植物细胞中NuMA类似蛋白的分布及其在细胞周期中的变化

免疫荧光染色结果说明植物细胞核内含有与抗动物ＮｕＭＡ多抗呈阳性交叉反应的多肽。选择性抽提并结合免疫荧光染色结果说明这种多肽位于核基质纤维蛋白网络上。免疫印迹反应显示胡萝卜（ＤａｕｃｕｓｃａｒｏｔａＬ．）悬浮培养细胞核基质蛋白与抗动物ＮｕＭＡ蛋白多抗的阳性反应条带为７４ｋＤ和７６ｋＤ。有丝分裂各期免疫荧光染色的结果表明植物细胞中的ＮｕＭＡ类似蛋白在有丝分裂过程中呈现有规律的变化。结合选择性抽提的有丝分裂各期的免疫荧光染色的结果表明核基质在此过程中也发生明显变化。应用选择性抽提并结合ＤＧＤ包埋去包埋电镜技术对植物细胞间期及有丝分裂期核基质的形态结构进行了观察。结果显示胡萝卜悬浮培养细胞间期核内存在一个非染色质性的纤维蛋白网络体系,而在正处于分裂的细胞中则未观察到。以上结果说明ＮｕＭＡ类似蛋白是核基质的组分之一并与有丝分裂密切相关。     

盐胁迫下植物的细胞信号转导

近年来,植物对环境胁迫的响应在细胞和分子水平上得到了广泛研究。一般来说,胁迫信号首先被膜受体感知,然后传递至细胞中启动胁迫响应基因,调节植物对胁迫的耐受。了解植物感知与传递环境胁迫信号的途径并完成对环境胁迫的响应,是生物学重要的基础研究内容。简要介绍了在盐胁迫下植物细胞信号转导的一系列过程。     

植物衰老中的编程性细胞死亡

本文通过对植物衰老和动植物中编程性细胞死亡(PCD)的研究,阐述了植物衰老中PCD存在的依据,澄清了植物衰老和PCD的关系,提出了植物衰老中可能的PCD发生途径,为调控植物衰老的遗传操作提供依据.     

Celebrating Plant Cells： A Special Issue on Plant Cell Biology

A special issue on plant cell biology is long overdue for JIPB! In the last two decades or so, the plant biology community has been thrilled by explosive discoveries regarding the molecular and genetic basis of plant growth, development, and responses to the environment, largely owing to recent maturation of model systems like Arabidopsis thaliana and the rice Oryza sativa, as well as the rapid development of high throughput technologies associated with qenomics and proteomics.     

The Structure of Plant Cell Walls: VII. Barley Aleurone Cells

The walls of barley (Hordeum vulgare var. Himalaya) aleurone cells are composed of two major polysaccharides, arabinoxylan (85%) and cellulose (8%). The cell wall preparations contain 6% protein, but this protein does not contain detectable amounts of hydroxyproline. The arabinoxylan has a linear 1,4-xylan backbone; 33% of the xylosyl residues are substituted at the 2 and/or 3 position with single arabinofuranosyl residues. The results of in vitro cellulose binding experiments support the hypothesis that noncovalent bonds between the arabinoxylan chains and cellulose fibers play a part in maintaining wall structure. It is suggested that bonding between the arabinoxylan chains themselves is also utilized in forming the walls.     

Nitric Oxide Coordinates Cell Proliferation and Cell Movements During Early Development of Xenopus

The establishment of a vertebrate body plan during embryogenesis is achieved through precise coordination of cell proliferation and morphogenetic cell movements. Here we show that nitric oxide (NO) suppresses cell division and facilitates cell movements during early development of Xenopus, such that inhibition of NO synthase (NOS) increases proliferation in the neuroectoderm and suppresses convergent extension in the axial mesoderm and neuroectoderm. NO controls cell division and cell movement through two separate signaling pathways. Both rely on RhoA-ROCK signaling but can be distinguished by the involvement of either guanylate cyclase or the planar cell polarity regulator Dishevelled. Through the cGMP-dependent pathway, NO suppresses cell division by negatively regulating RhoA and controlling the nuclear distribution of ROCK and p21WAF1. Through the cGMP-independent pathway, NO facilitates cell movement by regulating the intracellular distribution and level of Dishevelled and the activity of RhoA, thereby controlling the activity of ROCK and regulating actin cytoskeleton remodeling and cell polarization. Concurrent control by NO helps ensure that the crucial processes of cell proliferation and morphogenetic movements are coordinated during early development.     

