Centrosome and Golgi complex during differentiation of hepatocytes in early postnatal development of mice

The structure and functional activity of the centrosome was analyzed in hepatocytes of 5-day old mice, as well as the lengths of Golgi complex cistemae. In the early postnatal development of mice, the liver was represented by two types of hepatocytes: in the first type hepatocytes, the centrosome was active as an organizing center of microtubules, while in the second type hepatocytes, it was inactive. It was proposed that during ontogenesis the centrosome is inactivated as an organizing center of microtubules and activated as an organizing center of intermediate filaments characteristic for differentiated hepatocytes of adult liver. Morphometry of the Golgi complex has shown that Golgi cisternae in the cell center area of early postnatal hepatocytes were longer than in the adult hepatocytes and comparable to those in G1-phase hepatocytes of regenerating liver. The possibility of relations between the differences in the Golgi complex morphology and ontogenetic changes in the functional activity of centrosomes is discussed.     

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.     

Cell cycle transformation in 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 centers of microtubule organization; third, the cell center disappears due to reversible or irreversible inactivation of the centrosome and other centers of microtubule organization. The assembly of the common Golgi complex is not directed directly to the cell center presence. In some cell types, the Golgi complex is topologically associated with the cell center, while in others it is represented by 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.     

Ultrastructural changes in the liver of the sand lamprey,Lampetra reissneri,during sexual maturation

Ultrastructural changes of hepatocytes were examined in the sand lamprey,Lampetra reissneri, during various phases of the life cycle. In hepatocytes of ammocoetes, the rough endoplasmic reticulum was composed of short cisternae and the Golgi apparatus were scarcely developed, showing no sexual differences at this stage of life cycle. In hepatocytes of female lampreys at the metamorphic stages 4 to 5, the rough endoplasmic reticulum was developed to form long parallel cisternae and the Golgi apparatus were well-developed. The rough endoplasmic reticulum developed further to form stacks of long parallel cisternae extending over the cytoplasm in hepatocytes of females at the young adult stage, and became composed of both long parallel and vesicular cisternae in the cells of females at the adult stage. The Golgi apparatus were invariably welldeveloped in hepatocytes of young adult and adult females. No consipcuous development was observed in profiles of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus in hepatocytes of males during and after metamorphosis. The ultrastructural changes of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus observed in hepatocytes of female sand lampreys are considered to have an intimate relation to the activity of vitellogenin synthesis in the liver, and it is suggested that the hepatocytes begin to rapidly synthesize vitellogenin in the sand lamprey at the metamorphic stages 4 to 5.     

中心体在配子与早期胚胎中的遗传模式及其在辅助生殖中的意义

中心体由中心粒周围物质(PCM)围绕一对相互垂直的圆柱形中心粒组成,是哺乳动物细胞内主要的微管组织中心,在细胞分裂时发挥重要的作用。中心体以半保留的形式复制,在精子及卵母细胞发生时会发生减灭,精子和卵母细胞各保留部分中心体的成分,在受精后重新组成功能完整中心体。精子的中心体结构发生异常将会导致男性的不育,卵母细胞的老化也会引起中心体蛋白缺陷,从而产生纺锤体结构异常,并导致受精及早期胚胎发育异常。中心体的结构与功能,与人类受精及胚胎发育相关密切,在辅助生殖中具有重要意义。     

