Trypsin Action on the Growth of Sendai Virus in Tissue Culture Cells III. Structural Difference of Sendai Viruses Grown in Eggs and Tissue Culture Cells

Polypeptides of egg-borne Sendai virus (egg Sendai), which is biologically active on the basis of criteria of the infectivity for L cells and of hemolytic and cell fusion activities, were compared by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with those of L cell-borne (L Sendai) and HeLa cell-borne Sendai (HeLa Sendai) viruses, which are judged biologically inactive by the above criteria. Densitometer profiles on the stained gels of egg Sendai resolved six polypeptides (virion protein [VP] 1 to VP6), in which VP2 and VP4 were identified as glycoproteins by PAS stain. Comparative electropherograms of both L Sendai and HeLa Sendai revealed that there were significantly larger amounts in the VP2 region of these viruses but VP4 was present only in greatly reduced amounts as compared to egg Sendai. It was also found that VP2 of L Sendai and HeLa Sendai consisted of two components, VP2a and VP2b, but the one of egg Sendai consisted of only VP2a. A mild trypsin treatment which converts both L Sendai and HeLa Sendai to a biologically active form selectively removed VP2b from these viruses and increased concomitantly the amounts of materials in the VP4 region. The same treatment of egg Sendai affected neither its biological activities nor its electropherogram. Consequently, gross polypeptide profiles on the stained gels of L Sendai and HeLa Sendai after trypsin treatment became favorably comparable to that of egg Sendai. Electrophoresis of labeled L Sendai and HeLa Sendai with a (3)H-amino acids mixture and (14)C-glucosamine resolved at least three glycoproteins, GP1, GP2, and GP3, each corresponding to VP2a, VP2b, and VP4, respectively. The trypsin treatment of these viruses removed almost all the radioactivity of GP2 and simultaneously increased the radioactive counts of GP3 and raised small amounts of rapidly moving heterogeneous glycoprotein, GP4. A possible relationship between the biological modification and the above characteristic polypeptide patterns of Sendai virus was discussed.     

Effects of Malignant Effusions on the Mitotic Index of L Strain Mouse Cells Grown in Tissue Culture

By employing a clone of L strain mouse fibroblasts (L_E) which does not exhibit cell clumping and lysis (cytolytic antibody reaction), it was possible to screen for the presence of growth-regulating factors in human sera and effusions, exclusive of an antigen-antibody reaction. Under conditions of the test a mitotic index greater than 20% indicated the presence of a growth-promoting factor.A total of 11 pleural effusions was tested. Four of the eight malignant effusions possessed a growth-promoting factor, while none of the three non-malignant effusions or the one sample of human umbilical cord serum possessed such a factor. Overnight storage of the unfiltered effusions at 5° C. resulted in complete loss of the growthpromoting activity.     

表油菜素内酯对苦参愈伤组织生长的影响

在苦参愈伤组织生长的最佳培养基:改良MS+TDZ 1.0 mg/L+2,4-D 0.5 mg/L+Cys20 mg/L上分别添加表油菜素内酯(epibrassinolide,epi-BR)0、10-7、10-5,10-3、10-1 mg/L.结果表明,愈伤组织鲜重随epi-BR浓度升高而升高,呈正相关,而干重则在10-3mg/L epi-BR浓度下达到最高,之后随epi-BR浓度升高呈下降趋势.     

The Exchangeability of Potassium and Bromide Ions in Cells of Red Beetroot Tissue

The exchangeability of potassium and bromide ions accumulatedby cells of red beetroot tissue has been examined under variousexperimental conditions by means of radioactive tracers. It is established that the cells contain a certain amount ofeasily exchanged ions which is largely independent of the saltcontent of the tissue. The remainder of the salt does not exchangeappreciably within 24 hours either during absorption or whenaccumulation is stopped by low temperature, potassium cyanide,high internal salt content, or by an insufficient preliminarywashing of the material. An hypothesis is proposed that the easily exchanged ions aredistributed throughout the intercellular spaces, cell walls,and in parts of the protoplasm, whilst those which do not readilyexchange may be situated in the cell vacuoles, or else stronglyassociated with protoplasmic constituents. The results suggestthat a considerable barrier to the free diffusion and exchangeof ions is located in the region of the tonoplast of a plantcell, and the metabolic transport of ions across this membraneis discussed. An examination of the changes which occur in the amounts ofreadily exchanged potassium during the washing of freshly cutbeet disks in aerated distilled water indicates that the protoplasmprobably acquires a capacity to fix ions more strongly as aresult of this treatment. This supports the view that an effectof washing on the capacity of cells to absorb salts metabolicallyis to increase the number of ‘absorption centres’involved.     

