Localization of soluble endogenous lectins and their ligands at specific extracellular sites

Soluble lectins of chicken, rat, frog, and the cellular slime mold, Dictyostelium discoideum, were purified and specific antibodies raised against these proteins were used to immunohistochemically localize the lectins in and around the tissues in which they were synthesized. Within cells, some of these soluble lectins (chicken-lactose-lectin-II in intestinal goblet cells, discoidin II in prespore cells) appear to be concentrated within vesicles whereas others (e.g., rat beta-galactoside lectin in pulmonary alveolar and smooth muscle cells) appear to be free in the cytoplasm. All of these lectins are eventually secreted to extracellular sites in developing or adult tissues. The sites include mucin (chicken-lactose-lectin-II in intestine); developing extracellular matrix (chicken-lactose-lectin-I in muscle; Xenopus laevis lectin in blastula stage embryos); slime (discoidin I); developing spore coat (discoidin II); and a specialized extracellular matrix, elastic fibers (rat beta-galactoside lectin in lung). In cases where this has been studied in detail (discoidin I, discoidin II, and chicken-lactose-lectin-II), the lectin is associated with a complementary extracellular ligand, at least transiently. Lectin-ligand interactions presumably confer specialized properties in these particular extracellular domains.     

Colocalization of discoidin-binding ligands with discoidin in developing Dictyostelium discoideum

The Dictyostelium discoideum lectins, discoidin I and discoidin II, and the endogenous ligands to which they bind were immunohistochemically localized in sections of this organism at successive stages of development. For these studies, an axenic strain, AX3, was grown in a macromolecule-depleted medium rather than on bacteria, which themselves contain discoidin-binding ligands. Discoidin I-binding sites (endogenous ligands) in sections of D. discoideum were concentrated in the slime coat around aggregates, whereas discoidin II-binding sites were observed in a vesicle-like distribution in prespore cells and also in spore coats. In contrast, discoidin II did not bind to the slime coat and discoidin I bound relatively poorly to prespore cells and spore coats. The distributions of the endogenous lectins themselves were the same in axenically grown cells as previously reported for cells raised on bacteria. Discoidin I was concentrated in the slime coat and around stalk cells, and discoidin II was prominent in and around prespore cells. The congruent localization of each lectin with its endogenous ligand suggests that discoidin I normally functions in association with glycoconjugates in the slime around aggregates, and discoidin II with the galactose-rich spore coat polysaccharide.     

A Dictyostelium cellobiohydrolase orthologue that affects developmental timing

Dictyostelium discoideum is a facultative multicellular amoebozoan with cellulose in the stalk and spore coat of its fruiting body as well as in the extracellular matrix of the migrating slug. The organism also harbors a number of cellulase genes. One of them, cbhA, was identified as a candidate cellobiohydrolase gene based on the strong homology of its predicted protein product to fungal cellobiohydrolase I (CBHI). Expression of the cbhA was developmentally regulated, with strong expression in the spores of the mature fruiting body. However, a weak but detectable level of expression was observed in the extracellular matrix at the mound — tipped finger stages, in prestalk O cells, and in the slime sheath of the migrating slug — late culminant stages. A null mutant of the cbhA showed almost normal morphology. However, the developmental timing of the mutant was delayed by 2–4 h. When a c-Myc epitope-tagged CbhA was expressed, it was secreted into the culture medium and was able to bind crystalline cellulose. The CbhA-myc protein was glycosylated, as demonstrated by its ability to bind succinyl concanavalin A-agarose. Moreover, conditioned medium from the cbhA-myc ^oe strain displayed 4-methylumbelliferyl β-d-cellobioside (4-MUC) digesting activity in Zymograms in which conditioned medium was examined via native-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis or spotted on an agar plate containing 4-MUC, one of the substrates of cellobiohydrolase. Taken together, these findings indicate that Dictyostelium CbhA is an orthologue of CBH I that is required for a normal rate of development.     