Actin- and microtubule-dependent regulation of Golgi morphology by FHDC1

The Golgi apparatus is the central hub of intracellular trafficking and consists of tethered stacks of cis, medial, and trans cisternae. In mammalian cells, these cisternae are stitched together as a perinuclear Golgi ribbon, which is required for the establishment of cell polarity and normal subcellular organization. We previously identified FHDC1 (also known as INF1) as a unique microtubule-binding member of the formin family of cytoskeletal-remodeling proteins. We show here that endogenous FHDC1 regulates Golgi ribbon formation and has an apparent preferential association with the Golgi-derived microtubule network. Knockdown of FHDC1 expression results in defective Golgi assembly and suggests a role for FHDC1 in maintenance of the Golgi-derived microtubule network. Similarly, overexpression of FHDC1 induces dispersion of the Golgi ribbon into functional ministacks. This effect is independent of centrosome-derived microtubules and instead likely requires the interaction between the FHDC1 microtubule-binding domain and the Golgi-derived microtubule network. These effects also depend on the interaction between the FHDC1 FH2 domain and the actin cytoskeleton. Thus our results suggest that the coordination of actin and microtubule dynamics by FHDC1 is required for normal Golgi ribbon formation.     

Identification and function of the centrosome centromatrix

Centrosomes direct the organization of microtubules in animal cells. However, in the absence of centrosomes, cytoplasm has the potential to organize microtubules and assemble complex structures such as anastral spindles. During cell replication or following fertilization, centrioles that are incapable of organizing microtubules into astral arrays are introduced into this complex cytoplasmic environment. These centrioles become associated with pericentriolar material responsible for centrosome-dependent microtubule nucleation, and thus the centrosome matures to ultimately become a dominant microtubule organizing center that serves as a central organizer of cell cytoplasm. We describe the identification of a novel structure within the pericentriolar material of centrosomes called the centromatrix. The centromatrix is a salt-insoluble filamentous scaffold to which subunit structures that are necessary for microtubule nucleation and abundant in the cytoplasm bind. We propose that the centromatrix serves to concentrate and focus these subunits to form the microtubule organizing center. Since binding of these subunits to the centromatrix does not require nucleotides, we propose a model for centrosome assembly which predicts that the assembly of the centromatrix is a rate-limiting step in centrosome assembly and maturation.     

Aphidicolin induces alterations in Golgi Complex and disorganization of microtubules of HeLa cells upon long-term administration

Treatment of HeLa cells with aphidicolin at 5 or 0.5 μg/ml induced cell cycle arrest at G₁/S or G₂/M phase, respectively, and was accompanied by unbalanced cell growth. Long-term administration of aphidicolin (more than 48 h) resulted in noticeable loss of reproductive capacity though cells were viable at the time of treatment. Immunofluorescence with anti-Golgi membrane protein monoclonal antibody (mAbG3A5) showed disfigurement of the characteristic mesh-like configuration when cells were treated for more than 48 h. Interestingly, we found that the fragmented Golgi complex formed a ring around the nucleus in more than 20% of the cells. Immunoelectron microscopy using mAbG3A5 antibody demonstrated that the stack structure of the fragmented Golgi complex in aphidicolin-arrested cells appeared partially broken up and seemed to have converted to a vesicle-like structure. Analysis using an antibody to tubulin and anticentrosome human autoimmune serum showed that alterations in the Golgi complex were induced even by the lower 0.5 μg/ml dose. These alterations were accompanied by both changes in the distribution of microtubules and an increase in the number of centrosomes. These cells lost their distinct perinuclear microtubule organiz-ing center (MTOC). On the other hand, treatment with aphidicolin at 5 μg/ml did not induce multiplication of the centrosome although the loss of distinct MTOC was still evident. No changes took place in the Golgi complex, microtubule, or centrosome of cells treated with 0.5 μg/ml aphidicolin when cycloheximide was added simultaneously to the culture. J. Cell. Physiol. 176:602–611, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Functional compartmentation of the Golgi apparatus of plant cells : immunocytochemical analysis of high-pressure frozen- and freeze-substituted sycamore maple suspension culture cells