Growth of Leptospira pomona and Its Effect on Various Tissue Culture Systems

Miller, Robert E. (University of Nebraska College of Medicine, Omaha), Norman G. Miller, and Roberta J. White. Growth of Leptospira pomona and its effect on various tissue culture systems. J. Bacteriol. 92:502-509. 1966.-Leptospira pomona strain 3341 was grown in association with primary fetal bovine kidney (PBK) and human embryonic skin-muscle fibroblastic (HE) cells in Eagle's minimal essential medium (MEM) with 5% sheep serum. Growth curves of leptospires in PBK and HE cell cultures showed no substantial increase in growth above that obtained in Eagle's MEM in the absence of tissue culture cells. This suggested that no stimulatory growth factors for leptospires were produced by the tissue cells. Fibroblastic cells of the PBK monolayer showed separation, deterioration, and, finally, complete disintegration. Epithelial-like cells remained unaffected. HE cells showed the same cytopathic effect as PBK fibroblastic cells, indicating that this effect was not limited to PBK fibroblastic cells. Warthin-Starry stains of PBK and HE cell monolayers showed masses of leptospires adhering to fibroblastic cells, whereas only a few were seen on epithelial-like cells. Large numbers of leptospires on the surface of fibroblastic cells are very likely associated with the cytopathic effect. Dislodgment of leptospires from fibroblastic cells did not increase the total number of spirochetes in the culture. This indicated that leptospiral growth did not occur on the surface of these cells.     

PP333对分蘖洋葱试管苗增殖和生根的影响

以MS 0.1 mg·L-1NAA 0.4 mg·L-1 6-BA为增殖培养基,1/2MS 1.5 mg·L-1IBA 0.01 mg·L-1NAA为生根培养基,添加不同浓度PP333的结果表明:增殖培养基中添加1.0 mg·L-1PP333对分蘖洋葱试管苗增殖生长有促进作用,减少超度含水态苗的发生;生根培养基中添加0.1 mg·L-1PP333对分蘖洋葱试管苗生根壮苗有良好效应.     

Asymmetric Cell Division in Normal and Malignant Hematopoietic Precursor Cells

Hematopoietic precursors have long been postulated to divide in an asymmetric manner. In this issue of Cell Stem Cell, Wu et al. (2007) provide evidence for the existence of asymmetric cell division and its possible molecular control in normal and transformed blood precursor cells.     

The Effect of Carbohydrate and Nitrogen Concentration on Phenol Synthesis in Paul's Scarlet Rose Cells Grown in Tissue Culture

The effects of exogenous concentrations of glucose and nitrate on total ethanol extractable phenols and leucoanthocyanins were studied in Paul's Scarlet Rose cells grown in either liquid suspension or solid culture. Aliquots of liquid suspension cultured cells were harvested during logarithmic, early stationary, and late stationary periods of growth for determination of fresh weight, dry weight, total ethanol extractable phenols and leucoanthocyanins. Cells produced phenols during all phases of growth, but at stationary phase, the production was greatest. Increasing concentrations of exogenous glucose in the culture medium resulted in an increased synthesis of total phenols in logarithmic cells, and an increased synthesis of total phenols and leucoanthocyanin in stationary cells. Addition of increased concentrations of exogenous nitrate to the stationary cells grown in suspension culture markedly reduced synthesis of leucoanthocyanins although total phenol synthesis was not significantly affected. Similar observations were made in cells cultured on solid medium in respect to exogenous glucose concentration, however these cells differed from the suspension cultured cells by having increased amounts of total phenol synthesis and decreased synthesis of leucoanthocyanins in the presence of increasing concentrations of exogenous nitrate in the culture medium.     