Crossing the finish line of development: regulated secretion of Dictyostelium proteins

The genesis of the spore coat of Dictyostelium represents an exquisite example of developmentally regulated protein secretion. The proteins that are destined to be assembled into the extracellular matrix of the spore coat are stored in unique prespore vesicles that are triggered to secrete their contents at terminal differentiation. The regulation of this process is being revealed by the identification of the individual proteins in these vesicles.     

Incorporation of protein into spore coats is not cell autonomous in Dictyostelium.

At maturity, the spores of Dictyostelium are suspended in a viscous fluid droplet, with each spore being surrounded by its own spore coat. Certain glycoproteins characteristic of the spore coat are also dissolved in this fluid matrix after the spore coat is formed. To determine whether any proteins of the coat reside in this fluid phase earlier during the process of spore coat assembly, pairs of strains which differed in a spore coat protein carbohydrate marker were mixed and allowed to form spore coats in each other's presence. We reasoned that proteins belonging to an early, soluble, extracellular pool would be incorporated into the spore coats of both strains. To detect trans-incorporation, spores were labeled with a fluorescent antibody against the carbohydrate marker and each spore's fluorescence was analyzed by flow cytometry. Several proteins of both the outer and inner protein layers of the coat appeared to be faithfully and reciprocally trans-incorporated and hence judged to belong to a soluble, assembly-phase pool. Western blot analysis of sorted spores, and EM localization, confirmed this conclusion. In contrast, one outer-layer protein was not trans-incorporated, and was concluded to be insoluble at the time of secretion. Three classes of spore coat proteins can be described: (a) Insoluble from the time of secretion; (b) present in the early, soluble pool but not the late pool after spore coat formation; and (c) present in the soluble pool throughout spore coat assembly. These classes may, respectively: (a) Nucleate spore coat assembly; (b) comprise a scaffold defining the dimensions of the nascent spore coat; and (c) complete the assembly process by intercalation into the scaffold.     

The effect of extracellular matrix interactions on morphologic transformation in vitro

There is emerging evidence that the structure and function of a cell is dependent in part on the contacts that cells make with the extracellular matrix. We report here the effect of extracellular matrices secreted from both normal and tumor cells have on the structure of normal rat kidney epithelial cells. Normal rat kidney cells plated on the basement membrane secreted by tumor cells adopt a morphology and phenotype which closely resembles a Kirsten-ras transformed normal rat kidney cell. This morphologic transformation was not observed for cells plated on individual extracellular matrix components or on basement membrane secreted by normal placenta cells. This suggests that tumor derived basement membrane has unique characteristics which may cause morphologic transformation of normal rat kidney cells.     

ULTRASTRUCTURAL ASPECTS OF CELL ELONGATION,CELLULOSE SYNTHESIS,AND SPORE DIFFERENTIATION IN ACYTOSTELIUM LEPTOSOMUM,A CELLULAR SLIME MOLD

Vegetative myxamoebae of Acytostelium leptosomum, a cellular slime mold, have the appearance of typical eucaryotic cells. The presence of dictyosomes has been established. Elongation of the cells during aggregation and culmination appears to be mediated by dense bundles of microfibrils traversing the cells longitudinally. Microtubules are present; however, they are randomly oriented and no correlation can be made with cell elongation or with the direction of the cellulose microfibrils within the stalk. A variety of vesicles, multivesicular bodies, and lysosome-like vacuoles seems to be involved in producing and transporting stalk material to the vicinity of the stalk. However, only rarely do the vesicles empty their contents directly to the outside of the cells. It seems rather that the fibrillar material of the stalk is assembled near or directly at the plasmalemma, and can then be seen to stream away and become an integral part of the stalk. An unusual structure, the H-body, is formed in great abundance during culmination indicating its possible involvement in stalk synthesis. The H-bodies are removed from the cells prior to spore formation together with other portions of the cytoplasm at least partly by a process involving autophagic vacuoles. These vacuoles, which are also present in the spores, appear to be part of a rather complex and extensive vacuolar apparatus including the food vacuoles, contractile vacuoles, lysosome-like structures, and possibly the H-bodies. The spore coat consists of a heavy outer wall with a fibrillar substructure and two thin, dense bands lining the inside of the plasmalemma. The fibrillar nature of both the outer spore wall and the stalk was accentuated by using barium permanganate to stain sectioned material.     

