteristics and in interaction of cells with anti-insulin receptor serum. However, transformed cells exhibited a substantially reduced (maximum of 20%) down-regulation response to insulin. 7. RL-PR-C rat hepatocytes appear, for these reasons, to be a useful model system for studying the regulation of the insulin receptor.     

Multiple ion-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase activities associated with membranes of the diatom Nitzschia alba.

At least ten distinct ATP-hydrolyzing activities are associated with mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum-, Golgi-, and plasma membrane-enriched fractions from the marine diatom, Nitzschia alba. These activities are divided into four groups: Ca²⁺-dependent, Mg²⁺-dependent monovalent cation-stimulated, Mg²⁺-anion-stimulated ATPases, and Mg²⁺-dependent nucleotidases.The Mg²⁺-dependent activities hydrolyze nucleoside triphosphates and, in some membranes, nucleoside diphosphates. Molar ratios of 1:2 $\text{ATP}\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}$ are preferred. However, their divalent cation requirements are not specific, and they can effectively utilize Ca²⁺, Mn²⁺, Mg²⁺, or Zn²⁺. The most effective inhibitors of the Mg²⁺-dependent activities are oligomycin, NaN₃, and NaF.Optimal activity of the Mg²⁺-dependent monovalent cation-stimulated ATPase is obtained at Na⁺, or Na⁺ plus K⁺ concentrations of 100–300 mm. Under these high salt conditions, ATP is hydrolyzed almost exclusively, and Mg²⁺ is specifically required for activation. Preference is for a molar ratio of $\text{ATP}\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{≧ 2}$, and the sulfhydryl-blocking agents, p-chloromecuribenzoate, N-ethylmaleimide, and iodoacetamide strongly or completely inhibit ATP hyrolysis.     

Fine structure of rabbit articular chondrocytes in tissue culture during logarithmic and confluent stages of growth

Ultrastructural changes in cultured articular cartilage chondrocytes from rabbit, during two growth phases were examined by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Cells in logarithmic growth are characterized by an abundance of intracellular lipoid bodies, little development of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), and few cytoplasmic microfilaments. As the cells reach confluency there is a concomitant development of RER, organization and abundance of microfilaments, loss of lipoid bodies, and increase in the number of mitochondria. The fine structure of cultured chondrocytes is very similar to that of rabbit cartilage cells in situ, in that numerous lipoid bodies and microfilaments are prominent features in both cases.     

Use of intact rat brain cells as a model to study regulation of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors

Intact rat brain cells were dissociated and used to study the regulation of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors upon exposure to muscarinic receptor agonists. Incubation of cells with carbamylcholine resulted in a time-dependent decrease in subsequent [3H]N-methylscopolamine specific binding, an effect which reached a steady state after 3 hr at 37 degrees C. This effect of carbamylcholine was dependent on the concentration of the agonist in the incubation medium and was due to a reduction in the maximal binding capacity of the receptor with no decrease in the affinity of the remaining receptors. This preparation might be useful in future studies to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the regulation of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in the central nervous system.     

Subcellular fractionation of isolated rat hepatocytes a comparison with liver homogenate

An improved method for the homogenization and the subsequent subcellular fractionation of hepatocytes isolated from adult rat liver is described.The homogenization procedure developed in the present study allows the preservation of the integrity of subcellular structures, as demonstrated by measurement of the activities of representative enzymes as well as by determination of their latency.The activities of representative marker enzymes, as calculated on subcellular fractions obtained by differential centrifugation of the homogenate, are identical whether the homogenate arises from isolated hepatocytes or from the whole liver.Moreover, there is a close similitude between the kinetic parameters (K_{m and} V) of two microsomal cytochrome P₄₅₀-dependent mixed-function oxidases, namely aniline hydroxylase and aminopyrine demethylase determined on microsomal preparations obtained either from isolated cells or from the whole liver.     

