Calcium uptake by isolated rat intestinal cells

Intestinal cells were isolated by a combination of mechanical and enzymatic means, and their calcium uptake was assayed by a rapid filtration procedure. Calcium uptake was a time- and concentration-dependent process that was markedly elevated at 25 and 37°C, as compared to 0°C. Cells isolated from rat duodenum exhibited higher uptakes than cells from jejunum, which in turn took up more calcium than cells from the ileurn. Duodenal cells from vitamin D-deficient animals took up less calcium than cells from vitamin D-replete cells. In vivo vitamin D repletion with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ raised calcium uptake by duodenal cells from treated animals toward that of cells from replete rats. Furthermore, calcium uptake by duodenal cells from vitamin D-deficient animals approximated that of ileal cells from replete rats. These findings with isolated cells parallel prior findings of tissue calcium transport and suggest that cellular calcium uptake may be related to the saturable component of intestinal calcium absorption. Isolated intestinal cells may therefore constitute one experimental model for the study of transcellular calcium transport.     

Entrainment and phase shifting of the circadian rhythm of cell division by light in cultures of the achlorophyllous ZC mutant ofEuglena gracilis

The photosynthesis-deficient ZC mutant ofEuglena gracilis Klebs (strain Z) was cultured at 16°C on an aerated, magnetically stirred, mineral medium containing 0.1% ethanol (pH 7.0). Cell division could be entrained by a 12: 12 light: dark cycle (LD: 12, 12) or even by a one-pulse skeleton photoperiod (LD: 1,23) The rhythm free-ran in DD for at least 8 days with a circadian period (=25.5 h) in populations that had been previously entrained by LD. The freerunning rhythm could be phase-shifted by a single 1-h light pulse (3000 lx). The strong (Type 0) phase-response curve derived from the resetting effects of such signals given at different circadian times was similar to that for the photosynthetic wild-type strain. These results demonstrate that the presence of a functional chloroplast compartment is not necessary for the circadian clock to function inEuglena and suggest that phase resetting of the circadian clock by light occurs via a similar pathway in both photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic cell types.     

Oral [13C]bicarbonate measurement of CO2 stores and dynamics in children and adults

During exercise, less additional CO2 is stored per kilogram body weight in children than in adults, suggesting that children have a smaller capacity to store metabolically produced CO2. To examine this, tracer doses of [13C]bicarbonate were administered orally to 10 children (8-12 yr) and 12 adults (25-40 yr) at rest. Washout of 13CO2 in breath was analyzed to estimate recovery of tracer, mean residence time (MRT), and size of CO2 stores. CO2 production (VCO2) was also measured breath by breath using gas exchange techniques. Recovery did not differ significantly between children [73 +/- 13% (SD)] and adults (71 +/- 9%). MRT was shorter in children (42 +/- 7 min) compared with adults (66 +/- 15 min, P less than 0.001). VCO2 per kilogram was higher in the children (5.4 +/- 0.9 ml.min-1.kg-1) compared with adults (3.1 +/- 0.5, P less than 0.0001). Tracer estimate of CO2 production was correlated to VCO2 (r = 0.86, P less than 0.0001) and when corrected for mean recovery accurately predicted the VCO2 to within 3 +/- 14%. There was no difference in the estimate of resting CO2 stores between children (222 +/- 52 ml CO2/kg) and adults (203 +/- 42 ml CO2/kg). We conclude that orally administered [13C]bicarbonate can be used to assess CO2 transport dynamics. The data do not support the hypothesis of lower CO2 stores under resting conditions in children.     

Dynamics of colony development in the paper waspPolistes dominulus Christ (Hymenoptera,Vespidae): The influence of prey availability

This study focused on how a decrease in prey availability affected the development of aP. dominulus Christ colony. Nutritional oophagy and larval development were parameters found to be most directly affected. The more indirect effects on the growth of the nest and on offspring production were also analyzed.     

Pathway of rhinovirus disruption by soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1): an intermediate in which ICAM-1 is bound and RNA is released.

We have examined the pathway of rhinovirus interaction with soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1). Binding of sICAM-1 to rhinovirus serotypes 3 and 14 gives particles with sedimentation coefficients from 145 to 120S, depending on the amount of sICAM-1 bound. The formation of 120S particles is faster and more extensive at a neutral pH than at an acidic pH. A large number of receptors (> 30) can bind to human rhinovirus 3 without disruption. Disruption by sICAM-1 of rhinovirus that yields 80S particles is strongly temperature dependent and is antagonized by a low pH. Interestingly, sICAM-1 remains bound to the viral capsid after RNA is released, although in smaller amounts than those observed for the native virus. We have found heterogeneity both between and within 80S particle preparations in the VP4 content and number of bound receptors. The ability of the virus to remain bound to its receptor during the uncoating process may facilitate the transport of the viral genome into the cytoplasm in vivo.     

Efficient neutralization and disruption of rhinovirus by chimeric ICAM-1/immunoglobulin molecules.

The intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) is used as a cellular receptor by 90% of human rhinoviruses (HRVs). Chimeric immunoadhesin molecules containing extracellular domains of ICAM-1 and constant regions of immunoglobulins (Igs) were designed in order to determine the effect of increased valency, Ig isotype, and number of ICAM-1 domains on neutralization and disruption of rhinovirus structure. These immunoadhesins include ICAM-1 amino-terminal domains 1 and 2 fused to the hinge and constant domains of the heavy chains of IgA1, IgM, and IgG1 (IC1-2D/IgA, -/IgM, and -/IgG). In addition, all five extracellular domains were fused to IgA1 (IC1-5D/IgA). Immunoadhesins were compared with soluble forms of ICAM-1 containing five and two domains (sICAM-1 and ICI-2D, respectively) in assays of HRV binding, infectivity, and conformation. In prevention of HRV plaque formation, IC1-5D/IgA was 200 times and IC1-2D/IgM and IC1-2D/IgA were 25 and 10 times more effective, respectively, than ICAM-1. The same chimeras were highly effective in inhibiting binding of rhinovirus to cells and disrupting the conformation of the virus capsid, as demonstrated by generation of approximately 65S particles. The results show that the number of ICAM-1 domains and a flexible Ig hinge are important factors contributing to the efficacy of neutralization. The higher efficiency of chimeras that bound bivalently in disrupting HRV was attributed to higher binding avidity. The IC1-5D/IgA immunoadhesin was effective at nanomolar concentrations, making it feasible therapy for rhinovirus infection.     

Ecological significance of bacterial polyphosphate metabolism in sediments

The purpose of this study was to find theoretical evidence that bacteria, in particular those capable of polyphosphate (polyP) metabolism, are directly implicated in sediment phosphorus (P) dynamics and control P metabolism of freshwater ecosystems. The specific attributes and functional role of such bacteria were investigated on successive levels of ecological organization: individual microorganism, microbial community, freshwater ecosystem. The results of this systematic approach have been formulated as a number of hypotheses.

1. PolyP metabolism is the mechanism which enables individual polyP bacteria to survive and grow under the fluctuating redox conditions characteristic of their habitat at the sediment-water interface.
2. PolyP metabolism together with anaerobic Mn and/or Fe respiration is the mechanism that confers upon polyP bacteria the advantage required to fill a unique ecological niche within the microbial community to which they belong.
3. To the freshwater ecosystem as a whole bacterial polyP metabolism is a homeostatic mechanism which limits P availability and makes ecosystem productivity self-correcting as a function of oxygen availability. Bacterial polyP pools in the sediment are vital components of the P cycle. It was suggested that the impact of this bacterial mechanism should be tested with regard to the eutrophication issue.