The Golgi apparatus of plant cells is engaged in both the processing of glycoproteins and the synthesis of complex polysaccharides. To investigate the compartmentalization of these functions within individual Golgi stacks, we have analyzed the ultrastructure and the immunolabeling patterns of high-pressure frozen and freeze-substituted suspension-cultured sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) cells. As a result of the improved structural preservation, three morphological types of Golgi cisternae, designated cis, medial, and trans, as well as the trans Golgi network, could be identified. The number of cis cisternae per Golgi stack was found to be fairly constant at approximately 1, whereas the number of medial and trans cisternae per stack was variable and accounted for the varying number of cisternae (3-10) among the many Golgi stacks examined. By using a battery of seven antibodies whose specific sugar epitopes on secreted polysaccharides and glycoproteins are known, we have been able to determine in which types of cisternae specific sugars are added to N-linked glycans, and to xyloglucan and polygalacturonic acid/rhamnogalacturonan-I, two complex polysaccharides. The findings are as follows. The β-1,4-linked d-glucosyl backbone of xyloglucan is synthesized in trans cisternae, and the terminal fucosyl residues on the trisaccharide side chains of xyloglucan are partly added in the trans cisternae, and partly in the trans Golgi network. In contrast, the polygalacturonic/rhamnogalacturonan-I backbone is assembled in cis and medial cisternae, methylesterification of the carboxyl groups of the galacturonic acid residues in the polygalacturonic acid domains occurs mostly in medial cisternae, and arabinose-containing side chains of the polygalacturonic acid domains are added to the nascent polygalacturonic acid/rhamnogalacturonan-I molecules in the trans cisternae. Double labeling experiments demonstrate that xyloglucan and polygalacturonic acid/rhamnogalacturonan-I can be synthesized concomitantly within the same Golgi stack. Finally, we show that the xylosyl residue-linked β-1,2 to the β-linked mannose of the core of N-linked glycans is added in medial cisternae. Taken together, our results indicate that in sycamore maple suspension-cultured cells, different types of Golgi cisternae contain different sets of glycosyl transferases, that the functional organization of the biosynthetic pathways of complex polysaccharides is consistent with these molecules being processed in a cis to trans direction like the N-linked glycans, and that the complex polysaccharide xyloglucan is assembled exclusively in trans Golgi cisternae and the trans Golgi network.     

NADP phosphatase as a marker in free-flow electrophoretic separations for cisternae of the Golgi apparatus midregion

Based on cytochemical analysis, the enzyme NADP phosphatase is most concentrated in the so-called intercalary cisternae from the mid-region of the Golgi apparatus stack. Using free-flow electrophoresis to separate different Golgi regions of rat liver Golgi apparatus, the NADP phosphatase activity, based on estimation of the rate of release of inorganic phosphate from NADP under standard conditions, was similarly localized to membrane fractions from the center of electrophoretic separations. Peak specific activities for both a putative cis marker (NADH-cytochrome c reductase) and an established trans marker (galactosyltransferase) coincided with minima in NADP phosphatase activity, in agreement with the cytochemical observations. The pattern of distribution of enzyme activity for NADP phosphatase differed from that of both acid phosphatase and glucose-6-phosphatase. The pH optimum was 5.0, the K_m for NADP was 0.6 mM and a corresponding production of NAD and inorganic phosphorus was shown. Taken together with other markers for free-flow electrophoresis separation, the NADP phosphatase will provide considerable utility as a specific market to help identify intercalary cisternae of the mammalian Golgi apparatus and to monitor electrophoretic separations.     

An intact centrosome is required for the maintenance of polarization during directional cell migration

Background

Establishing and maintaining polarization is critical during cell migration. It is known that the centrosome contains numerous proteins whose roles of organizing the microtubule network range include nucleation, stabilization and severing. It is not known whether the centrosome is necessary to maintain polarization. Due to its role as the microtubule organizing center, we hypothesize that the centrosome is necessary to maintain polarization in a migrating cell. Although there have been implications of its role in cell migration, there is no direct study of the centrosome''s role in maintaining polarization. In this study we ablate the centrosome by intracellular laser irradiation to understand the role of the centrosome in two vastly different cell types, human osteosarcoma (U2OS) and rat kangaroo kidney epithelial cells (PtK). The PtK cell line has been extensively used as a model for cytoskeletal dynamics during cell migration. The U2OS cell line serves as a model for a complex, single migrating cell.

