A Control System for Initiating and Maintaining Polarity

Characteristics of polarity are exhibited by a system in whichthe rate of synthesis of each of two diffusible morphogens withina plant body is inversely related to the concentration of theother by a suitable ‘switching’ relationship. Simulations for a simple linear plant body show that, dependingon the value of a single parameter, the system can yield either(a) a stable state, with balanced concentrations of the twomorphogens, which is taken to represent an unpolarized condition,or (b) a state in which small local perturbations in concentrationresult in growing instability, representing initiation of polarity,and leading to a new stabilized distribution of concentrations,representing maintenance of polarity; there may arise eithertwo polarities (as for a plant with shoot and root) or one polarity(as for callus initiating either shoots or roots). Inductionof polarity in unpolarized tissue adjoining polarized tissueis also simulated. Properties of the system are discussed in relation to physiologicalprocesses, embryogenesis and hormone relations in normal plantsand in tissue culture. polarity, control system, morphogen     

Comparative Observations on the Polarity of Sprouting of Bulbils of Dioscorea bulbifera L. and Dioscorea alata L.

The sprouting process of aerial bulbils of D. bulbifera andD. alata was compared. In D. alata, sprouts originated normallyfrom the proximal pole, at or near to the point of abscision,and irrespective of moisture, light or orientation of the bulbil.In D. bulbifera, sprouts originated primarily in response tomoisture and were less influenced by polarity. Post-harvesttreatment with gibberellic acid delayed the sprouting of bulbilsof D. alata but not of D. bulbifera; treatment with 2-chloroethanolor ethanol promoted sprouting in both species. Physiologically,sprouting was characterized by a transient increase in respiratoryrate at the onset of, or just prior to, sprout emergence. Thepromotion of sprouting by chloroethanol was accompanied by asurge in respiratory activity. Dioscorea spp., yams, bulbil germination, polarity     

Pattern Determination in Hypotrich Ciliates

SYNOPSIS. The hypotrich ciliates possess a highly localizedciliature arranged in a predictable asymmetric and polarizedfashion. They also possess a large repertoire of developmentalalternatives, including morphogenesis of ciliature prior tofission, as well as during regeneration and reorganization.They also undergo a cystment process in which all visible ciliaturededifferentiates during cyst formation but redifferentiatesupon emergence from the cyst. These organisms thus are highlysuitable for analysis of cell patterning in eucaryotic unicells.Analysis of various types of experimentally induced corticalanomalies reveals that the final pattern of the cortex in theseciliates is determined by at least three distinct informationalsystems. Two of these systems are inherited cytotactically;one is independent of the presence of visible structure andprovides information for the polarity and asymmetry of developmentalfields as well as serving as a potential initiation site fora complete set of cortical structures, whereas the second isdependent upon visible ciliature and provides local informationfor structure-type and polarity of new ciliary structures. Thethird informational system, developmental assessment, operatescoordinately with the other two and generates the final ciliarypattern of the morphostatic ciliate. Currently the molecularbases of each of these informational sets remain unknown.     

Inversion of both gating polarity and CO2 sensitivity of voltage gating with D3N mutation of Cx50

The effect of CO₂-induced acidification on transjunctional voltage (V_j) gating was studied by dual voltage-clamp in oocytes expressing mouse connexin 50 (Cx50) or a Cx50 mutant (Cx50-D3N), in which the third residue, aspartate (D), was mutated to asparagine (N). This mutation inverted the gating polarity of Cx50 from positive to negative. CO₂ application greatly decreased the V_j sensitivity of Cx50 channels, and increased that of Cx50-D3N channels. CO₂ also affected the kinetics of V_j dependent inactivation of junctional current (I_j), decreasing the gating speed of Cx50 channels and increasing that of Cx50-D3N channels. In addition, the D3N mutation increased the CO₂ sensitivity of chemical gating such that even CO₂ concentrations as low as 2.5% significantly lowered junctional conductance (G_j). With Cx50 channels G_j dropped by 78% with a drop in intracellular pH (pH_i) to 6.83, whereas with Cx50-D3N channels G_j dropped by 95% with a drop in pH_i to just 7.19. We have previously hypothesized that the way in which V_j gating reacts to CO₂ might be related to connexin’s gating polarity. This hypothesis is confirmed here by evidence that the D3N mutation inverts the gating polarity as well as the effect of CO₂ on V_j gating sensitivity and speed. cell communication; lens; gap junctions; chemical gating; channel gating; Xenopus oocytes     

The Effects of N-1-Naphthylphthalamic Acid and (2-Chloroethyl)-phosphonic Acid on the Gravity-induced Lateral Transport of 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid

N-1-Naphthylphthalamic acid markedly reduced the polar lateralmovement of 2, 4-D-[1-¹⁴C] induced by gravity in horizontalsegments of Helianthus hypocotyl. The pattern of this inhibitionresembled the inhibition of basipetal polar transport, suggestingthat both polar movements are operated by essentially the samephysiological mechanisms though there are indications of sensitivitydifferences between the two systems. Ethrel pretreatment of segments, though inhibiting the basipetaltransport of 2, 4-D by 33 per cent over the concentration range0.2 to 2.0 per cent, has little significant effect on gravity-inducedlateral polarity of movement, suggesting that ethylene doesnot act directly on the auxin transport system.     

