Axonal shortening and the mechanisms of axonal motility

Axons in tissue culture retract and shorten if their tips are detached from the substrate. The shortening reaction of the axon involves contractile forces that also arise during normal axonal motility, elongation, and retraction. We studied shortening in axonal segments isolated from their parent axons by transecting the axon between the growth cone and the most distal point of adhesion to the substrate. Within 15-20 minutes after transection, an isolated axonal segment shortened and pulled its tail end toward the growth cone. During the shortening process, long sinusoidal bends arose along the axon. The identical shortening reaction occurs without transection, when the axon tip is detached from the substrate. Pharmacological studies with inhibitors of glycolysis indicate that the shortening mechanisms utilize metabolic energy, presumably ATP. The rate of sinusoidal shortening is similar to both the rate of polymer translocation in the axon by slow axonal transport and the rate of normal axonal elongation. Taxol inhibits the shortening reaction with a similar dose dependence to its inhibition of axonal growth. Together, all these observations suggest that the same basic intracellular motility mechanisms are involved in normal axonal growth, in slow axonal transport, and in the shortening reaction: the intracellular dynamic system that utilizes ATP to generate longitudinal movements of polymers within the axon may be the same mechanism underlying both the retraction and the elongation of the axon.     

A group contribution method for the estimation of equilibrium constants for biochemical reactions

Using Gibbs Energies of compounds, as well as Gibbs Energy changes and equilibrium constants of biochemical reactions, the contributions of functional groups to the Gibbs Energy (in aqueous solution, temperature 25°C, and pH=7) have been estimated. These contributions allow the estimation of the Gibbs Free Energy and the equilibrium constant of a biochemical reaction, given the structure of the reactants and products.     

Scanning electron microscopy of the gills of a freshwater catfish,Rita Rita

Variations in the gross morphology and surface architecture of the gill filaments and secondary lamellae of a freshwater catfish (Rita rita) have been investigated using scanning electron microscopy. Heterogeneity of the gill has been correlated with the distribution of lamellar water-flow at different regions of a gill filament. Higher lamellar water flow (cc/pore/cmH₂O/sec) was estimated for the middle region of the filaments. The filaments are covered with epithelial cells whose surface is provided with well-developed microridges. The lamellae are generally covered with microvillous epithelial cells. The variations in surface architecture of the gill filaments and secondary lamellae have been correlated with their probable functions.     

The principal islet of the coho salmon (Oncorhyncus kisutch) contains the BB isoenzyme of creatine kinase

The importance of creatine kinase (E.C. 2.7.3.2) in endocrine tissues has been generally overlooked. Using a specific radiometric assay, we have demonstrated the existence of CK in the Brockmann body (principal islet) of the Coho salmon. We have purified this protein from insular tissue and concurrently purified CK from brain and muscle of the salmon. Purification characteristics, immunological cross-reactivity, and N-terminal sequence analysis have demonstrated that the predominant cytosolic CK from the Brockmann body is indistinguishable from the BB (brain) isoenzyme. Immunocytochemical studies indicated that the enzyme resides in the endocrine parenchyma. Phosphocreatine may serve as a reservoir of energy in the islet and augment its capacity to secrete hormones. The induction of CK-BB in the islet by other hormones could influence the secretion of insular hormones. Interorgan flux of the substrate creatine may be an undescribed mechanism of physiological regulation.     

Invertebrate and vertebrate neuroimmune and autoimmunoregulatory commonalties involving opioid peptides

1. Evidence for bidirectional interrelationships between the nervous system and immune systems of vertebrates and invertebrates involving opioid peptides is briefly discussed. 2. The involvement of opioid peptides in autoimmunoregulatory communication also is discussed. 3. The presence of mammalian interleukin-like (1 & 6) and tumor necrosis factor-like molecules in invertebrates is reviewed as well as an apparent cascading system for these signal molecules. 4. The significance of ACTH and MSH in cellular immunosuppression and autoimmunoregulation is discussed in the context of a potential role in schistosomiasis and human immunodeficiency virus actions. 5. The review concludes with the hypothesis that the mammalian immune system has its origin in the invertebrate immune/defense system given the many similarities noted in the review based on new knowledge about the more "primitive" system.     

Potentiated lymphokine-activated killer cell activity generated by low-dose interleukin-2 and mismatched double-stranded RNA

Summary Lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell activity was measured in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) treated in vitro for 3 days with recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) and mismatched double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). Lytic activity was measured utilizing K562 (NK-sensitive) and 786-0 (NK-resistant) target cells. PBMC cultured with rIL-2 (10–1000 BRMP U/ml) alone showed concentration-dependent lytic activity against the 786-0 target cells, while cells cultured in unsupplemented medium or medium supplemented with mismatched dsRNA (200 µg/ml) alone could not lyse the 786-0 targets. The combination of mismatched dsRNA with suboptimal concentrations of rIL-2 (10–30 U/ml) showed enhancement of both natural killer (NK) and LAK cell activities. The uptake of [³H]thymidine by treated effector cells was dependent on time and rIL-2 concentration and was not increased in the cells treated with low-dose rIL-2/mismatched dsRNA, compared to those treated with low-dose rIL-2 or mismatched dsRNA alone. Similarly, changes in the expression of CD3, CD4, CD8, CD57, CD16 and CD25 cell surface antigens were dependent on rIL-2 concentration and not altered by the presence of mismatched dsRNA. These results indicate that mismatched dsRNA can potentiate rIL-2-induced LAK cell activity by increasing the functional activity per cell, rather than by increasing the number of activated cells.