The Secretome of Alginate-Encapsulated Limbal Epithelial Stem Cells Modulates Corneal Epithelial Cell Proliferation

Limbal epithelial stem cells may ameliorate limbal stem cell deficiency through secretion of therapeutic proteins, delivered to the cornea in a controlled manner using hydrogels. In the present study the secretome of alginate-encapsulated limbal epithelial stem cells is investigated. Conditioned medium was generated from limbal epithelial stem cells encapsulated in 1.2% (w/v) calcium alginate gels. Conditioned medium proteins separated by 1-D gel electrophoresis were visualized by silver staining. Proteins of interest including secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine, profilin-1, and galectin-1 were identified by immunoblotting. The effect of conditioned medium (from alginate-encapsulated limbal epithelial stem cells) on corneal epithelial cell proliferation was quantified and shown to significantly inhibit (P≤0.05) their growth. As secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine was previously reported to attenuate proliferation of epithelial cells, this protein may be responsible, at least in part, for inhibition of corneal epithelial cell proliferation. We conclude that limbal epithelial stem cells encapsulated in alginate gels may regulate corneal epithelialisation through secretion of inhibitory proteins.     

Brain Stem GABA Receptor Functional Regulation During Rat Liver Cell Proliferation

GABAergic alterations in brain stem during compensatory hyperplasia after partial hepatectomy (PH), lead nitrate (LN)-induced direct hyperplasia, and N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA)-induced neoplasia in liver were investigated. GABA content decreased in brain stem of PH- and NDEA-treated rats while it increased in LN-treated rats. GABA_A receptor number and affinity in brain stem membrane preparations of rats showed a significant decrease in PH- and NDEA-treated rats. The GABA_B receptor number increased in PH- and NDEA-treated rats with an increase in affinity. The results of the present study indicate that liver cell proliferation is influencing the brain stem GABAergic neurotransmission and these changes regulate the hepatic proliferation through the sympathetic stimulation.     

Calpain-3 Impairs Cell Proliferation and Stimulates Oxidative Stress-Mediated Cell Death in Melanoma Cells

Calpain-3 is an intracellular cysteine protease, belonging to Calpain superfamily and predominantly expressed in skeletal muscle. In human melanoma cell lines and biopsies, we previously identified two novel splicing variants (hMp78 and hMp84) of Calpain-3 gene (CAPN3), which have a significant lower expression in vertical growth phase melanomas and, even lower, in metastases, compared to benign nevi. In the present study, in order to investigate the pathophysiological role played by the longer Calpain-3 variant, hMp84, in melanoma cells, we over-expressed it in A375 and HT-144 cells. In A375 cells, the enforced expression of hMp84 induces p53 stabilization, and modulates the expression of a few p53- and oxidative stress-related genes. Consistently, hMp84 increases the intracellular production of ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species), which lead to oxidative modification of phospholipids (formation of F₂-isoprostanes) and DNA damage. Such events culminate in an adverse cell fate, as indicated by the decrease of cell proliferation and by cell death. To a different extent, either the antioxidant N-acetyl-cysteine or the p53 inhibitor, Pifithrin-α, recover cell viability and decrease ROS formation. Similarly to A375 cells, hMp84 over-expression causes inhibition of cell proliferation, cell death, and increase of both ROS levels and F₂-isoprostanes also in HT-144 cells. However, in these cells no p53 accumulation occurs. In both cell lines, no significant change of cell proliferation and cell damage is observed in cells over-expressing the mutant hMp84^C42S devoid of its enzymatic activity, suggesting that the catalytic activity of hMp84 is required for its detrimental effects. Since a more aggressive phenotype is expected to benefit from down-regulation of mechanisms impairing cell growth and survival, we envisage that Calpain-3 down-regulation can be regarded as a novel mechanism contributing to melanoma progression.     