Methodology/Principal Findings

In this study we use femtosecond near-infrared laser irradiation to remove the centrosome in migrating U2OS and PtK2 cells. Immunofluorescence staining for centrosomal markers verified successful irradiation with 94% success. A loss of cell polarization is observed between 30 and 90 minutes following removal of the centrosome. Changes in cell shape are correlated with modifications in microtubule and actin organization. Changes in cell morphology and microtubule organization were quantified revealing significant depolarization resulting from centrosome irradiation.

Conclusions/Significance

This study demonstrates that the centrosome is necessary for the maintenance of polarization during directed cell migration in two widely different cell types. Removal of the centrosome from a polarized cell results in the reorganization of the microtubule network into a symmetric non-polarized phenotype. These results demonstrate that the centrosome plays a critical role in the maintenance of cytoskeletal asymmetry during cell migration.     

中心体异常扩增和染色体不稳定性

中心体作为主要微管组织中心在细胞周期事件中起着重要的作用。异常中心体可产生纺锤体异常,使染色体错误分离,引起染色体不稳定性和非整倍体的形成。中心体异常同染色体不稳定性一样是肿瘤细胞的一个普遍特征,并且可出现在肿瘤发生的早期阶段。中心体异常在肿瘤的发生发展演化过程中可能具有重要作用。现综述中心体的结构、功能、复制和调控,阐述肿瘤中中心体异常的表现和导致中心体扩增的可能机制及中心体扩增与染色体不稳定之间的相关性。     

The intranuclear microtubule organizing centre in the plasmodium of the myxomycete Physarum polycephalum

Physarum possesses two different microtubule cytoskeletons. In amoebae, cytoplasmic and mitotic microtubules are nucleated by a typical centrosome. In contrast, it has been reported that plasmodia have an intranuclear spindle organizing centre (SPOC) devoid of centrioles. We present genetic evidence suggesting that the SPOC located in the centrosome is very similar to the intranuclear plasmodial SPOC. The immunostaining properties of a new monoclonal antibody against Physarum centrosome has been used to compare these different MTOCs. Moreover, a dense plasmodial microtubule network was present in interphase plasmodia and absent in plasmodia undergoing mitosis. MTOCs responsible for the nucleation of the cytoplasmic microtubule network and intranuclear SPOCs were located in two different compartments of the plasmodium.     

Centrosome linker protein C‐Nap1 maintains stem cells in mouse testes

The centrosome linker component C‐Nap1 (encoded by CEP250) anchors filaments to centrioles that provide centrosome cohesion by connecting the two centrosomes of an interphase cell into a single microtubule organizing unit. The role of the centrosome linker during development of an animal remains enigmatic. Here, we show that male CEP250 ^−/− mice are sterile because sperm production is abolished. Premature centrosome separation means that germ stem cells in CEP250 ^−/− mice fail to establish an E‐cadherin polarity mark and are unable to maintain the older mother centrosome on the basal site of the seminiferous tubules. This failure prompts premature stem cell differentiation in expense of germ stem cell expansion. The concomitant induction of apoptosis triggers the complete depletion of germ stem cells and consequently infertility. Our study reveals a role for centrosome cohesion in asymmetric cell division, stem cell maintenance, and fertility.     