Electron spin resonance studies of the membranes of the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum.

Doxylstearic acid spin labels are used to study the fluidity of the membranes of the cellular slime mold, Dictyostelium discoideum. The tau omicron value of the wild-type cell membrane is close to that of egg lecithin indicating a rather fluid membrane. No detectable change in the fluidity of the bulk lipids at the 16-carbon depth occurs during differentiation of the myxamoebae into stalk and spore cells despite reported changes in the individual lipid components. The results of studies on temperature-sensitive and aggregationless mutants are also presented.     

Glycoantigens induce human peripheral Tr1 cell differentiation with gut-homing specialization

The carbohydrate antigen (glycoantigen) PSA from an intestinal commensal bacteria is able to down-regulate inflammatory bowel disease in model mice, suggesting that stimulation with PSA results in regulatory T cell (Treg) generation. However, mechanisms of how peripheral human T cells respond and home in response to commensal antigens are still not understood. Here, we demonstrate that a single exposure to PSA induces differentiation of human peripheral CD4(+) T cells into type-Tr1 Tregs. This is in contrast to mouse models where PSA induced the production of Foxp3(+) iTregs. The human PSA-induced Tr1 cells are profoundly anergic and exhibit nonspecific bystander suppression mediated by IL-10 secretion. Most surprisingly, glycoantigen exposure provoked expression of gut homing receptors on their surface. These findings reveal a mechanism for immune homeostasis in the gut whereby exposure to commensal glycoantigens provides the requisite information to responding T cells for proper tissue localization (gut) and function (anti-inflammatory/regulatory).     

Modulation of vascular smooth muscle cells proteoglycan synthesis by the extracellular matrix

In this study, we investigated the effect of the extracellular matrix (ECM) secreted by vascular cells on proteoglycan (PG) synthesis by vascular smooth muscle cells in culture. PG synthesis of human aortic smooth muscle cells plated on plastic or the matrices derived from vascular endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, or THP-1 macrophages was characterized. Smooth muscle cell and macrophage matrices increased both secreted and cellular smooth muscle cells PG production by 2.5-fold to 3.9-fold, respectively, over plastic and endothelial cell matrix. Macrophage matrix was more potent than smooth muscle cell matrix in this regard. Selective enzymatic removal of chondroitin sulfates, collagen, and elastin from smooth muscle cell matrix enhanced the stimulation of PG synthesis, as did the removal of chondroitin sulfates from macrophage matrix. PG turnover rates were similar for smooth muscle cells plated on the three matrices. The newly synthesized PG from cultures plated on smooth muscle cell-, and macrophage-derived matrices had greater charge density, larger molecular size, and longer glycosaminoglycan chains than those from endothelial cell matrix cultures. These data show that the ECM plays a major role in modulating vascular smooth muscle cell PG metabolism in vitro.     

Fibrin-enhanced endothelial cell organization

We examined the synthesis of extracellular matrix macromolecules by human microvascular endothelial cells isolated from the dermis of neonatal (foreskin) and adult (abdominal) skin. Electron microscopy showed that both cell types produced an extracellular matrix that was strictly localized to the subendothelial space. The subendothelial matrices were initially deposited as a single discontinuous layer of filamentous, electron-dense material that progressively became multilayered. Biosynthetic studies indicated that 2-4% of the newly synthesized protein was deposited in the subendothelial matrices by both cell types. Approximately 15-20% of the radiolabeled protein was secreted into the culture medium, and the remainder was confined to the cellular compartment. Biochemical and immunochemical analyses demonstrated the extracellular secretion of type IV collagen, laminin, fibronectin, and thrombospondin by the newborn and adult cells. Whereas type IV collagen was the predominant constituent of the matrix, fibronectin was secreted into the medium, with only small amounts being deposited in the matrix. Thrombospondin was a major constituent of the matrix produced by the newborn foreskin cells but was virtually absent in the matrix elaborated by the adult cells. However, both cell types did release comparable amounts of thrombospondin into their medium. Immunoperoxidase staining for type IV collagen revealed a fibrillar network in the subendothelial matrices produced by both adult and neonatal cells. In contrast, thrombospondin, which was detected only in the matrix of newborn cells, exhibited a spotty and granular staining pattern. The results indicate that the extracellular matrices synthesized by cultured human microvascular endothelial cells isolated from anatomically distinct sites and different stages of development and age are similar in ultrastructure but differ in their macromolecular composition.     

