Isolation and visualisation of alkali stable protein/DNA complexes

Distinct polypeptides, 54,000–68,000 daltons in size, are alkali-stably bound to eukaryotic DNA. DNA fragments several hundred base pairs in length associated with these polypeptides are preferentially retained on glass fibre filters from solutions containing 1 M sodium chloride. About 50 percent of the protein/DNA complexes present in total DNA are retained on filters together with about 2 percent of the DNA. This preferential binding is demonstrated (a) by the ratio of ³H and ³⁵S radioactivity retained on filters after filtration of DNA from [³H]thymidine and L-[³⁵S]methionine labelled cells, (b) radioiodination of the material retained on filters and passing filters respectively and (c) by electron microscopical visualisation of the polypeptide component in the complexes after chemical modification with dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) followed by incubation with dinitrophenyl (DNP) specific antibodies.     

Programming,induction, or prevention of the breakdown of the prothoracic gland in the cockroach, Nauphoeta cinerea

Changes of the prothoracic gland (PGL) diameter and of the corpora allata (CA) volume during the second last and last larval instar, and transplantation experiments as well as juvenile hormone (JH) analogue applications, demonstrate that only an activated PGL seems to be competent to degenerate and that the breakdown of the activated PGL is programmed by the absence of JH for a few days. Then, some days later, at the time of apolysis induction which occurs 7 to 6 days before an ecdysis the breakdown of a programmed PGL is induced by factors present in the haemolymph and it is suggested that β-ecdysone in apolysis-inducing amounts could be responsible for the induction of degeneration. However, PGL-protecting factors released probably from the corpora cardiaca (CC) are capable of partially preventing the breakdown of PGLs that have already been induced to degenerate, and it seems that the actual degeneration process is initiated by the absence of PGL-protecting factors only.     

Extracellular myocilin affects activity of human trabecular meshwork cells

The trabecular meshwork (TM), a specialized eye tissue, is a major site for regulation of the aqueous humor outflow. Malfunctioning of this tissue is believed to be responsible for development of glaucoma, a blinding disease. Myocilin is a gene linked to the most common form of glaucoma. The protein product has been localized to both intra and extracellular sites, but its function still remains unclear. This study was to determine whether extracellular myocilin presented in the matrix affects adhesion, morphology, and migratory and phagocytic activities of human TM cells in culture. Cell adhesion assays indicated that TM cells, while adhering readily on fibronectin, failed to attach on recombinant myocilin purified from bacterial cultures. Adhesion on fibronectin was also compromised by myocilin in a dose dependent manner. Myocilin in addition triggered TM cells to assume a stellate appearance with broad cell bodies and microspikes. Loss of actin stress fibers and focal adhesions was observed. TM cell migration on fibronectin/myocilin to scratched wounds was reduced compared to fibronectin controls. Myocilin, however, had little impact on phagocytic activities of TM cells. Cell attachment on fibronectin and migration of corneal fibroblasts, a control cell type, were not altered by myocilin. These results demonstrate that extracellular myocilin elicits anti-adhesive and counter-migratory effects on TM cells. Myocilin in the matrix of tissues could be exerting a similar influence on TM cells in vivo, impacting the flexibility and resilience required for maintenance of the normal aqueous outflow.     

Alpha6beta1 integrin expressed by sperm is determinant in mouse fertilization

Background  

Based on inhibition tests, the alpha6beta1 integrin was suggested to be a sperm receptor, but further experiments using gene deletion techniques have shown that neither oocyte alpha6, nor beta1 integrin subunits were essential for mouse fertilization.     

Parallel Exploitation of Diverse Host Nutrients Enhances Salmonella Virulence

Pathogen access to host nutrients in infected tissues is fundamental for pathogen growth and virulence, disease progression, and infection control. However, our understanding of this crucial process is still rather limited because of experimental and conceptual challenges. Here, we used proteomics, microbial genetics, competitive infections, and computational approaches to obtain a comprehensive overview of Salmonella nutrition and growth in a mouse typhoid fever model. The data revealed that Salmonella accessed an unexpectedly diverse set of at least 31 different host nutrients in infected tissues but the individual nutrients were available in only scarce amounts. Salmonella adapted to this situation by expressing versatile catabolic pathways to simultaneously exploit multiple host nutrients. A genome-scale computational model of Salmonella in vivo metabolism based on these data was fully consistent with independent large-scale experimental data on Salmonella enzyme quantities, and correctly predicted 92% of 738 reported experimental mutant virulence phenotypes, suggesting that our analysis provided a comprehensive overview of host nutrient supply, Salmonella metabolism, and Salmonella growth during infection. Comparison of metabolic networks of other pathogens suggested that complex host/pathogen nutritional interfaces are a common feature underlying many infectious diseases.     

Lymphatic Clearance of the Brain: Perivascular,Paravascular and Significance for Neurodegenerative Diseases

The lymphatic clearance pathways of the brain are different compared to the other organs of the body and have been the subject of heated debates. Drainage of brain extracellular fluids, particularly interstitial fluid (ISF) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), is not only important for volume regulation, but also for removal of waste products such as amyloid beta (Aβ). CSF plays a special role in clinical medicine, as it is available for analysis of biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease. Despite the lack of a complete anatomical and physiological picture of the communications between the subarachnoid space (SAS) and the brain parenchyma, it is often assumed that Aβ is cleared from the cerebral ISF into the CSF. Recent work suggests that clearance of the brain mainly occurs during sleep, with a specific role for peri- and para-vascular spaces as drainage pathways from the brain parenchyma. However, the direction of flow, the anatomical structures involved and the driving forces remain elusive, with partially conflicting data in literature. The presence of Aβ in the glia limitans in Alzheimer’s disease suggests a direct communication of ISF with CSF. Nonetheless, there is also the well-described pathology of cerebral amyloid angiopathy associated with the failure of perivascular drainage of Aβ. Herein, we review the role of the vasculature and the impact of vascular pathology on the peri- and para-vascular clearance pathways of the brain. The different views on the possible routes for ISF drainage of the brain are discussed in the context of pathological significance.     

Morphological changes induced in erythrocyte by amyloid beta peptide and glucose depletion: A combined atomic force microscopy and biochemical study

Circulating red blood cells (RBCs) undergo aging, a fundamental physiological phenomenon that regulates their turnover. We show that treatment with beta amyloid peptide 1–42 (Aβ) accelerates the occurrence of morphological and biochemical aging markers in human RBCs and influences the cell metabolism leading to intracellular ATP depletion. The morphological pattern has been monitored using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) imaging and measuring the RBCs' plasma membrane roughness employed as a morphological parameter capable to provide information on the structure and integrity of the membrane-skeleton. Results evidence that Aβ boosts the development of crenatures and proto-spicules simultaneously to acceleration in the weakening of the cell-cytoskeleton contacts and to the induction of peculiar nanoscale features on the cell membrane. Incubation in the presence of glucose can remove all but the latter Aβ-induced effects.Biochemical data demonstrate that contemporaneously to morphological and structural alterations, Aβ and glucose depletion trigger a complex signaling pathway involving caspase 3, protein kinase C (PKC) and nitric oxide derived metabolites.As a whole, the collected data revealed that, the damaging path induced by Aβ in RBC provide a sequence of morphological and functional intermediates following one another along RBC life span, including: (i) an acceleration in the development of shape alteration typically observed along the RBC's aging; (ii) the development of characteristic membrane features on the plasma membrane and (iii) triggering a complex signaling pathway involving caspase 3, PKC and nitric oxide derived metabolites.