The relative contributions of polymer annealing and subunit exchange to microtubule dynamics in vitro

Microtubules that are free of microtubule-associated protein undergo dynamic changes at steady state, becoming longer but fewer in number with time through a process which was previously assumed to be based entirely on mechanisms of subunit exchange at polymer ends. However, we recently demonstrated that brain and erythrocyte microtubules are capable of joining end-to-end and suggested that polymer annealing may also affect the dynamic behavior of microtubules in vitro (Rothwell, S. W., W. A. Grasser, and D. B. Murphy, 1986, J. Cell Biol. 102:619-627). In the present study, we first show that annealing is a general property of cytoplasmic microtubules and is not a specialized characteristic of erythrocyte microtubules by documenting annealing between tryosinolated and detyrosinolated brain microtubules. We then examine the contributions of polymer annealing and subunit exchange to microtubule dynamics by analyzing the composition and length of individual polymers in a mixture of brain and erythrocyte microtubules by immunoelectron microscopy. In concentrated preparations of short-length microtubules at polymer-mass steady state, annealing was observed to be the principal factor responsible for the increase in polymer length, whereas annealing and subunit exchange contributed about equally to the reduction in microtubule number.     

Kinetics and temperature dependence of exposure of endocytosed material to proteolytic enzymes and low pH: evidence for a maturation model for the formation of lysosomes

The temperature dependence of acidification of internalized dextran by Swiss 3T3 cells was determined using dual fluorescence flow cytometry. Essentially no acidification was observed at 11 degrees C; acidification was limited to pH 6-6.5 at temperatures between 13 degrees C and 17 degrees C. In contrast, a rapid drop to pH 6-6.5 followed by acidification to pH 5-5.5 was observed at temperatures above 19 degrees C. These results confirm the biphasic nature of the acidification process (J. Cell Biol. (1984) 98: 1757-1762). The timing of exposure of material internalized by fluid-phase endocytosis to lysosomal enzymes was determined for Swiss 3T3 cells by using a fluorogenic substrate specific for Cathepsin B. Hydrolysis of the substrate, as measured by both fluorometry and flow cytometry, began within minutes of its addition to cells at 37 degrees C, and was inhibited by coincubation with leupeptin, a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme, or by weak bases, which raise the pH of acidic compartments. At temperatures between 13 degrees (and 21 degrees C, the rate of hydrolysis was reduced to 31-44% of that at 37 degrees C. Thus, in contrast to previous reports, exposure of endocytosed material to at least one lysosomal enzyme is not inhibited below 20 degrees C; the reduction in hydrolysis rate may be explained by the temperature effects on the efficiency of the enzyme. The results for acidification and proteolysis are consistent with, but do not prove, a maturation model for the formation of lysosomes. We suggest that at lower temperatures, part of the maturation involving recycling and/or concentration of the contents of the endosome is inhibited. This causes the endosome to remain as a mildly acidic, low-density organelle containing lysosomal enzymes.     

"Imposed" and "inherent" mucosal activity patterns. Their composite representation of olfactory stimuli

Both regional differences in mucosal sensitivity and a gas chromatography-like process along the mucosal sheet have been separately proposed in two sets of earlier studies to produce different odorant-dependent activity patterns across the olfactory mucosa. This investigation evaluated, in one study, whether and to what degree these two mechanisms contribute to the generation of these activity patterns. Summated multiunit discharges were simultaneously recorded from lateral (LN) and medial (MN) sites on the bullfrog's olfactory nerve to sample the mucosal activity occurring near the internal and external nares, respectively. Precisely controlled sniffs of four odorants (benzaldehyde, butanol, geraniol, and octane) were drawn through the frog's olfactory sac in both the forward (H1) and reverse (H2) hale directions. By combining the four resulting measurements, LNH1, LNH2, MNH1, and MNH2, in different mathematical expressions, indexes reflecting the relative effects of the chromatographic process, regional sensitivity, and hale direction could be calculated. Most importantly, the chromatographic process and the regional sensitivity differences both contributed significantly to the mucosal activity patterns. However, their relative roles varied markedly among the four odorants, ranging from complete dominance by either one to substantial contributions from each. In general, the more strongly an odorant was sorbed by the mucosa, the greater was the relative effect of the chromatographic process; the weaker the sorption, the greater the relative effect of regional sensitivity. Similarly, the greater an odorant's sorption, the greater was the effect of hale direction. Other stimulus variables (sniff volume, sniff duration, and the number of molecules within the sniff) had marked effects upon the overall size of the response. For strongly sorbed odorants, the effect of increasing volume was positive; for a weakly sorbed odorant, it was negative. The reverse may be true for duration. In contrast, the effect of increasing the number of molecules was uniformly positive for all four odorants. However, there was little evidence that these other stimulus variables had a major influence upon the effects of the chromatographic process and regional sensitivity differences in their generation of mucosal activity patterns.     

