Mechanism and contribution of the pentose phosphate cycle to glucose metabolism in epididymal fat tissue

1. Glucose 6-phosphate, fructose 6-phosphate and altroheptulose 7-phosphate are the major products formed non-oxidatively from ribose 5-phosphate by rat epididymal fat pad enzymes. 2. Arabinose 5-phosphate was detected among the reaction products and significant activity of the new enzyme of the L-type pentose pathway, D-glycero D-ido octulose 1,8-bisphosphate: D-altroheptulose 7-phosphotransferase was found. 3. The glucose moieties of glucose 1-phosphate, glucose 6-phosphate and glucose 1,6-bisphosphate were degraded and showed that epididymal fat pad enzymes relocate 14C from [2-14C]glucose into C-1, C-2, and C-3 of each hexose-phosphate. 4. The 14C-distribution patterns in the hexose-phosphates revealed that these intermediates were not in isotopic equilibrium and the rate of the transaldolase exchange reaction was relatively small. 5. The 14C-distribution data suggest that glucose 1-phosphate, rather than glucose 6-phosphate, is the first intermediate in the path of glycogen synthesis from glucose in this tissue. 6. The data provide the first proof of the mechanism of the pentose pathway in adipose tissue.     

Mediation of pinocytosis in cultured arterial smooth muscle and endothelial cells by platelet-derived growth factor

Pinocytosis was measured in monkey aortic smooth muscle cells (SMC), bovine aortic endothelial cells, and Swiss 3T3 cells in culture as cellular uptake of [U-(14)C]sucrose and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) from the tissue culture medium. Monkey arterial SMC and Swiss 3T3 cells were maintained in a quiescent state of growth at low cells density in medium containing 5 percent monkey plasma-derived serum (PDS). Replacement of PDS with 5 percent monkey whole blood serum (WBS) from the same donor, or addition to PDS of partially purified platelet-derived growth factor(s) (PF), resulted in a marked stimulation of pinocytosis as well as of cellular proliferation. In SMC, enhancement of the rate of pinocytosis occurred 4-6 h after exposure to WBS or PF, and the rate was up to twofold higher than the rate in medium containing PDS. In contrast, [(3)H]thymidine uptake by SMC did not increase until 12-16 h after exposure to PF. In endothelial cells the presence of PF or WBS did not enhance either the rate of pinocytosis or the rate of proliferation over that in PDS. Thus, endothelial cells did not become quiescent at subconfluent densities in PDS but maintained rates of proliferation and pinocytosis that were equivalent to those in WBS. By autoradiography, the fraction of labeled nuclei in SMC cultures 24 h after change of medium increased from 0.061 +/- 0.004 in quiescent cultures to 0.313 +/- 0.028 after exposure to WBS or PF. In contrast, labeling indices of endothelial cells were similar for cultures grown in PDS, WBS, or PF at any single time point after change of medium. These findings suggest that the rate of pinocytosis maybe be coupled in some fashion to growth regulation, which may be mediated in part by specific growth factors, such as that derived from the thrombocyte.     

The relation of ligand binding to redox state in the hexa-heme nitrite reductase of Wolinella succinogenes.

Ligand binding reactions and the relation between redox state and ligand binding in the hexa-heme nitrite reductase of Wolinella succinogenes have been studied using laser flash photolysis. On a picosecond time scale, a rapid excursion was observed corresponding to the breaking and reforming of an iron histidine bond. With the CO derivative, a geminate reaction was observed with a rate of 3 ns-1. On a nanosecond time scale, no slower geminate reactions were observed. For the cyanide derivative, no geminate reactions were observed at either time scale. The second order reaction of CO with the enzyme had a time course consisting of two distinct components. This time course changed in form as the enzyme came to equilibrium with CO, and the slower rebinding component was replaced by a faster rebinding component. It is suggested that CO binding enhances reduction of a heme with an unusually low redox potential and opens the structure of the active site to allow a faster second order reaction of CO. The proportion of the geminate CO reaction was unchanged, consistent with changes relatively remote from the ligand binding site. The second order reactions of cyanide also showed that redox effects influence its rebinding reaction. Adding cyanide to the CO complex of nitrite reductase showed that the two ligands have distinct heme binding sites.     