Ste20-related protein kinase LOSK (SLK) controls microtubule radial array in interphase

Interphase microtubules are organized into a radial array with centrosome in the center. This organization is a subject of cellular regulation that can be driven by protein phosphorylation. Only few protein kinases that regulate microtubule array in interphase cells have been described. Ste20-like protein kinase LOSK (SLK) was identified as a microtubule and centrosome-associated protein. In this study we have shown that the inhibition of LOSK activity by dominant-negative mutant K63R-ΔT or by LOSK depletion with RNAi leads to unfocused microtubule arrangement. Microtubule disorganization is prominent in Vero, CV-1, and CHO-K1 cells but less distinct in HeLa cells. The effect is a result neither of microtubule stabilization nor of centrosome disruption. In cells with suppressed LOSK activity centrosomes are unable to anchor or to cap microtubules, though they keep nucleating microtubules. These centrosomes are depleted of dynactin. Vero cells overexpressing K63R-ΔT have normal dynactin “comets” at microtubule ends and unaltered morphology of Golgi complex but are unable to polarize it at the wound edge. We conclude that protein kinase LOSK is required for radial microtubule organization and for the proper localization of Golgi complex in various cell types.     

A post-embedding immunoelectron-microscopic demonstration of apolipoprotein-B-containing lipoprotein particles in hepatocytes of fetal rats

Summary We used the protein-A gold technique to demonstrate the presence of apolipoprotein-B in ultrathin sections of fetal rat liver tissue. It was possible to show for the first time that the electron-dense, osmiophilic particles with diameters of 20–20 nm located within the RER cisternae and Golgi complexes of fetal rat hepatocytes contain apolipoprotein-B components and therefore are lipoproteins. After specific labelling an accumulation of gold label was observed on the RER cisternae, Golgi cisternae and the Golgi-associated secretory vesicles of hepatocytes. The specifity of this labelling pattern was assessed by comparison with cytochemical controls. Our qualitative findings were confirmed by a quantitative analysis of the mean labelling intensity (mean number of gold particles per square micron of the surface area of a particular cellular compartment) on the RER, Golgi complexes, mitochondria, nuclei and the remaining cytoplasm of hepatocytes. It is concluded that the hepatocytes of fetal rats are capable of forming apolipoprotein-B-containing lipoprotein particles. With respect to the size-distribution pattern of the observed intrahepatic lipoprotein particles, we suggest that the hepatocytes of fetal rats produce lipoproteins of the low- and very low-density-lipoprotein type.Abbreviations GA Golgi complex - RER rough endoplasmic reticulum - M mitochondria - N nuclei - LP lipoprotein partieles - L lipid droplet - SV secretory vesicle - BCP blood cell precursor - dm dense intracisternal and intravesicular material - LDL low density lipoproteins - VLDL very low density lipoproteins     

The Centrosomal Linker and Microtubules Provide Dual Levels of Spatial Coordination of Centrosomes

The centrosome is the principal microtubule organizing center in most animal cells. It consists of a pair of centrioles surrounded by pericentriolar material. The centrosome, like DNA, duplicates exactly once per cell cycle. During interphase duplicated centrosomes remain closely linked by a proteinaceous linker. This centrosomal linker is composed of rootletin filaments that are anchored to the centrioles via the protein C-Nap1. At the onset of mitosis the linker is dissolved by Nek2A kinase to support the formation of the bipolar mitotic spindle. The importance of the centrosomal linker for cell function during interphase awaits characterization. Here we assessed the phenotype of human RPE1 C-Nap1 knockout (KO) cells. The absence of the linker led to a modest increase in the average centrosome separation from 1 to 2.5 μm. This small impact on the degree of separation is indicative of a second level of spatial organization of centrosomes. Microtubule depolymerisation or stabilization in C-Nap1 KO cells dramatically increased the inter-centrosomal separation (> 8 μm). Thus, microtubules position centrosomes relatively close to one another in the absence of linker function. C-Nap1 KO cells had a Golgi organization defect with a two-fold expansion of the area occupied by the Golgi. When the centrosomes of C-Nap1 KO cells showed considerable separation, two spatially distinct Golgi stacks could be observed. Furthermore, migration of C-Nap1 KO cells was slower than their wild type RPE1 counterparts. These data show that the spatial organization of centrosomes is modulated by a combination of centrosomal cohesion and microtubule forces. Furthermore a modest increase in centrosome separation has major impact on Golgi organization and cell migration.     