Microexudates from Cells Grown in Tissue Culture

Cellular substrata of known molecular structure and measurable dimensions can be constructed as transferred films from Langmuir troughs or as adsorbed films. In addition, large molecules in culture media form measurable adsorbates. With the techniques of ellipsometry and surface chemistry it is possible to characterize and measure (within ± 3A) as a function of several parameters a microexudate of molecular dimensions deposited when tissue cultured cells contact certain substrata. The selective attraction of substratum and cell for microexudate has been determined, and the time course of deposition in Eagle's medium is characterized by a rapid initial accretion of material. During this period, microexudate can diffuse several cell diameters and cannot be detected in the culture medium. In Eagle's medium the cells cannot be detached from glass surfaces by versene or trypsin unless the surface of cell or substratum is coated with certain molecules. Trypsin becomes adsorbed to cell surfaces, continues to be enzymatically active on the surface, and digests protein components of microexudate and substratum. Microexudate appears to be a complex mosaic of molecules (including protein) synthesized within or on the surfaces of cells and secreted by cells or transferred from their surfaces to specific substrata. It is proposed that this mosaic plays, on the molecular level, a significant role in cell-to-cell interactions, cell locomotion and adhesion, and the selective application and spreading of cells on various surfaces.     

Effect of Potassium on the Assimilate Conduction to Storage Tissue

The promoting effect of K+ on phloem transport has been shown by various authors for different plant species. This effect was also obtained in cases in which C0₂-assimilation was not improved by K+. Experiments with Ricinus communis provided evidence that K+ favoured the flux rate of phloem sap without diluting its content in organic and inorganic solutes. This all over effect results in higher flux rates of all phloem solutes. In this respect the long distance transport of sucrose, amino acids and Mg²+ is of particular interest. The long distance transport of these compounds was shown to be favoured by K+. Potassium is known to activate starch and protein synthezising enzymes involved in the metabolism of storage tissue. There is evidence, that also in cases of a suboptimum K+ supply, the K+ level in the storage tissue probably is still high enough to provide an optimum activation of the K+ requiring enzymes. For this reason it is unlikely that the favourable effect of K+ on phloem transport is related to processes in the physiological sink. It is more likely that K+ favours the phloem loading process. Indirectly K+ could promote the phloem loading process by improving the provision of energy (ATP). It is, however, also feasible that K+ acts more directly by being involved in the ATPase reaction which is supposed to drive the sucrose uptake of sieve tubes.     

Effects of Cytochalasin B on Muscle Cells in Tissue Culture

THE antibiotic cytochalasin B induces the formation of binucleated and multinucleated cells by preventing cytokinesis¹ and the cleavage furrow filaments in sea urchin eggs, 50-100 Å in diameter, disappear in the presence of this compound². It has a similar effect on the fine filaments found in embryonic pancreatic cells³ and inhibits cell migration¹. Many kinds of cells displaying amoeboid movements have been reported to have 50-100 Å filaments^4–6. Ishikawa et al. have demonstrated that 60–80 Å filaments in the cortex of various tissue cells bind heavy-meromyosin in a manner identical to that of actin filaments, which are also 60–80 Å in diameter⁷. Many investigators have referred to these thin filaments as actin or actin-like and assumed them to be responsible for, or associated with, cellular movements^8,9, contraction^10,11 and cytokinesis^12,13.     

Characterization of a High-Affinity Folate Receptor in Normal and Malignant Human Testicular Tissue

We have characterized the folate receptor in normal and malignant tissue from male gonads. Radioligand binding displayed characteristics typical of other folate receptors. Those included a high-affinity type of binding (K = 10^{10 M–1}), apparent positive cooperativity changing into non-cooperativity at low receptor concentrations, a tendency to increased binding affinity with decreasing receptor concentrations, a slow dissociation at pH 7.4 becoming rapid at pH 3.5 and inhibition by folates, in particular oxidized forms. The gel filtration profile of Triton X-100 solubilized tissue contained a 25 and 100 kDa peak of radioligand-receptor. The latter peak could represent receptor equipped with a hydrophobic membrane anchor that inserts into Triton X-100 micelles. The concentration of radiolabelled receptor ranged from 0.41 nmol/g protein to 1.68 nmol/g protein in specimens of normal testicular tissue from patients with prostatic carcinomas and from 1.54 nmol/g protein to 3.82 nmol/g protein in testicular tissue from young individuals. Compared to normal testicular tissue the concentration of receptor in seminoma tissue was low (0.38–1.27 nmol/g protein) but showed a higher degree of immunoreactivity in the presence of antibodies against human milk folate binding protein as evidenced by ELISA and immunohistochemistry data. Hence a folate receptor isoform homologous to human milk folate binding protein is apparently expressed in seminomas where the total expression of receptor, however, seems to be lower than in normal testicles.     