Spore coat formation and timely sporulation depend on cellulose in Dictyostelium

Cellulose is a major component of the extracellular coat that surrounds the terminally-differentiated spore of Dictyostelium. It is sandwiched between two layers of proteins that derive from prespore vesicles by exocytosis. Strains unable to synthesize cellulose due to null mutations in the gene encoding the catalytic subunit of cellulose synthase (dcsA) failed to make detergent-resistant spores but produced small, highly refractile, round spore-like cells up to a day late. Although these cells resembled spores in appearance, they were unstable, only transiently ellipsoid in shape, and sensitive to hypo-osmotic shock, drying, or detergents. Differentiation of these pseudo-spores was induced in the normal time frame by activation of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase or co-development with wild type cells, and coat proteins were secreted by the dcsA-null cells at the same time as wild type cells. A substantial fraction of secreted coat proteins was loosely associated with the surface of the mutant cells, resembling the precoat posited to form early during normal sporulation. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the precoat had little ultrastructural organization in the absence of cellulose. Thus, cellulose in the coat appears to be required for the organization of the pre-coat precursors as well as the stability, dormancy, and shape of the spore.     

Lumican is a major proteoglycan component of the bone matrix.

MC3T3-E1 mouse calvaria cells are a clonal population of committed osteoprogenitors that in the presence of appropriate supplements form a mineralized bone matrix. The development of the MC3T3-E1 cells can be divided into three major stages, namely, proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization. Recently, using the cDNA microarray technology we found lumican to be abundantly expressed during the mineralization and differentiation stages of the MC3T3-E1 development and not during the proliferation stage. Lumican has been shown to play essential roles in regulating collagen fibril formation in different extracellular matrices but its expression in the developing bone matrix remains elusive. By examining the expression profile of this gene during the different stages of MC3T3-E1 development, utilizing the 'real-time' PCR technology, we observed that the expression of lumican increases as the osteoblast culture differentiates and matures, suggesting that lumican may be involved in regulating collagen fibrillogenesis in bone matrices. Using immunostaining, we observed that during the early embryonic development of mouse (E11 to E13), lumican is mainly expressed in the cartilaginous matrices. However, in the older embryos (E14 to E16), the expression of lumican is more prominent in the developing bone matrices. Our data suggest that lumican is a significant proteoglycan component of bone matrix, which is secreted by differentiating and mature osteoblasts only and therefore it can be used as a marker to distinguish proliferating pre-osteoblasts from the differentiating osteoblasts.     

Extracellular slime associated with Proteus mirabilis during swarming.

Light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy were used to visualize the extracellular slime of Proteus mirabilis swarm cells. Slime was observed with phase-contrast microscopy after fixation in hot sulfuric acid-sodium borate. Ruthenium red was used to stain slime for transmission electron microscopy. Copious quantities of extracellular slime were observed surrounding swarm cells; the slime appeared to provide a matrix through which the cells could migrate. Swarm cells were always found embedded in slime. These observations support the argument that swarming of P. mirabilis is associated with the production of large quantities of extracellular slime. Examination of nonswarming mutants of P. mirabilis revealed that a number of morphological changes, including cell elongation and increased flagellum synthesis, were required for swarm cell migration. It is still unclear whether extracellular slime production also is required for migration.     