A functional interpretation ofLactuceae (Compositae) pollen

Pollen morphology and ultrastructure inLactuceae pollen is considered in relation to the accomodation of volume changes, pollination biology and exine-held substances. Echinate pollen grains, such as those ofCatananche, are shown to accomodate volume changes by folding along the colpi and possibly by volume changes in the cavea. The different patterns of echinolophate pollen respond in different ways. Folding along the colpi is important inScorzonera andTragopogon and to a limited extent inCichorium andEpilasia whilst inScolymus the colpi are almost immobilized. Movements of the lacunar floors take over the harmomegathic function to compensate for lack of colpus mobility. Bulging of the intine at the apertures and changes in the size of the cavea may account for part of the volume change accomodated in any pollen type. Echinolophate pollen is interpreted as being a superior means of regulating volume changes with the most economical and mechanically efficient use of wall material which has evolved independently in several tribes ofCompositae.     

Blockade of TrkB but not p75NTR activates a subpopulation of quiescent neural precursor cells and enhances neurogenesis in the adult mouse hippocampus

Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling plays a major role in the regulation of hippocampal neurogenesis in the adult brain. While the majority of studies suggest that this is due to its effect on the survival and differentiation of newborn neurons, it remains unclear whether this signaling directly regulates neural precursor cell (NPC) activity and which of its two receptors, TrkB or the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75^NTR) mediates this effect. Here, we examined both the RNA and protein expression of these receptors and found that TrkB but not p75^NTR receptors are expressed by hippocampal NPCs in the adult mouse brain. Using a clonal neurosphere assay, we demonstrate that pharmacological blockade of TrkB receptors directly activates a distinct subpopulation of NPCs. Moreover, we show that administration of ANA‐12, a TrkB‐selective antagonist, in vivo either by systemic intraperitoneal injection or by direct infusion within the hippocampus leads to an increase in the production of new neurons. In contrast, we found that NPC‐specific knockout of p75^NTR had no effect on the proliferation of NPCs and did not alter neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus. Collectively, these results demonstrate a novel role of TrkB receptors in directly regulating the activity of a subset of hippocampal NPCs and suggest that the transient blockade of these receptors could be used to enhance adult hippocampal neurogenesis.     

Phylogenetic relationships of the Aurantioideae inferred from chloroplast DNA sequence data

The tribes and subtribes of Aurantioideae, an economically important subfamily of the Rutaceae, have a controversial taxonomic history because of the lack of a phylogenetic framework. The rps16 and trnL-trnF sequences of the chloroplast were analyzed phylogenetically to construct an evolutionary history and evaluate the most recent classification system of Swingle and Reece (The Citrus Industry, volume 1 [1967]). Taxa representing tribes Citreae and Clauseneae and five of the six subtribes were sampled. Conflicts in the positions of some taxa between the rps16 and trnL-trnF trees are poorly supported. In all analyses, the Aurantioideae are monophyletic. The strict consensus tree of the combined analysis indicates that the two tribes along with the subtribes sampled are not monophyletic. The combined topology is not congruent with the widely used classification of Aurantioideae by Swingle and Reece. The tribes and subtribes are in need of revision.     

Control of stem cell fate by engineering their micro and nanoenvironment

Stem cells are capable of long-term self-renewal and differentiation into specialised cell types, making them an ideal candidate for a cell source for regenerative medicine. The control of stem cell fate has become a major area of interest in the field of regenerative medicine and therapeutic intervention. Conventional methods of chemically inducing stem cells into specific lineages is being challenged by the advances in biomaterial technology, with evidence highlighting that material properties are capable of driving stem cell fate. Materials are being designed to mimic the clues stem cells receive in their in vivo stem cell niche including topographical and chemical instructions. Nanotopographical clues that mimic the extracellular matrix(ECM) in vivo have shown to regulate stem cell differentiation. The delivery of ECM components on biomaterials in the form of short peptides sequences has also proved successful in directing stem cell lineage. Growth factors responsible for controlling stem cell fate in vivo have also been delivered via biomaterials to provide clues to determine stem cell differentiation. An alternative approach to guide stem cells fate is to provide genetic clues including delivering DNA plasmids and small interfering RNAs via scaffolds. This review, aims to provide an overview of the topographical, chemical and molecular clues that biomaterials can provide to guide stem cell fate. The promising features and challenges of such approaches will be highlighted, to provide directions for future advancements in this exciting area of stem cell translation for regenerative medicine.     

Pollen wall development in flowering plants

The outer pollen wall, or exine, is more structurally complex than any other plant cell wall, comprising several distinct layers, each with its own organizational pattern. Since elucidation of the basic events of pollen wall ontogeny using electron microscopy in the 1970s, knowledge of their developmental genetics has increased enormously. However, self-assembly processes that are not under direct genetic control also play an important role in pollen wall patterning. This review integrates ultrastructural and developmental findings with recent models for self-assembly in an attempt to understand the origins of the morphological complexity and diversity that underpin the science of palynology.