The Effects of Centrifugation on Asymmetric Cell Division and Differentiation of Fern Spores

We have investigated the effects of centrifugation on sporepolarity, asymmetric cell division, and rhizoid differentiationin the sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis L. Centrifugation at10000 g for 30 min produces a random orientation of spores withstratification of the cell contents. After centrifugation atmost early stages of development, the nucleus retains its normalpattern of migration from the centre of the ellipsoidal sporeto the proximal face and then to an end of the spore, withoutregard to the orientation of stratification. This indicatesthat the polarity of the spore is stable to centrifugation.As long as the nucleus migrates to an end of the spore and asymmetriccell division occurs, the small cell differentiates into a rhizoid.The arrangement of large cytoplasmic organelles appears to haveno influence on nuclear migration, asymmetric cell division,or rhizoid differentiation. The only period during developmentwhen centrifugation blocks asymmetric cell division is immediatelypreceding and during mitosis and cytokinesis. Spores centrifugedat this stage do not complete nuclear migration, and symmetriccell division results, with neither cell differentiating intoa rhizoid. The source of the stable polarity of the spore isdiscussed. cell polarity, rhizoid differentiation, centrifugation, Onoclea sensibilis L., sensitive fern, fern spores     

Ontogeny of Stomata on the Foliar and Floral Or{dot}gans of some Species of Crotalaria L.

The structure and development of stomata in eight species ofCrotalaria belonging to the family Papilionaceae are described.The study is mostly confined to the leaves but it has also beenmade on the floral organs of C. mysorensis, C. retusa, C. sericea,and C. triquetra. The stomata may be paracytic, anisocytic,anomocytic, diacytic, or with one subsidiary cell. The differenttypes occur individually or they are placed side by side evenon the same surface of an organ. In general the paracytic typeis by far the commonest, followed by anisocytic and anomocyticones. Diacytic stomata and those with one subsidiary cell arerelatively rare. Different types of stomata in various organsof the same plant develop mesogenously. The present investigationalso indicates that the inconstancy of stomata in the familyis due to (a) their diversity and (b) an increase in the numberof subsidiary cells either by their division or by the neighbouringperigenes becoming subsidiary cell-like.     

DIE WIRKUNG VON PHYTOHORMONEN AUF KEIMUNG UND ENTWICKLUNG VON FARNPROTHALLIEN IV. DIE WIRKUNG VON UNTERSCHIEDLICHEN GIBBERELLINE UND VON ALLO-GIBBERINSAURE AUF DIE AUSLOSUNG DER ANTHERIDIENBILDUNG BEI ANEMIA PHYLLITIDIS L. UND EINIGEN POLYPODIACEEN

The relative activities of seven gibberellins have been testedin their ability to induce antheridia in prothallia of Anemiaphyllitidis. The spectrum of activities differs from the spectradescribed for other gibberellin reactions. Allogibberic acidproved to be highly active in the Anemia test. Additionallyit causes a change in the polarity of the germinating spore.Under the influence of this compound the primary rhizoid istransformed into an additional chloronema. In high concentrationsof allogibberic acid more than 80% of the prothallia developinto those "twins". Out of the polypodiaceous ferns only fewspecies respond to gibberellin application. The relations between chemical structure and activity of differentgibberellins are discussed. (Received January 17, 1966; )     

Experimental Studies on the Stability of the Cortical Microtubule Cytoskeleton in Relation to Polarity and Cell Elongation in the Coenocytic Green Alga, Chaetomorpha moniligera

