The effects of cell density and metabolite flux on cellular dynamics

Summary Density-dependent regulation of cell growth in tissue culture is a well-known phenomenon but the mechanism of regulation remains obscure. Here we explore the effects of cell density and metabolite flux on the collective dynamics of a cell population. The intracellular dynamics are modelled by positive feedback kinetic mechanisms of the kind known to apply to yeast cells. Several experimental observations related to glycolytic oscillations are predicted and it is suggested that the general conclusions may be applicable in a broader context.     

Inhibitory effect of cortisone acetate on the stimulation of rat liver cytosol l-serine Pyruvate aminotransferase by dibutyryl adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate

An injection of cortisone acetate at a dose of 5 mg/100 g body weight concomitant with dibutryl cyclic AMP prevents the increase in the activity of rat liver cytosol serine aminotransferase (L-serine: pyruvate aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.51) elicited by the nucleotide with a lag of about 2 h. If the glucocorticoid is given 2 h prior to the nucleotide inducer, the lag disappears. The inhibitory effect of cortisone acetate gradually decays and is no longer detectable 12 h following its administration. Theophylline, insulin and glucose at doses which affect significantly the level of tyrosine aminotransferase, have no effect on the level of serine aminotransferase and on the cortisone inhibition. The inhibitory effect of the glucocorticoid on the dibutyryl cyclic AMP-mediated increase in serine aminotransferase diminishes with the age of animals. Increase in the enzyme activity by a single dose of glucagon can also be inhibited by cortisone acetate and actinomycin D as in the case with dibutyrl cyclic AMP as an inducer. The possibility of the existence of a specific inhibitory factor which is formed in response to cortisone acetate is discussed.     

The Question of a Vomer in Brachiopterygian Fish

Abstract The term vomer was coined over four centuries ago to denote one of the 23 bones normally comprising an adult human skull. As time went on more and more craniates were designated vomerate. To date, however, the issue as to whether brachiopterygian fish are or are not vomerate has remained unresolved. Those who consider these fish to be vomerate have suggested at least three different palatal bones as the homologue of the human vomer. Examination of embryological material of Polypterus senegalus shows that this brachiopterygian actually develops a vomer which eventually becomes united indistinguishably with the anterior part of the parasphenoid. The vomer is suggested to have arisen through the fusion of dental plates belonging to a supplementary set of buccopharyngeal denticulate bones. The other subethmoidal bones of the brachiopterygian palate seem likely to be derivatives of the tooth plates which originally were applied to the first two pairs of infrapharyngeals. When these endoskeletal elements were put to use for encapsulation of the organs of smell early in craniate phylogeny, some of the tooth plates that covered their inner surfaces fused to provide anterior palatal bones. Identified at one time or another as vomers, these bones are here termed glochinals and dacnils.     

Plant regeneration from protoplasts of the monocotyledonous Haworthia magnifica v. Poelln.

Calli were initiated from flower buds, gynoecia and inflorescence segments of Haworthia magnifica v. Poelln. and subcultured on solid medium. Two liquid culture steps were necessary to prepare the calli for the isolation of protoplasts capable of sustained cell divisions. Plants were regenerated from protoplast-derived calli. The influence of both the osmolality of the culture media and exudates on the viability of protoplasts and protoplast-derived cell colonies is briefly discussed.     

N-Terminal Sequence of Pig Brain Choline Acetyltransferase Purified by a Rapid Procedure

A procedure is reported that allows the purification and amino terminal sequencing of pig brain choline acetyltransferase. The enzyme (present in extremely low amounts in this tissue) is eluted together with its antibody from an affinity column by a mild pH shift and the resulting enzyme-antibody complex separated by gel electrophoresis. The band corresponding to the enzyme is electroeluted from the gel using volatile solutions allowing the direct determination of the amino acid composition and partial sequence. The first 11 residues are: Pro-Ile-Leu-Glu-Lys-Thr-Pro-Pro-Lys-Met-Ala.     

Appearance of alpha-smooth muscle actin in human eye lens cells of anterior capsular cataract and in cultured bovine lens-forming cells

Using light and electron-microscopic immunolocalization techniques, and gel electrophoresis combined with immunoblotting, we have examined the expression of cytoskeletal proteins in normal human fetal, child and adult lenses, in human anterior capsular cataract and in bovine lens cells in vivo and in vitro. In this report, we focus our observations on the pattern of actin-isoform expression during normal and pathological situations in vivo and culture conditions. We have noted that cells of developing and mature human lenses as well as bovine lens cells in situ contain only beta- and gamma-actins. In contrast, alpha-smooth muscle (alpha-sm) actin, an isoform typical of smooth muscle differentiation, was demonstrated in bovine lens cells at different times of culture. Moreover, the multilayered cells observed in the subcapsular zone of human anterior capsular cataract were characterized by the presence of alpha-sm actin. Thus, extensive changes in actin-isoform expression take place in lens cells growing in culture and may also occur during cataractogenesis. The biological meaning of the appearance of a marker of myoid differentiation in the ectodermally derived lens-forming cells is discussed.     

SEM observations on seeds ofStriga spp. andBuchnera americana (Scrophulariaceae)

Seeds of the root parasitesStriga (several spp.) andBuchnera americana were examined by means of SEM. The surface patterns of the seeds in both genera resemble each other closely, especially those ofS. angustifolia andB. americana. SomeStriga spp. can be clearly distinguished by their surface characteristics, while this is quite difficult in others. The taxonomic value of the seed surface features ofStriga andBuchnera is discussed.     

Artificial dimers of native actin: Preparation and properties in biological functions

With the aid of tartryl-bis--aminocaprylazide artificial dimers were produced from F actin from rabbit striated muscle. These derivatives will not polymerize by themselves but are able to copolymerize fully with native G actin. By modification of a single side chain per dimer, this copolymerization was completely inhibited. The dimers are able to activate subfragment I ATPase of myosin and bind to DNase I with inactivation of the enzyme in the same manner as native G actin. Within the dimer, one ADP is immobilized and will exchange against ATP extremely slowly. The dimers do not bind to the mushroom toxin phalloidin.