Changes in root cap pH are required for the gravity response of the Arabidopsis root

Although the columella cells of the root cap have been identified as the site of gravity perception, the cellular events that mediate gravity signaling remain poorly understood. To determine if cytoplasmic and/or wall pH mediates the initial stages of root gravitropism, we combined a novel cell wall pH sensor (a cellulose binding domain peptide-Oregon green conjugate) and a cytoplasmic pH sensor (plants expressing pH-sensitive green fluorescent protein) to monitor pH dynamics throughout the graviresponding Arabidopsis root. The root cap apoplast acidified from pH 5.5 to 4.5 within 2 min of gravistimulation. Concomitantly, cytoplasmic pH increased in columella cells from 7.2 to 7.6 but was unchanged elsewhere in the root. These changes in cap pH preceded detectable tropic growth or growth-related pH changes in the elongation zone cell wall by 10 min. Altering the gravity-related columella cytoplasmic pH shift with caged protons delayed the gravitropic response. Together, these results suggest that alterations in root cap pH likely are involved in the initial events that mediate root gravity perception or signal transduction.     

Quantifying efficacy of chemotherapy of brain tumors with homogeneous and heterogeneous drug delivery

Gliomas are diffuse and invasive brain tumors with the nefarious ability to evade even seemingly draconian treatment measures. Here we introduce a simple mathematical model for drug delivery of chemotherapeutic agents to treat such a tumor. The model predicts that heterogeneity in drug delivery related to variability in vascular density throughout the brain results in an apparent tumor reduction based on imaging studies despite continual spread beyond the resolution of the imaging modality. We discuss a clinical example for which the model-predicted scenario is relevant. The analysis and results suggest an explanation for the clinical problem of the long-standing confounding observation of shrinkage of the lesion in certain areas of the brain with continued growth in other areas.     

Seasonal analysis of semen characteristics,serum testosterone and fecal androgens in the ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), margay (L. wiedii) and tigrina (L. tigrinus)

Captive adult male ocelots (Leopardus pardalis, n = 3), margays (L. wiedii, n = 3) and tigrinas (L. tigrinus, n = 4) in two locations in southern Brazil were studied for 14 consecutive months to evaluate the effect of season on testicular function. Reproductive evaluations, including testicular measurements, electroejaculation and blood collection were conducted monthly. Fecal samples were collected weekly for androgen metabolite analysis to assess testicular steroidogenic activity. Ocelots had the highest number of motile spermatozoa in the ejaculate (114.7+/-15.8 x 10(6); P < 0.05), the highest percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa (82.4+/-1.2%; P < 0.05) and the highest concentration of fecal androgens (1.71 vs. 0.14 microg/g; P < 0.05). Margays and tigrinas had lower numbers of motile spermatozoa (23.4+/-2.8 x 10(6), 74.2+/-8.9 x 10(6), respectively), lower percentages of morphologically normal spermatozoa (57.4+/-2.8, 59.2+/-3.5%, respectively), and lower fecal androgen concentrations (0.15+/-0.01, 0.23+/-0.01 microg/g, respectively). Serum testosterone concentrations were similar among the three species. Fecal androgen concentrations were not affected by season, with the exception of the ocelot where concentrations were higher (P < 0.05) in the summer. Ejaculates were collected throughout the year; however, peaks in average sperm production were observed during the summer for all species. In summary, this study has identified several species differences in male testicular traits among ocelots, margays and tigrinas. Results of longitudinal reproductive assessments suggest males of each species are capable of breeding throughout the year.     

An integrated, stacked microlaboratory for biological agent detection with DNA and immunoassays

An integrated, stacked microlaboratory for performing automated electric-field-driven immunoassays and DNA hybridization assays was developed. The stacked microlaboratory was fabricated by orderly laminating several different functional layers (all 76 x 76 mm(2)) including a patterned polyimide layer with a flip-chip bonded CMOS chip, a pressure sensitive acrylic adhesive (PSA) layer with a fluidic cutout, an optically transparent polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) film, a PSA layer with a via, a patterned polyimide layer with a flip-chip bonded silicon chip, a PSA layer with a fluidic cutout, and a glass cover plate layer. Versatility of the stacked microlaboratory was demonstrated by various automated assays. Escherichia coli bacteria and Alexa-labeled protein toxin staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) were detected by electric-field-driven immunoassays on a single chip with a specific-to-nonspecific signal ratios of 4.2:1 and 3.0:1, respectively. Furthermore, by integrating the microlaboratory with a module for strand displacement amplification (SDA), the identification of the Shiga-like toxin gene (SLT1) from E. coli was accomplished within 2.5 h starting from a dielectrophoretic concentration of intact E. coli bacteria and finishing with an electric-field-driven DNA hybridization assay, detected by fluorescently labeled DNA reporter probes. The integrated microlaboratory can be potentially used in a wide range of applications including detection of bacteria and biowarfare agents, and genetic identification.     