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promote Mammosphere Formation and Decrease E-Cadherin in Normal and Malignant Breast Cells

Introduction

Normal and malignant breast tissue contains a rare population of multi-potent cells with the capacity to self-renew, referred to as stem cells, or tumor initiating cells (TIC). These cells can be enriched by growth as “mammospheres” in three-dimensional cultures.

Objective

We tested the hypothesis that human bone-marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), which are known to support tumor growth and metastasis, increase mammosphere formation.

Results

We found that MSC increased human mammary epithelial cell (HMEC) mammosphere formation in a dose-dependent manner. A similar increase in sphere formation was seen in human inflammatory (SUM149) and non-inflammatory breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7) but not in primary inflammatory breast cancer cells (MDA-IBC-3). We determined that increased mammosphere formation can be mediated by secreted factors as MSC conditioned media from MSC spheroids significantly increased HMEC, MCF-7 and SUM149 mammosphere formation by 6.4 to 21-fold. Mammospheres grown in MSC conditioned media had lower levels of the cell adhesion protein, E-cadherin, and increased expression of N-cadherin in SUM149 and HMEC cells, characteristic of a pro-invasive mesenchymal phenotype. Co-injection with MSC in vivo resulted in a reduced latency time to develop detectable MCF-7 and MDA-IBC-3 tumors and increased the growth of MDA-IBC-3 tumors. Furthermore, E-cadherin expression was decreased in MDA-IBC-3 xenografts with co-injection of MSC.

Conclusions

MSC increase the efficiency of primary mammosphere formation in normal and malignant breast cells and decrease E-cadherin expression, a biologic event associated with breast cancer progression and resistance to therapy.     

The Production and Localization of GTP-Bound Ran in Mitotic Mammalian Tissue Culture Cells

The RanGTPase system has multiple functions in both interphase and mitosis. Extensive studies of Ran-driven nucleocytoplasmic transport have contributed significantly toward our understanding of how RanGTP is produced, hydrolyzed, and localized in interphase. However, there is still a lack of understanding about how this system operates in mitosis. Recent advances have begun to shed light on how RanGTP is produced and localized in mitotic mammalian cells.     

Blue Light Inhibits Mitosis in Tissue Culture Cells

Irradiation of the mitotic (prophase and prometaphase) tissue culture PK (pig kidney embryo) cells using mercury arc lamp and band-pass filters postponed or inhibited anaphase onset. The biological responses observed after irradiation were: (i) normal cell division, (ii) delay in metaphase and then normal anaphase and incomplete cytokinesis, (iii) exit into interphase without separation of chromosomes, (iv) complete mitotic blockage. Cell sensitivity to the light at wavelengths from 423 and 488 nm was nearly the same; to the near UV light (wavelength 360 nm) it was 5–10 times more; to the green light (wavelength >500 nm) it was at least 10 times less. To elucidate the possible mechanism of the action of blue light we measured cell adsorption and examined cell autofluorescence. Autofluorescence of cytoplasmic granules was exited at wavelengths of 450–490 nm, but not at >500 nm. In mitotic cells fluorescent granules accumulated around the spindle. We suppose blue light irradiation induces formation of the free radicals and/or peroxide, and thus perturb the checkpoint system responsible for anaphase onset.     

内生真菌培养液对东北红豆杉细胞生长及紫杉醇合成的影响

产紫杉醇的内生真菌(Fusarium mairei)先培养在B5液体培养基中, 然后制备成内生真菌培养液。在东北红豆杉(Taxus cuspidata)细胞悬浮培养的不同阶段(5、10和15天), 用不同剂量的内生真菌培养液(2、4和6 mL)分别进行处理。结果表明,在用4 mL内生真菌培养液处理的植物细胞中可获得最高的紫杉醇产量(5.88 mg.L-1)与释放率(67%), 分别是对照的1.9 倍与5.6 倍。添加时间方面, 在植物细胞培养周期的第5天添加4 mL内生真菌培养液, 可获得最佳效果, 紫杉醇产量与释放率分别为6.1 mg.L-1与75%, 分别是对照的2倍与6.8倍。与其它诱导子相比, 4 mL内生真菌培养液不仅可提高紫杉醇的释放率, 而且不会引起东北红豆杉细胞膜的明显伤害, 说明内生真菌发酵液激活了紫杉醇主动运输过程中的相关酶类。