Comparison of muscarinic and alpha-adrenergic receptors in rat atria based on phosphoinositide turnover

The effects of muscarinic and alpha-adrenergic receptor stimulation on phosphoinositide turnover in rat atria have been compared. Despite the similar densities of muscarinic receptors in rat left and right atria, 0.1 mM carbachol increased [32P]phosphate incorporation into phosphatidylinositol (PI) by 35% (p less than 0.05) in left atria but had no effect in right atria. By contrast to the small muscarinic receptor effect, stimulation of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors by 0.1 mM methoxamine produced a more than two fold increase in [32P]phosphate incorporation into PI in both left and right atria, despite the reported smaller density of alpha-adrenergic receptors in rat atria compared to muscarinic receptors. Enhanced phosphate labelling by methoxamine did not occur in phospholipids other than PI, and was blocked by the alpha-adrenergic antagonist, phentolamine (20 microM). The results indicate that the majority of the muscarinic receptors in rat atria are not coupled to phosphoinositide turnover. If indeed the observed enhancement in [32P]-phosphate labelling by carbachol reflects phosphoinositide turnover, and assuming equal coupling efficiencies of muscarinic and adrenergic receptors, it is calculated that not more than 2% of the muscarinic receptors in rat left atria are coupled to this response.     

Critical periods for noradrenergic regeneration in rat brain regions following neonatal subcutaneous 6-hydroxydopamine

The critical period for 60HDA-induced noradrenergic hypertrophy was assessed in several subregions of the cerebellum by treating rat pups at various ages over the first postnatal week. Noradrenergic recovery was greatest closest to birth and declined gradually over this period. Within the cerebellum recovery appeared to decline most rapidly in the middle region. In contrast, in the cerebral cortex noradrenergic fibers apparently increased their resistance and survivability over the first postnatal week. The results are discussed in terms of a hypothesized target-elicited retrograde control of locus coeruleus growth.     

Maintenance and reversibility of active albumin secretion by adult rat hepatocytes co-cultured with another liver epithelial cell type

When adult rat hepatocytes were co-cultured with another liver epithelial cell type in a medium supplemented or not with fetal calf serum (FCS), it was found that 1. They survived for more than 2 months 2. Albumin secretion levels remained high over the whole culture period 3. Decreased secretion might be reversed 4. This protein secretion activity appeared to be dependent upon both the presence of cell-cell contacts and the production of an extracellular material. The results demonstrate for the first time long-term stabilization and reversibility of a specific function (albumin secretion) at high levels by adult hepatocytes cultured in serum-free medium and suggest that both the presence of other liver cell type(s) and the production of an extracellular matrix are needed for the maintenance of specific functions in cultured hepatocytes.     

Ultrastructural and biochemical characterization of a cloned mouse keratinocyte cell line

A cloned population of mouse C3H/He keratinocytes was obtained from the 14th passage of an epidermal cell line. A two-step cloning procedure using Petriperm dishes was performed. The cloned population, grown at 34 °C, was subcultured more than 30 times over a one year period. By day 14, three cell layers were formed; the ultrastructural morphology and immunofluorescence characterization of these layers showed numerous tonofilament bundles and well organized desmosome tonofilament structures. They thereby resemble the proliferative compartment of the epidermis. High resolution acrylamide gel electrophoresis of the keratins extracted from the cloned cells showed the presence of many keratin subunits. The tonofilaments extracted from the cell layers, as well as from the supernatant cells, contained a small quantity of high MW keratins (rel. MW 63 000; apparent isoelectric point 5.5–6.2). These results indicate that the cloned keratinocyte cell line had retained a certain maturation capacity in culture.     

Associated effects of sodium butyrate on histone acetylation and estrogen receptor in the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7

Sodium butyrate at a concentration of 5mM causes significant hyperacetylation of the core histones in the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Histone hyperacetylation was achieved in rapidly-growing cells at 40% confluency after 24 hours in 5mM sodium butyrate. More nearly confluent cells did not reach as high a level of histone hyperacetylation. Upon assaying the estrogen receptors, both cytosolic and KCl-extractable nuclear, we found that butyrate treatment had lowered the estrogen receptor levels in both compartments. To our knowledge this is the first report of an effect of sodium butyrate on estrogen receptor levels.     