Dynamics of cytoskeletal proteins during Fcgamma receptor-mediated phagocytosis in macrophages

Particle ingestion by phagocytosis results from sequential rearrangements of the actin cytoskeleton and overlying membrane. To assemble a chronology of molecular events during phagosome formation and to examine the contributions of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) to these dynamics, a method was developed for synchronizing Fcgamma receptor-mediated phagocytosis by murine macrophages. Erythrocytes opsonized with complement component C3bi were bound to macrophages at 37degrees C, a condition that does not favor particle phagocytosis. Addition of soluble anti-erythrocyte IgG resulted in rapid opsonization of the bound erythrocytes, followed by their immediate internalization via phagocytosis. Cellular content of F-actin, as measured by binding of rhodamine-phalloidin, increased transiently during phagocytosis, and this increase was not diminished by inhibitors of PI 3-kinase. Immunofluorescence localization of myosins in macrophages fixed at various times during phagocytosis indicated that myosins II and IXb were concentrated in early phagosomes, myosin IC increased later, and myosin V appeared after phagosome closure. Other cytoskeletal proteins showed similar variations in the timing of their appearance in phagosomes. The PI 3-kinase inhibitor wortmannin did not change the dynamics of PI 3-kinase or ezrin localization but prevented the loss of PAK1 from phagosomes. These results suggest that PI 3-kinase deactivates PAK1, and that this may be needed for phagosome closure.     

Fine structure and activity of discrete RAG-HMG complexes on V(D)J recombination signals

Two lymphoid cell-specific proteins, RAG-1 and RAG-2, initiate V(D)J recombination by introducing DNA breaks at recombination signal sequences (RSSs). Although the RAG proteins themselves bind and cleave DNA substrates containing either a 12-RSS or a 23-RSS, DNA-bending proteins HMG-1 and HMG-2 are known to promote these processes, particularly with 23-RSS substrates. Using in-gel cleavage assays and DNA footprinting techniques, I analyzed the catalytic activity and protein-DNA contacts in discrete 12-RSS and 23-RSS complexes containing the RAG proteins and either HMG-1 or HMG-2. I found that both the cleavage activity and the pattern of protein-DNA contacts in RAG-HMG complexes assembled on 12-RSS substrates closely resembled those obtained from analogous 12-RSS complexes lacking HMG protein. In contrast, 23-RSS complexes containing both RAG proteins and either HMG-1 or HMG-2 exhibited enhanced cleavage activity and displayed an altered distribution of cleavage products compared to 23-RSS complexes containing only RAG-1 and RAG-2. Moreover, HMG-dependent heptamer contacts in 23-RSS complexes were observed. The protein-DNA contacts in RAG-RSS-HMG complexes assembled on 12-RSS or 23-RSS substrates were strikingly similar at comparable positions, suggesting that the RAG proteins mediate HMG-dependent heptamer contacts in 23-RSS complexes. Results of ethylation interference experiments suggest that the HMG protein is positioned 5' of the nonamer in 23-RSS complexes, interacting largely with the side of the duplex opposite the one contacting the RAG proteins. Thus, HMG protein plays the dual role of bringing critical elements of the 23-RSS heptamer into the same phase as the 12-RSS to promote RAG binding and assisting in the catalysis of 23-RSS cleavage.     

Solution structure of Vps27 UIM-ubiquitin complex important for endosomal sorting and receptor downregulation

Monoubiquitylation is a well-characterized signal for the internalization and sorting of integral membrane proteins to distinct cellular organelles. Recognition and transmission of monoubiquitin signals is mediated by a variety of ubiquitin-binding motifs such as UIM, UBA, UEV, VHS and CUE in endocytic proteins. The yeast Vps27 protein requires two UIMs for efficient interactions with ubiquitin and for sorting cargo into multivesicular bodies. Here we show that the individual UIMs of Vps27 exist as autonomously folded alpha-helices that bind ubiquitin independently, non-cooperatively and with modest affinity. The Vps27 N-terminal UIM engages the Leu8-Ile44-Val70 hydrophobic patch of ubiquitin through a helical surface conserved in UIMs of diverse proteins, including that of the S5a proteasomal regulatory subunit. The Leu8-Ile44-Val70 ubiquitin surface is also the site of interaction for CUE and UBA domains in endocytic proteins, consistent with the view that ubiquitin-binding endocytic proteins act serially on the same monoubiquitylated cargo during transport from cell surface to the lysosome.     

Legionella pneumophila CsrA is a pivotal repressor of transmission traits and activator of replication

Legionella pneumophila can replicate inside amoebae and also alveolar macrophages to cause Legionnaires' Disease in susceptible hosts. When nutrients become limiting, a stringent-like response coordinates the differentiation of L. pneumophila to a transmissive form, a process mediated by the two-component system LetA/S and the sigma factors RpoS and FliA. Here we demonstrate that the broadly conserved RNA binding protein CsrA is a global repressor of L. pneumophila transmission phenotypes and an essential activator of intracellular replication. By analysing csrA expression and the phenotypes of csrA single and double mutants and a strain that expresses csrA constitutively, we demonstrate that, during replication in broth, CsrA represses every post-exponential phase phenotype examined, including cell shape shortening, motility, pigmentation, stress resistance, sodium sensitivity, cytotoxicity and efficient macrophage infection. At the transition to the post-exponential phase, LetA/S relieves CsrA repression to induce transmission phenotypes by both FliA-dependent and -independent pathways. For L. pneumophila to avoid lysosomal degradation in macrophages, CsrA repression must be relieved by LetA/S before phagocytosis; conversely, before intracellular bacteria can replicate, CsrA repression must be restored. The reciprocal regulation of replication and transmission exemplified by CsrA likely enhances the fitness of microbes faced with fluctuating environments.