Qc-1, a novel Q-region-controlled CTL determinant expressed on B lymphocytes

Using cloned cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), we have identified a Q region controlled determinant with a unique strain and tissue distribution. Several strains that express the classically defined Qa-2 determinant and other Q region controlled determinants do not express the CTL determinant. In addition, strain BALB/cByJ, which does not normally express any Q region controlled cell surface determinant, expresses this new determinant. Cross-reactivity between the Q region controlled CTL determinant and a Kk region controlled class I product (probably H-2Kk) was observed. Finally, among lymphocytes, the CTL determinant is expressed preferentially (if not exclusively) on B cells, thus distinguishing it from all previously described Q region controlled determinants, which are expressed predominantly on T cells. We provisionally designate this novel Q region controlled CTL determinant Qc-1. The possibility that Qc-1 is recognized together with a self antigen is discussed.     

Epidermal cells in activation of suppressor lymphocytes: further characterization

Intravenous administration of hapten-coupled, high-density (density greater than 1.077) epidermal cells (HD-EC) to mice results in the appearance of transferable splenic T suppressor (Ts) cells as assayed in adoptive transfer experiments. Depletion of I-A bearing cells from the HD-EC population before hapten coupling prevents these cells from inducing Ts cell formation, whereas depletion of Thy-1-bearing cells from the HD-EC cell preparation has no effect. When HD-EC are adhered to glass for 2 hr, the ability to induce Ts cell formation resides in the adherent population. Exposure of HD-EC to a dose of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) that largely abrogates the ability of hapten-coupled EC to immunize mice for a DTH response does not affect the ability of these cells to activate Ts cells. Treatment of mice with i.p. administration of 20 mg/kg of cyclophosphamide 2 days before EC harvesting abrogates the ability of HD-EC from these mice to induce Ts cell formation. HD-EC from B10.A(3R) (I-Jb) but not B10.A(5R) (I-Jk) mice induce Ts cell formation in B10.A(3R) mice, demonstrating that the ability to do so is restricted by the I-J locus. Transmission electron microscopy of adherent HD-EC populations demonstrated that two cell types were present. One type had the characteristics of keratinocytes; the other was monocyte-like and resembled Langerhans cells or indeterminate cells in many aspects. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed this second cell type to bear I-A/I-E antigen. These cells were T-200 positive and Mac-1 negative by immunoperoxidase staining. Extensive examination by light and electron microscopy failed to reveal any dermal components in the EC populations; however, a very small degree of dermal contamination cannot be excluded. Thus, EC that activate afferent-acting Ts cells are high-density, I-A+, Thy-1-, I-J restricted, glass adherent, and functionally UVR resistant and cyclophosphamide sensitive.     

Effects of α2-Adrenergic Agonists and Antagonists on Photoreceptor Membrane Currents

Type B photoreceptors of the nudibranch mollusc Hermissenda crassicornis receive excitatory synaptic potentials (EPSPs) whose frequency is controlled by potential changes of a neighboring cell known as the S optic ganglion cell which is thought to be electrically coupled to the presynaptic source of these EPSPs, the E optic ganglion cell. The frequency of the EPSPs increases when a conditioned stimulus (light) is paired with an unconditioned stimulus (rotation) during acquisition of a Pavlovian conditioned response. The results of the present study are consistent with an adrenergic origin for these EPSPs. Noradrenergic agonists (greater than 100 microM), norepinephrine and clonidine, only slightly depolarize the type B cell but clearly prolong its depolarizing response to light. Serotonin, by contrast, causes hyperpolarization of the type B cell's resting potential as well as after a light step. Clonidine reduces voltage-dependent outward K+ currents (IA, an early current, ICa2+-K+, a late Ca2+-dependent current) that control the type B cell's excitability (and thus its light response and membrane potential). These effects of clonidine are reduced or blocked by the alpha 2-receptor antagonist, yohimbine (0.5 microM), but not the alpha 1-blocker, prazosin. The same yohimbine concentration also blocked depolarizing synaptic excitation of the type B cell in response to depolarization of a simultaneously impaled S optic ganglion cell. Histochemical techniques (both the glyoxylic acid method of de la Torre and Surgeon and the formaldehyde-induced fluorescence or Falck-Hillarp method) demonstrated the presence of a biogenic amine(s) within a single neuron in each optic ganglion as well as three or four cells within the vicinity of previously identified visual interneurons. No serotonergic neurons were found within the optic ganglion or in proximity to visual interneurons. A clonidine-like synaptic effect on type B cells, therefore, could amplify conditioning-specific changes of membrane currents by increasing type B depolarization and possibly, as well, by elevating intracellular second messengers.     