Purine metabolism and urate biosynthesis in isolated chicken hepatocytes

The metabolism of some purine compounds to urate and their effects on de novo urate synthesis in chicken hepatocytes were investigated. The purines, listed in descending order of rates of catabolism to urate, were hypoxanthine, xanthine, inosine, guanosine, guanine, IMP, GMP, adenosine, AMP, and adenine. During a 1-h incubation period, conversion to urate accounted for more than 80% of the total quantities of guanine, guanosine, and inosine metabolized, but only 42% of the adenosine and 23% of the adenine metabolism. Adenine, adenosine, and AMP inhibited de novo urate synthesis [( 14C]formate incorporation into urate), whereas the other purines, especially guanine, guanosine, and GMP, stimulated de novo urate synthesis. When hepatocytes were incubated with glutamine and adenosine, AMP, guanine, guanosine, or GMP, the rates of de novo urate synthesis were lower than the additive effects of glutamine and the purine in separate incubations. Increasing phosphate concentrations had no effect on urate synthesis in the absence of added purines but, in combination with adenosine, AMP, guanosine, or GMP, increased urate synthesis. These results indicate that the ratio of adenine to guanine nucleotides and the interaction between substrates and purine nucleotides are involved in the regulation of urate biosynthesis in chicken liver.     

Antiproliferative effect of interferon on a Burkitt''s lymphoma cell line

The effect of interferon (IF) on the growth of a Burkitt's lymphoma cell line was analysed. The degree of depression of cell doublings was the same if the cells were in a steady state mode of exponential growth or in a resting state (G0) when IF was added. As IF had a lag time of 24 h before decreased growth could be observed, cells in G0 did not seem to be more sensitive when growth was estimated by cell counts expressed as cell doublings. IF inhibited cells to proceed into the cell cycle and the possibility that IF may increase the escape into a G0 loop is discussed.     

Secreted proteins from rat Sertoli cells.

Sertoli cell cultures were prepared from the testes of 20-day-old rats. The proteins which were secreted by the cells into the culture medium were labeled with [³H]leucine or l-[³H]fucose. The proteins were concentrated by ultrafiltration and analysed by polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis (PAGE) in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Autofluorography of the gels at ?70 °C showed that the rat Sertoli cells synthesized and secreted at least 7 major polypeptides. The polypeptides had molecular weights ranging from 16 000 to 140 000 D. Proteins which were secreted from cultures of testicular fibroblasts and myoid cells had electrophoretic properties on SDS-PAGE which were different from Sertoli cell secreted proteins. Addition of FSH and testosterone to the Sertoli cell cultures increased the total synthesis and secretion of [³H]leucine-labeled proteins. No qualitative changes in the proteins as a result of hormone application could be detected. However, the synthesis of a polypeptide of molecular weight 48 000 was increased relative to the other secreted peptides if the cells were maintained in FSH and testosterone. The Sertoli cell secreted proteins were shown to be glycoproteins which can bind to ConA-Sepharose and can be labeled with [³H]fucose. Tunicamycin, a specific inhibitor of N-glycosylation, inhibited the secretion of [³H]proteins by 50% but had little effect on the intracellular protein synthesis.     

Determination of uronic acid in uronides by application of a new microgram-scale isotope dilution method for carbon dioxide.

Conditions studied earlier by Tracey [(1948) Biochem. J.43, 185] are used for acid decarboxylation in sealed tubes of uronide samples supplemented with 6-¹⁴C-labeled uronic acid. The specific activity of the CO₂ evolved is measured as the ratio of radioactivity to area of the CO₂ peak obtained in a gas chromatogram. By appropriate standardization, samples containing some 60 nmol of uronic acid can be analyzed with reproducibility and apparent accuracy of about ±2% (mean deviation). The techniques developed for uronic acid analysis should apply with minor modification to any problem requiring accurate measurement of CO₂ in small amounts.     

Mechanism and stereospecificity of alpha-hydroxylation of lignoceric acid in rat brain.

Cerebronic acid (2-hydroxytetracosanoic acid) is the major fatty acid component of cerebrosides and sulfatides in mammalian brain. Our previous communication demonstrated the synthesis of cerebronic acid from lignoceric acid (tetracosanoic acid) by a rat brain preparation in the presence of molecular oxygen and a reduced pyridine nucleotide (Hoshi, M., and Kishimoto, Y. (1973) J. Biol. Chem., 248, 4123–4130). The present'studies on the conversion of (RS)-[2-³H]-, (RS)-[3-³H]-, (R)-[2-³H]-, and (S)-[2-³H]lignoceric acids to cerebronic acid by rat brain preparations establish that the pro-R hydrogen at the α-carbon of lignoceric acid is replaced by a hydroxyl group with overall retention of configuration.