Nuclear Proteins During the Onset of Cell Proliferation in Pea Root Meristems

The DNA: proteins ratio in nuclei of root meristems of pea (Pisumsativum L. cv. Lincoln) changed considerably during germinationas cells moved from a quiescent to an actively proliferatingstate with a higher protein content in nuclei of the latter.Electrophoretic patterns of nuclear proteins extracted at differenttimes of germination were used to examine qualitative changes.The various patterns presented a substantial similarity butthere were some proteins whose content increased or decreasedand others which disappeared or appeared during germination.The bulk of these variations occurred between 24 and 48 h ofgermination, suggesting that they might be correlated to thetransition from quiescence to the proliferating state. The patternof nuclear proteins obtained from adult differentiated roottissue was also examined. We tried to purify five differentnuclear protein components from intact nuclei by a multi-stepextraction procedure using a series of different buffers toascertain the nature of proteins presenting major interestingvariations. Most of these proteins purified with the nuclearsap or ribosomal components. Key words: Cell proliferation, electrophoresis, Pisum sativum L, root meristems     

Myelin Gene Expression in Immortalized Schwann Cells: Relationship to Cell Density and Proliferation

Abstract: Myelin gene expression was investigated in the immortalized S16 Schwann cell line grown in the presence and absence of serum and at different densities. Protein expression was monitored by western blotting, and message levels were determined by RNase protection assays. To study cell proliferation rates at different cell densities and serum conditions. [³H]thymidine uptake assays and cell counts were performed. Although serum deprivation decreased cell proliferation as expected, the proliferation of S16 cells was unchanged or slightly increased at high density under the conditions of our experiments in either serum-containing or serum-free medium. This increased cell division at high density appeared to be due to greater release of an autocrine growth factor to the medium by dense cell populations. For both sparse and dense cells, substantially more P₀ glycoprotein (P₀) and myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) per milligram of total cellular protein were expressed when the cells were proliferating slowly in defined medium in comparison with more rapidly proliferating cells in serum-containing medium. Furthermore, in both serum-containing and defined media, dense cell populations expressed more MAG and P₀ than sparse ones. P₀ mRNA and MAG mRNA levels generally paralleled protein levels. The level of mRNA for peripheral myelin protein-22 (PMP-22) was also increased at high cell density but did not change much when proliferation was decreased by serum deprivation. PMP-22 protein was not detected under any of the growth conditions. The changes in expression of these genes with growth conditions may be specific for myelin proteins, because the expression of a nonmyelin glycoprotein, L1, remained constant. The level of cyclic AMP in the cells did not change with the different growth conditions tested. The results indicate that the S16 Schwann cell line mimics primary or secondary Schwann cells by down-regulating myelin gene expression when it proliferates more rapidly in the presence of serum. Furthermore, in both the presence and absence of serum, there was greater expression of myelin genes at high cell density that was not associated with a decreased proliferative rate. Because evidence for a role of secretory factors in affecting myelin gene expression was not obtained by treating sparse S16 cells with medium conditioned by dense S16 cells, the results suggest that the higher expression of myelin genes at high density may be mediated by cell-to-cell contact.     

Interferon-Gamma-Induced Nitric Oxide Inhibits the Proliferation of Murine Renal Cell Carcinoma Cells

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains one of the most resistant tumors to systemic chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. Despite great progress in understanding the basic biology of RCC, the rate of responses in animal models and clinical trials using interferons (IFNs) has not improved significantly. It is likely that the lack of responses can be due to the tumor''s ability to develop tumor escape strategies. Currently, the use of targeted therapies has improved the clinical outcomes of patients with RCC and is associated with an increase of Th1-cytokine responses (IFNγ), indicating the importance of IFNγ in inhibiting tumor proliferation. Thus, the present study was designed to investigate a new mechanism by which IFNγ mediates direct anti-proliferative effects against murine renal cell carcinoma cell lines. When cultured RCC cell lines were exposed to murine recombinant IFNγ, a dose dependent growth inhibition in CL-2 and CL-19 cells was observed; this effect was not observed in Renca cells. Growth inhibition in CL-2 and CL-19 cell lines was associated with the intracellular induction of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein, resulting in a sustained elevation of nitric oxide (NO) and citrulline, and a decrease in arginase activity. The inhibition of cell proliferation appears to be due to an arrest in the cell cycle. The results indicate that in certain RCC cell lines, IFNγ modulates L-arginine metabolism by shifting from arginase to iNOS activity, thereby developing a potent inhibitory mechanism to encumber tumor cell proliferation and survival. Elucidating the cellular events triggered by IFNγ in murine RCC cell lines will permit anti-tumor effects to be exploited in the development of new combination therapies that interfere with L-arginine metabolism to effectively combat RCC in patients.     