The stability and ordered assembly of cytoskeletal microtubules(MTs) and the relationship between cell growth and MT cytoskeletonin the coenocytic green alga, Chaetomorpha moniligera Kjellmanwere examined. The cytoplasm of cylindrical growing cells ofChaetomorpha is covered with dense arrays of longitudinallyarranged cortical MTs which constitute the MT cytoskeleton.Seventy-five percent of MTs of the cytoskeleton disappearedwithin 4 h, with 25% remaining after 20 h following cold treatment.On terminating MT assembly with amiprophos-methyl (APM), thenumber of MTs decreased by 75% within 4 h. The remaining MTsdisappeared gradually within 24 h. The MT cytoskeleton of Chaetomorphawould thus appear to be composed of at least two kinds of MTsdiffering in stability. The MT cytoskeleton returned to normalafter treatment with APM for less than 48 h. However, this didnot occur after treatment with APM for more than 48 h, and theMT arrays became random. Cell elongation ceased completely within24 h after treatment with APM for less than 48 h but was restoredwithin 24 h after removing APM. The restoration of cell elongationwas no longer evident after removaI of APM for more than 48h. The results indicate that assembly of MTs into ordered arraysdepends on cell polarity and that in turn cell elongation isdependent on the polar-dependent arrays of MTs.Copyright 1994,1999 Academic Press Cell polarity, Chaetomorpha moniligera, coenocytic green alga, cold treatment, immunofluorescence, microtubule     

Reproduction in Halopteris (Sphacelariales)

Oogamy is recorded in five southern species of Halopteris. Ineach the gametangia and asexual sporangia occur in similar sori,although situated on separate plants. The plurilocular antheridiaand the unilocular oogonia occur within one and the aame sorus.In both the dehiscence is apical. In H. congesta fertilization has been observed in cultures.The polarity of the zygote is established by the direction ofthe first-formed wall. Early divisions convert it into a nodulecomposed of small cells. First rhizoids appear and then cylindricalshoots arise from the opposite pole. Sporelings of five NewZealand species of Halopteris have been raised in culture. Theconditions in the culture greatly affected the character ofthe sporelings, the simplest of which at the end of 2 months'growth were only uniseriate filaments. The best developed sporelingshad a compact basal disc with up to four upright shoots showingthe beinnings of branching.     

Conditions de formation d'agr?gats de chlorophylle {alpha} dans des solvants polaires aqueux: polarit? du milieu

The absorbance and emission spectroscopy of chlorophyll a (10^–5M) in water-miscible alcohols, acetone and dioxane were studiedto determine the properties of the chloroplast membranes whichsupport the aggregation of chlorophyll in vivo. It appears thatthe formation of the chlorophyll aggregates is closely dependenton the polarity of their molecular environment. (Received April 16, 1974; )     

Structure and Development of Stomata on the Vegetative and Floral Organs in Some Members of Caesalpiniaceae

The structure and development of stomata in 19 species of thefamily Caesalpiniaceae are described. The study is mostly confinedto the leaves, but observations have also been made on othervegetative and floral organs of some species Stomata may beparacytic, anisocytic, anomocytic, and with one subsidiary cell.Occasionally a stoma is diacytic, cyclocytic, or actinocytic.Different types occur individually or may be found side by sideeven on the same surface of an organ. The most prevalent typein all the genera is paracytic except in Caesalpima where itis anomocytic. The development of an anomocytic stoma is perigenous,but those with subsidiary cells are largely mesogenous; rarelyparacytic stomata are mesoperigenous. In spite of diversityof stomata, different types of stomata have similar patternsof development in different organs of the same plant. The presentinvestigation also indicates that the inconstancy of stomatain the family is due to (a) their diversity and (b) an increasein the number of subsidiary cells either by their division orby the neighbouring perigenes becoming subsidiary cell-like.     

Symmetry and Cell Division in Raphid Diatoms

The development and final morphology of the valve in raphe-bearingdiatoms exhibit a cryptic lateral polarity, and hence two typesof frustule can be distinguished. In the cis type both valveshave the same orientation; in the trans type they have oppositeorientations. Examination of a variety of taxa suggests thatin all dividing raphid diatoms, both new valves have the sameorientation and so only three types of division are possible:cis; cis + cis, cis trans + trans, trans; cis+trans. The possessionof different combinations of these explains the observed ratiosof cis: trans in different taxa, viz all cis; 1: 2 cis: trans;and roughly 1: 1 cis: trans. The implications of the resultsfor diatom systematics are examined, with special referenceto Navicula Bory. Diatom systematic, diatom valve morphogenesis, cell symmetry, raphe structure     

Modeling developmental changes in strength and aerobic power in children

The present studyexamined two contrasting multilevel model structures to describe thedevelopmental (longitudinal) changes in strength and aerobic power inchildren: 1) an additive polynomial structure and 2) a multiplicativestructure with allometric body size components. On the basis of themaximum log-likelihood criterion, the multiplicative "allometric"model was shown to be superior to the additive polynomial model whenfitted to the data from two published longitudinal studies and toprovide more plausible solutions within and beyond the range ofobservations.The multilevel regression analysis ofstudy 1 confirmed that aerobic powerdevelops approximately in proportion to body mass,m^1/3. Theanalyses from study 2 identified asignificant increase in quadriceps and biceps strength, in proportionto body size, plus an additional contribution from age, centered atabout peak height velocity (PHV). The positive "age" term forboys suggested that at PHV the boys were becoming stronger in thequadriceps and biceps in relation to their body size. In contrast, thegirls' age term was either negligible (quadriceps) or negative(biceps), indicating that at PHV the girls' strength was developing inproportion to or, in the case of the biceps, was becoming weaker inrelation to their body size.