Specific organization of Golgi apparatus in plant cells

Microtubules, actin filaments, and Golgi apparatus are connected both directly and indirectly, but it is manifested differently depending on the cell organization and specialization, and these connections are considered in many original studies and reviews. In this review we would like to discuss what underlies differences in the structural organization of the Golgi apparatus in animal and plant cells: specific features of the microtubule cytoskeleton organization, the use of different cytoskeleton components for Golgi apparatus movement and maintenance of its integrity, or specific features of synthetic and secretory processes. We suppose that a dispersed state of the Golgi apparatus in higher plant cells cannot be explained only by specific features of the microtubule system organization and by the absence of centrosome as an active center of their organization because the Golgi apparatus is organized similarly in the cells of other organisms that possess the centrosome and centrosomal microtubules. One of the key factors determining the Golgi apparatus state in plant cells is the functional uniformity or functional specialization of stacks. The functional specialization does not suggest the joining of the stacks to form a ribbon; therefore, the disperse state of the Golgi apparatus needs to be supported, but it also can exist “by default”. We believe that the dispersed state of the Golgi apparatus in plants is supported, on one hand, by dynamic connections of the Golgi apparatus stacks with the actin filament system and, on the other hand, with the endoplasmic reticulum exit sites distributed throughout the endoplasmic reticulum.     

Further Observations on the Fine Structure of Acanthamoeba palestinensis (Reich, 1933). The Golgi Complex,Microbodies, and Mitochondria1

The fine structure of the trophozoite of Acanthamoeba palestinensis with a special emphasis on the Golgi complex, microbodies, and mitochondria has been examined. Golgi complexes are distributed throughout the cytoplasm but are most abundant in the perinuclear region. Usually two Goigi complexes are found in the same plane on opposite sides of the nucleus. One of them appears to be in an intimate association with the nuclear membrane. The region of contact contains compact cisternae, vesicles of various sizes, as well as granular and amorphous electron-dense material. Structural changes in the nuclear envelope are also observed in this area. A structure consisting of a Golgi complex and electron-dense microtubule organizing center, comparable to the centrosphere of other Acanthamoeba species, has been observed. Microbodies, surrounded by a single unit membrane and containing a granular matrix and tubular inclusions, are scattered throughout the cytoplasm. These organelles, circular (～1 μm in diameter) or ovoidal (～1 μm in length and ～0.5 μm in width) in section, have often an irregular outline. These microbodies are probably the morphological equivalent of peroxisomes and glyoxysomes. Most mitochondria show a typical structure including tubular cristae and intracristal inclusions. Occasionally mitochondria with two apposed double membranes running through the midline are found. Such atypical cristae have never been reported in small amoebae before.     

GOLGI FRACTIONS PREPARED FROM RAT LIVER HOMOGENATES : I. Isolation Procedure and Morphological Characterization

In devising a new procedure for the isolation of Golgi fractions from rat liver homogenates, we have taken advantage of the overloading with very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) particles that occurs in the Golgi elements of hepatocytes ~90 min after ethanol is administered (0.6 g/100 g body weight) by stomach tube to the animals. The VLDLs act as morphological markers as well as density modifiers of these elements. The starting preparation is a total microsomal fraction prepared from liver homogenized (1:5) in 0.25 M sucrose. This fraction is resuspended in 1.15 M sucrose and loaded at the bottom of a discontinuous sucrose density gradient. Centrifugation at ~13 x 10⁶ g·min yields by flotation three Golgi fractions of density >1.041 and <1.173. The light and intermediate fractions consist essentially of VLDL-loaded Golgi vacuoles and cisternae. Nearly empty, often collapsed, Golgi cisternae are the main component of the heavy fraction. A procedure which subjects the Golgi fractions to hypotonic shock and shearing in a French press at pH 8.5 allows the extraction of the content of the Golgi elements and the subsequent isolation of their membranes by differential centrifugation.