Evolutionarily stable stalk to spore ratio in cellular slime molds and the law of equalization in net incomes

The evolutionarily stable stalk ratio (ESSR) in the cellular slime molds is studied when the fruiting body is formed by multiple clones of various size. The survival probability of a spore cell is assumed to depend on the stalk ratio and the fruiting body size. ESSR is obtained as the non-co-operative equilibrium (Nash solution) that maximizes the fitness of each clone. The following two predictions are obtained: (1) the number of spore cells produced by each clone forming a fruiting body tends to be equalized, even if a variation in clone size exists. As a result, the larger clones do not necessarily enjoy higher fitness than the smaller ones. (2) The stalk ratio and the overall fitness of the fruiting body decrease as the genetic diversity in the fruiting body increases. A condition for the stalk to spore ratio to be invariant of overall fruiting body size is also investigated. Finally, "the law of equalization in net incomes" is proposed, extending result (1) into the broader range of resource allocation problems.     

Developmental Regulation of α-Mannosidase in Dictyostelium discoideum

The specific activity of alpha-mannosidase (EC 3.2.1.24) has been found to increase more than a thousandfold during development of the cellular slime mold, Dictyostelium discoideum. The enzyme accumulates in both spore and stalk cells. Studies with preferential inhibitors of macromolecular synthesis indicate that accumulation of alpha-mannosidase requires concomitant protein synthesis and prior ribonucleic acid synthesis. Control of the period of synthesis by the overall developmental program is demonstrated in two temporally deranged morphological mutants. alpha-Mannosidase is found in lysosomes of D. discoideum in association with other acid hydrolases which may be involved in metabolism of extracellular polysaccharide.     

Spatial arrangement of fish gill secondary lamellar cells in intact and dissociated tissues from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

Gill structure of rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon was investigated using cell disaggregation and dry fracture techniques for scanning electron microscopy (SEM), allowing new interpreta-tions of the structure of the secondary lamella. The basement membrane underlying the lamellar epithelium (secondary epithelium) was shown to be a tough sheet with numerous depressions corresponding to underlying pillar cells. This membrane is probably the most important structural element of the secondary lamella, capable of withstanding considerable mechanical stress. For the first time the structure of the apical surface of the secondary lamella was shown by SEM to consist of an outer microridged coat overlying a fibrous coat which appears continuous with the extracellular matrix surrounding the rest of the cell. When cells were detached they rounded up and the external microridged coat became more vesicle like, indicating the labile nature of this coat. In cell suspension preparations, epithelial, mucus and chloride cells are present as well as many blood derived cells such as erythrocytes, presumptive leucocytes and thrombocytes.     

Electron spin resonance studies of the membranes of the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum

Doxylstearic acid spin labels are used to study the fluidity of the membranes of the cellular slime mold, Dictyostelium discoideum. The T₀ value of the wildtype cell membrane is close to that of egg lecithin indicating a rather fluid membrane. No detectable change in the fluidity of the bulk lipids at the 16-carbon depth occurs during differentiation of the myxamoebae into stalk and spore cells despite reported changes in the individual lipid components. The results of studies on temperature-sensitive and aggregationless mutants are also presented.     

Platelet-derived growth factor stimulates the formation of versican-hyaluronan aggregates and pericellular matrix expansion in arterial smooth muscle cells

Hyaluronan and versican-rich pericellular matrices form around arterial smooth muscle cells (ASMC) preferentially during the detachment phase of proliferation and migration. PDGF is a potent mitogen and chemotactic agent for ASMC and also stimulates the production of extracellular matrix molecules which may regulate the proliferative and migratory capacity of the cells. We have examined the effect of PDGF on the formation of hyaluronan-dependent pericellular matrices, and on the synthesis and interaction of several major pericellular coat constituents. As demonstrated using a particle exclusion assay, PDGF stimulated the formation of pericellular matrices and was seen both in an increased proportion of cells with a coat and a greater coat size. This increase was accompanied by a transient increase in hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2) expression and an increase in hyaluronan synthesis and polymer length. PDGF also increased the synthesis of versican and link protein as measured at the mRNA and protein levels. The amount of native versican-hyaluronan aggregates and link-stabilized aggregate was also increased following PDGF treatment. Time lapse imaging showed that pericellular matrix formation occurred around trailing cell processes prior to their detachment. These data suggest that PDGF modulates the synthesis and organization of ASMC pericellular coat-forming molecules such as versican, hyaluronan, and link protein, which leads to extracellular matrix expansion and alterations in ASMC phenotype.