Imaging of Calcium Channels During Polarity Induction in Plant Cells

Understanding the molecular basis of polarity induction in plant cells is a research aspect that extends from signal perception and transduction to morphogenesis. A gradient of cytoplasmic ion fluxes generated through ion channels plays a crucial role in subsequent events leading to polar growth. Convincing evidence is now available implicating temporal and spatial distribution of Ca²⁺ in cytoplasm, generated by localized activity of calcium channels, as the early biochemical events associated with polarity induction. Ion channel antagonists are common tools for studying ion channel structure and function. Coupled with a fluorescent dyes, calcium channel antagonists (phenylalkylamine and dihydropyridine), have been used to localize L-type calcium channels. Additionally, the advent of Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy has made possible the visualization of Ca²⁺ channels in plant cells. Persisting problems of dye loading and their cellular compartmentation have been addressed by developing a variety of experimental protocols. Present article highlights the current state of our understanding of these concepts, methodologies and their applications in different aspects of plant development.     

Functions of the Cell Wall in the Interactions of Plant Cells: Analysis Using Carrot Cultured Cells

Interactions between cells and between tissues are importantin the development and morphogenesis of higher plants. Attemptsto characterize the role of the cell wall in such interactionshave benefited from the use of carrot (Daucus carota L.) culturedcells in vitro as a model system. The development of carrotcells in culture can be divided into three processes: the acquisitionof embryogenic competence; the development of the embryo; andthe maturation and dormancy of the embryo. Induction of non-embryogeniccallus is accompanied by weakened intercellular attachment,decreased levels of endogenous ABA and a decrease in responsivenessto exogenous ABA. Cell wall polysaccharides are known to beinvolved in various developmental and morphogenetic events.In carrot cultured cells, possible roles in intercellular attachmenthave been proposed for arabinan and xylose in the neutral sugarregions of pectins, and various extracellular proteins havebeen shown to be involved in somatic embryogenesis in vitro.Some of these proteins are also present around and/or in zygoticembryos, possibly being involved in the formation and functionsof zygotic embryos and seeds. A 57-kDa extracellular solubleglycoprotein that binds to insulin-like peptides and an 18-kDaextracellular insoluble cystatin that inhibits the proteinasesof germinating seeds of carrot might be involved in cellularsignal transduction and inter-tissue interaction, respectively,in carrot seeds. ¹ Recipient of the JSPP Young Investigator Award, 1997     

Transformations of the Cell Center during Cell Differentiation

A question was posed as to how the multicomponent and polyfunctional organelle dynamically changes during metazoan ontogenesis. The centrosome structure is gradually formed and its functions are switched on during early embryogenesis, one of which is the cell center formation. During cell differentiation, the condition of the cell center and surrounding structures may be different: first, the cell center is quite distinct; second, the cell center is absent due to redistribution of the microtubule organizing centers; third, the cell center disappears due to reversible or irreversible inactivation of the centrosome and other centers of microtubule organization. The assembly of the Golgi complex does not depend directly to the cell center presence. In some cell types, the Golgi complex is topologically associated with the cell center, while in others it exists as individual dictyosomes despite the cell center presence. In some other cell types, the common Golgi complex is assembled without the cell center, but in the presence of microtubules that are formed by noncentrosome centers of microtubule organization. In still others, degradation of both the cell center and the common Golgi complex takes place in the case of centrosome inactivation.