     

Internal Water Distribution and Cytoplasmic Streaming in Physarum polycephalum

A fungal vacuolation factor causes vacuolation when appliedto the plasmodium ofP. polycephalum, and also results in negativechemotaxis of the plasmodium. This, and the relationship betweenthe normal distribution of vacuoles in the plasmodium and itsdirection of locomotion, suggests that a similar factor maybe operative in determining polarity. A vacuolation factor hasbeen extracted from P. polycephalum. A vacuolar-reticular system in the cytoplasm shows a cycle ofcontractions and expansions that, in the advancing lobe at least,is usually in phase with the oscillating streaming pattern ofthe plasmodium in that region. The possible significance ofthese findings for the mechanism of streaming is discussed.     

Regeneration of zygotic-like microspore-derived embryos suggests an important role for the suspensor in early embryo patterning

The inaccessibility of the zygote and proembryos of angiospermswithin the surrounding maternal and filial tissues has hamperedstudies on early plant embryogenesis. Somatic and gametophyticembryo cultures are often used as alternative systems for molecularand biochemical studies on early embryogenesis, but are notwidely used in developmental studies due to differences in theearly cell division patterns with seed embryos. A new Brassicanapus microspore embryo culture system, wherein embryogenesishighly mimics zygotic embryo development, is reported here.In this new system, the donor microspore first divides transverselyto form a filamentous structure, from which the distal cellforms the embryo proper, while the lower part resembles thesuspensor. In conventional microspore embryogenesis, the microsporedivides randomly to form an embryonic mass that after a whileestablishes a protoderm and subsequently shows delayed histodifferentiation.In contrast, the embryo proper of filament-bearing microspore-derivedembryos undergoes the same ordered pattern of cell divisionand early histodifferentiation as in the zygotic embryo. Thisobservation suggests an important role for the suspensor inearly zygotic embryo patterning and histodifferentiation. Thisis the first in vitro system wherein single differentiated cellsin culture can efficiently regenerate embryos that are morphologicallycomparable to zygotic embryos. The system provides a powerfulin vitro tool for studying the diverse developmental processesthat take place during the early stages of plant embryogenesis. Key words: Brassica napus, microspore embryogenesis, pattern formation, polarity, suspensor, zygotic embryogenesis     

The Polarity of Movement of Endogenously Produced IAA in Relation to a Gravity Perception Mechanism

The polarity of radioactive IAA transport in segments of theleaf sheath base of Avena fatua L. is reversed upon their inversionthrough 180° transport towards the apex being greater thantowards the base. Changes in rates of transport leading to thisreversal can be detected within 10–20 min, correlatingwith the timing of statolith movements from the base to theapex of statocyte cells and conforming to a proposed model forthe gravity control of auxin transport. Transport of H³-trytophan-derived H³-IAA was found to undergosimilar changes in polarity upon re-orientation as did exogenouslyapplied H³ or C¹⁴ IAA. It is concluded that the proposed modelalso relates to the movement of endogenously produced IAA.     

Polarity of A2b adenosine receptor expression determines characteristics of receptor desensitization

It is not knownif, in polarized cells, desensitization events can be influenced by thedomain on which the receptor resides. Desensitization was induced by5'-(N-ethylcarboxamido)adenosine (NECA) and wasquantitated by measurement of short-circuit current (I_sc) in response to adenosine. NECA addedto either the apical or basolateral compartments rapidly desensitizedreceptors on these respective domains. Although apical NECA had noeffect on the basolateral receptor stimulation, basolateral NECAinduced a complete desensitization of the apical receptor. Wehypothesized that desensitization of apical receptor by basolateraldesensitization could relate to a trafficking step in which A2breceptor is first targeted basolaterally upon synthesis and transportedto the apical surface via vesicular transport/microtubules. Becausedesensitization is associated with downregulation of receptors, apicaladenosine receptor can thus be affected by basolateral desensitization. Both low temperature and nocodazole inhibited I_scinduced by apical and not basolateral adenosine. In conclusion:1) a single receptor subtype, here modeled by the A2b receptor,differentially desensitizes based on the membrane domain on which it isexpressed, 2) agonist exposure on one domain can result indesensitization of receptors on the opposite domain, 3)cross-domain desensitization can display strict polarity, and4) receptor trafficking may play a role in thecross-desensitization process.