On the phospholipid metabolism of glial cell primary cultures

Primary cultures prepared from newborn rat brain, consisted after 16 or 17 days mainly of astrocytes and of oligodendrocytes. 1-Alkenyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (lysoplasmalogen) was used as substrate for studies on the metabolism of ethanolamine-glycerophospholipids. After 3 hr incubation two main products were observed: a) 1-alkenyl-2-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (=ethanolamine plasmalogen) and b) 1-alkenyl-2-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (=choline plasmalogen). The acylation rate reached saturation at about 10 nmol substrate/mg cell protein with aV _max of 30 nmol×mg cell protein^–1×3 hr^–1. This acylated compound amounted to almost 60% of all radioactivity internalized, whereas the second product, choline plasmalogen, came to 20%. Unchanged substrate was found within the cells only in small amounts, even at maximum substrate internalization. These results were discussed in comparison with those obtained with 1-alkyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine under the same conditions (25).     

Two types of luliberin-immunoreactive perikarya in the preoptic area of the rat

Summary At the light microscopic level, following immunostaining with a single antiserum against luliberin (LRF), two types of hormone-producing perikarya in the preoptic area are demonstrated. The two cell types differ in their morphological features: a bipolar, smooth-contoured cell type can be differentiated from an irregularly contoured unipolar type. Intermediate forms between both cell types occurring in the same area are not observed. Electron microscopically, both cell types contain labeled granules of similar size and immunoreactivity. It is dicussed whether the uneven surface of the one cell type is due to areas of synaptic contacts, and whether both cell types are integrated in different neuronal and functional circuits. Moreover, at the ultrastructural level, from the irregularly contoured LRF-producing perikarya a further positively stained cell type, probably a glial cell, can be differentiated. The specific labeling of the latter is caused by its content of immunoreactive lysosomal bodies. Differentiation between the labeled glial cells and the irregularly contoured LRF-producing perikarya is not possible at the light microscopic level.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Grant Nr. Kr 569/3) and by the Stiftung Volkswagenwerk     

Neuroglandular contacts between vasopressin-reactive fibers and cells of the pars tuberalis in the rat

Summary In electron micrographs fibers containing vasopressin-immunoreactive elementary granules 100–120 nm in diameter are observed within the basal lamina of the adenohypophyseal pars tuberalis adjacent to the rostral portion of the median eminence. The concept of a neuroglandular transmitter function of vasopressin is discussed.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Grant Nr. Kr. 569/2) and the Stiftung VolkswagenwerkThe excellent technical assistance of Mrs. Helga Prien is thankfully acknowledged     

The enterotoxin gene (cpe) of Clostridium perfringens can be chromosomal or plasmid-borne

The location of the cpe gene, encoding the enterotoxin responsible for food poisoning in humans, has been studied in a series of enterotoxigenic Ciostridium perfringens strains by means of pulsed field gel electrophoresis of genomic DNA. The cpe gene was found at the same chromosomal locus in strains associated with food poisoning in humans and was shown to be linked to a repetitive sequence, the Hin dlll repeat, and an open reading frame, ORF3, that may be part of an insertion sequence. In contrast, when the strains originated from domesticated livestock cpe was located on a large episome where it was often close to a copy of the transposable element IS 1151. In these cases, the Hin dlll repeat was not linked to the cpe gene although this was generally preceded by ORF3.     

Range expansion of the greater white-toothed shrewCrocidura russula in Switzerland results in local extinction of the bicoloured white-toothed shrewC. leucodon

The distribution limits ofCrocidura russula (Hermann, 1780) andC. leucodon (Hermann, 1780) were investigated during an interval of 25 years in the bottom of the Rhone valley above Lake Geneva, Switzerland (total data set: 105 spatio-temporal occurrences, 1137 shrews). In 1975, the contact zone between the two species was situated in the region of Martigny. In 1999/2000, new sampling revealed three results: (1) The contact zone showed an upward shift of about 25 km. (2) In the expanded range ofC. russula, the resident species has totally disappeared (confirmed by owl pellets analysis). (3) This demonstrates a dominance ofC. russula overC. leucodon. Three hypotheses which may explain the range expansion ofC. russula were evaluated: (1) habitat modification favouring linear dispersal due to the construction of a highway; (2) temporal event favoured by climate fluctuations, or (3) ongoing postglacial colonisation of Europe. Hypothesis 1 was rejected, because the progression of the shrews anticipated the construction. Hypothesis 3 received only weak support because range limits ofC. russula in the region of Nice have been stable for thousands of years. Therefore hypothesis 2, admitting that ongoing climate change has facilitated range expansion, is the most probable.     