Patterns of approximal wear in cheek teeth of a Romano-British population

The approximal surfaces of premolars and molars of 376 adult British-Romano skulls were examined for wear facets. The type of wear was designated as convex, concave, sigmoid, or flat, and the degree was categorised on a three-point scale. Concave wear facets were more frequently seen in the older age groups, but the type of wear was similar on right and left sides. Taking all teeth together or as individual tooth types, concave wear was significantly more likely on mesial rather than distal surfaces. The degree of wear was age related and similar on right and left sides in both males and females. It is suggested that the distribution of concave facets may be related to movements between adjacent teeth.     

Splenic hypertrophy and extramedullary hematopoiesis induced in male Syrian hamsters by short photoperiod or melatonin injections and reversed by melatonin pellets or pinealectomy

Adult male Syrian hamsters either placed in a short photoperiod alone or kept in a long photoperiod and given daily afternoon injections of the pineal indole melatonin (25 micrograms) exhibited splenic hypertrophy and extramedullary hematopoiesis in addition to a marked regression in testicular weight. The testicular regression as well as the changes in spleen weight and histology could be prevented if the animals in short photoperiod were either pinealectomized or implanted subcutaneously with a pellet containing 1 mg melatonin. Female Syrian hamsters given afternoon injections of melatonin for 7 or 12 weeks had ovaries devoid of corpora lutea; additionally, these animals had reduced relative spleen weights compared to the control animals. In conclusion, it is apparent that spleen weight varies with the functional status of the gonads. Splenic hypertrophy accompanied by pineal-induced testicular regression in males may be related to splenic extramedullary hematopoiesis.     

Electrophoretic confirmation of the intergeneric hybrid ×Ruttyruspolia (Acanthaceae)

A plant collected in South Africa in the early 1960's has been considered an intergeneric hybrid with the parental taxa beingRuspolia hypocrateriformis (Vahl)Milne-Redhead var.australis Milne-Redhead andRuttya ovata Harv. The intermediate morphology of the plant provided the strongest evidence of its hybrid origin. The natural hybrid, named formally as ×Ruttyruspolia A. Meeuse & de Wet, is highly sterile. Crosses between the two presumed parental taxa produced two plants that are very similar to the putative natural hybrid. We had examined the presumed parental species and the natural and artificial hybrids using enzyme electrophoresis. The two parental species are highly differentiated at genes specifying soluble enzymes; they have a genetic identity of 0.51. They have no common alleles at two genes, and contain alternative alleles in very different frequencies at two loci.Ruttya andRuspolia exhibit both unique and common alleles at two additional genes. The natural and artificially produced plants of ×Ruttyruspolia are identical electrophoretically and contain alleles unique to each of the parental species at two genes. In addition, individuals of ×Ruttyruspolia combine alternative high frequency alleles from each parent at two loci. Allozymes provide strong confirming evidence for the hybrid origin of naturally occurring ×Ruttyruspolia because the products of specific alleles either unique to or highly characteristic of the two putative parental taxa are found combined in ×Ruttyruspolia.     

Regulation of enzyme release from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes: further evidence for the independent regulation of granule subpopulations

Addition of 5-20 mM LiCl to purified human polymorphonuclear leukocytes led to the release of lysozyme, the specific granule constituent, but not the release of elastase which is in azurophilic granules. In contrast, 2.5-10 micrograms cytochalasin D/mL induced the release of both lysozyme and elastase. Addition of lipopolysaccharide to leukocytes did not induce enzyme release but primed cells for enhanced release induced by cytochalasin D. Lipopolysaccharide also primed cells for enhanced release of lysozyme by either N-formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine (fMLP) or Li+ but did not prime cells for elastase release by these stimuli. In contrast, fMLP + cytochalasin D interacted synergistically, leading to enhanced elastase release but not lysozyme release from the cells. Additional experiments with combinations of secretagogues and lipopolysaccharide yielded results consistent with the hypothesis that specific granules and subpopulations of azurophilic granules are under separate regulation and, thus, may be influenced by separate elements of intracellular second messenger systems.