Evidence for a partial redundancy of the fibronectin-binding proteins for the transfer of mycoloyl residues onto the cell wall arabinogalactan termini of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis produces a series of major secreted proteins, the fibronectin-binding proteins (Fbps), also known as the antigen 85 complex, that are believed to play an essential role in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis through their mycoloyltransferase activity required for maintaining the integrity of the bacterial cell envelope. Four different fbp genes are found in the genome of M. tuberculosis, but the reason for the existence of these Fbps sharing the same substrate specificity in vitro in mycobacteria is unknown. We have shown previously that, in the heterologous host, Corynebacterium glutamicum, FbpA, FbpB and FbpC can all add mycoloyl residues to the cell wall arabinogalactan and that, in M. tuberculosis, the cell wall mycoloylation decreases by 40% when fbpC is knocked out. To investigate whether the remaining 60% mycoloylation came from the activity of FbpA and/or FbpB, fbpA- and fbpB-inactivated mutant strains were biochemically characterized and compared with the previously studied fbpC-disrupted mutant. Unexpectedly, both mutants produced normally mycoloylated cell walls. Overproduction of FbpA, FbpB or FbpC, but not FbpD, in the fbpC-inactivated mutant strain of M. tuberculosis restored both the cell wall-linked mycolate defect and the outer cell envelope permeability barrier property. These results are consistent with all three enzymes being involved in cell wall mycoloylation and FbpC playing a more critical role than the others or, alternatively, FbpC is able to compensate for FbpA and FbpB in ways that these enzymes cannot compensate for FbpC, pointing to a partial redundancy of Fbps. In sharp contrast, FbpD does not appear to be an active mycoloyltransferase enzyme, as it cannot complement the fbpC-inactivated mutant. Most importantly, application of Smith degradation to the cell walls of transformants demonstrated that the multiple Fbp enzymes are redundant rather than specific for the various arabinogalactan mycoloylation regions. Neither FbpA nor FbpB attaches mycoloyl residues to specific sites but, like FbpC, each enzyme transfers mycoloyl residues onto the four sites present in the arabinogalactan non-reducing end hexaarabinosides.     

Spindle assembly defects leading to the formation of a monopolar mitotic apparatus

Mitotic spindle formation in animal cells involves microtubule nucleation from two centrosomes that are positioned at opposite sides of the nucleus. Microtubules are captured by the kinetochores and stabilized. In addition, microtubules can be nucleated independently of the centrosome and stabilized by a gradient of Ran—GTP, surrounding the mitotic chromatin. Complex regulation ensures the formation of a bipolar apparatus, involving motor proteins and controlled polymerization and depolymerization of microtubule ends. The bipolar apparatus is, in turn, responsible for faithful chromosome segregation. During recent years, a variety of experiments has indicated that defects in specific motor proteins, centrosome proteins, kinases and other proteins can induce the assembly of aberrant spindles with a monopolar morphology or with poorly separated poles. Induction of monopolar spindles may be a useful strategy for cancer therapy, since ensuing aberrant mitotic exit will usually lead to cell death. In this review, we will discuss the various underlying molecular mechanisms that may be responsible for monopolar spindle formation.     

Anti-apoptotic therapeutic approaches in liver diseases: do they really make sense?

A variety of data suggesting apoptotic cell death as a key feature of liver injury stimulated researchers to investigate the therapeutic potential of anti-apoptotic strategies in experimental models. However, the overestimated role of apoptotic cell death in liver injury has tempered the clinical translation of the protection afforded by anti-apoptotic regimes in experimental models. Thus, the hope for apoptosis modulation as potential treatment strategy for injured liver in humans could not be confirmed. Herein, we evaluated the degree of apoptosis in different hepatic stress models which are relevant for the human pathophysiology. Using morphological criteria of apoptosis, caspase-3 activation as well as TUNEL assay in combination with a positive control of apoptosis in liver injury, we quantified apoptotic cell death discriminating between parenchymal and non-parenchymal cells and confirmed these results by cleaved caspase-3 and PARP-1 protein expression. Discussing our findings and relating them to the existing literature on the potential role of apoptotic cell death, we strongly recommend reconsidering anti-apoptotic strategies to ameliorate liver injury efficiently.     

Mu opioid receptor: a gateway to drug addiction

Mu opioid receptors mediate positive reinforcement following direct (morphine) or indirect (alcohol, cannabinoids, nicotine) activation, and our understanding of mu receptor function is central to the development of addiction therapies. Recent data obtained in native neurons confirm that mu receptor signaling and regulation are strongly agonist-dependent. Current functional mapping reveals morphine-activated neurons in the extended amygdala and early genomic approaches have identified novel mu receptor-associated proteins. A classification of about 30 genes either promoting or counteracting the addictive properties of morphine is proposed from the analysis of knockout mice data. The targeting of effectors or regulatory proteins, beyond the mu receptor itself, might provide valuable strategies to treat addictive disorders.