The covalent oscillator: A paradigm accounting for the sliding/bending mechanism and wave propagation in cilia and flagella

Summary— In most models of wave propagation in eucaryotic flagella and cilia, a clear distinction is made between the dynein dependent microtubule sliding which represents the oscillatory motor and the bending mechanism which regulates wave propagation. Little is known about the physical elements regulating the latter: in the present model, the bending propagation is postulated to be supported by an open/close cyclic mechanism protease/ligase dependent, which involves transient covalent links between adjacent microtubular doublets; this open/close cycle propagates in register with the powering action of the dynein motor along the exoneme. The implications of the model are discussed in relation to previous data which involve protease/ligase in the axonemal function as well as other data which can be integrated by the proposed model.     

Anaerobic conditions strongly promote extension by stems of overwintering tubers of Potamogeton pectinatus L

Elongation by dark-grown shoots of Potamogeton pectinatus tuberswas enhanced by the absence of oxygen. This promoting effectwas located in the stem and was stronger under water than ina gas phase and also stronger in unsparged water compared tosparged water. Anaerobic shoots elongated under water by almost13 cm in 5 d. This was the outcome of longer cells of the steminternodes and of some cell division coupled with leaf extensionwhich continued in the absence of oxygen, but at a slower rate.Continued attachment to a starch-filled tuber was required forsignificant anaerobic elongation, which could be sustained forat least 14 d. Switching intact, growing tubers from aerobicto anaerobic conditions stimulated stem extension within 24h. Conversely, stem elongation was slowed when tubers were transferredfrom an anaerobic to an aerobic environment. A marked gravitropicresponse occurred in anaerobic conditions, which involved bothstem and leaf tissue, and indicated that active internal growth-regulatingmechanisms continued to operate without oxygen. Shoot extension by tubers was also stimulated by hypo-aerobicconditions (5–8 kPa O₂) compared with fully aerated solutions(20.8 kPa O₂). This acceleration was smaller than that obtainedby the complete removal of oxygen, but still involved stem ratherthan leaf growth. Unlike elongation by apical shoots of tubers,that by shoot tips of rhizomes taken from mature light-grownplants was strongly inhibited by lack of oxygen, and in somecases shoot tips died within 5 d. All shoots and leaves werehighly aerenchymatous and the gas-filled lacunae were connectedby side-pores. Key words: Water plants, environmental stress, Potamogeton pectinatus, elongation, anaerobiosis, gravitropism     

Differential modulation of natural and adaptive immunity in fischer rats exposed for 6 weeks to 60 Hz linear sinusoidal continuous-wave magnetic fields

Two separate, independent experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of 60 Hz linearly polarized, sinusoidal, continuous-wave magnetic fields (MFs) on immune system performances in rats born and raised under these fields. Each experiment lasted for 6 weeks. A total of 96 animals, divided into groups of eight animals each, was exposed for 20 h/day to MFs of different intensities, i.e., sham (<0.02 μT) and 2, 20, 200, and 2000 μT. Another group of animals, which was housed in a separate room, served as cage controls (CC). These animals were exposed to ambient MFs of <0.02 μT. The following immune responses were evaluated in both experiments: total T and B cells; CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ subpopulation and natural killer (NK) cell activity in splenic lymphocytes; hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), nitrous oxide (NO), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production by peritoneal macrophages. Our results show that a 6 week exposure to MFs induced a significant decrease in the number of CD5⁺, CD4⁺, and CD8⁺ populations. These changes were even more significant in rats that were exposed to fields of 2000 μT. A lower, although significant, decrease in the CD5⁺ population was also observed in animals that were exposed to fields of 200 μT. Linear regression analysis demonstrated a dose effect with MF intensity. B lymphocyte (Ig⁺ cell) populations also showed a 12% decrease (P < .05) in the groups that were exposed to fields of 20 and 200 μT. However, these results were not significant, and no relation with MF intensities could be demonstrated. In contrast, evaluation of splenic NK cell activity revealed a 50% increase (P < .05) in animals that were exposed to fields of 2000 μT. No significant results were obtained from the evaluation of TNF activity and NO secretion in peritoneal macrophages. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-stimulated and net H₂O₂ productions for a minor subpopulation of peritoneal cells showed positive dose-response correlations by linear regression analysis. Taken together, our results suggest that an in vivo exposure of rats for 6 weeks to 60 Hz MFs can induce significant immunological perturbations on effector cells of both natural and adaptive immunity in a dose-dependent fashion. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Gap Junctional Communication Does not Contribute to the Interaction Between Neutrophils and Airway Epithelial Cells

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is characterized by intense neutrophil migration into the airways. Increasing evidence indicates that interaction between neutrophils and airway epithelial cells contributes to the modulation of the inflammatory response. Blood neutrophils were reported to express connexins and form gap junctions with endothelial cells, thereby establishing gap junctional communication. We tested whether altered communication between human neutrophils and airway epithelial cells may contribute to the exaggerated inflammatory response observed in CF patients. Microinjections did not reveal dye coupling between activated blood neutrophils. By constrast, diffusion of calcein between neutrophils and airway epithelial cells of CF or non-CF origin was observed in transmigration and adhesion assays. This diffusion was prevented with probenicid, an inhibitor of ATP-dependent organic anion pumps, but not with gap junction blockers. Finally, RT-PCR failed to detect mRNAs for six connexins in blood neutrophils. These results suggest that gap junctional communication does not contribute to neutrophil-airway epithelial cell interaction.     

Two anti-radial spoke monoclonal antibodies inhibit Chlamydomonas axonemal motility by different mechanisms

In the 9 + 2 axoneme, radial spokes are structural components attached to the A-tubules of the nine outer doublet microtubules. They protrude toward the central pair microtubule complex with which they have transient but regular interactions for the normal flagellar motility to occur. Flagella of Chlamydomonas mutants deficient in entire radial spokes or spoke heads are paralyzed. In this study the importance of two radial spoke proteins in the flagellar movement is exemplified by the potent inhibitory action of two monoclonal antibodies on the axonemal motility of demembranated-reactivated Chlamydomonas models. We show that one of these proteins is localized on the stalk of the radial spokes, whereas the other is a component of the head of the same structure and most likely correspond to radial spoke protein 2 and 1, respectively. Fine motility analysis by videomicrography further indicates that these two anti-radial spoke protein antibodies at low concentration affect motility of demembranated-reactivated Chlamydomonas by changing the flagellar waveform without modifying axonemal beat frequency. They also modify wave amplitude differently during motility inhibition. This brings more direct evidence for the involvement of both radial spoke stalk and head in the fine tuning of the waveform during flagellar motility.     

BspA (CyuC) in Lactobacillus fermentum BR11 Is a Highly Expressed High-Affinity L-Cystine-Binding Protein

The BspA protein of Lactobacillus fermentum BR11 (BR11) is a cell envelope constituent that is similar to known solute-binding proteins and putative adhesins. BspA is required for L-cystine uptake and oxidative defense and is likely to be an L-cystine-binding protein. The aim of this study was to directly measure L-cystine-BspA binding and BspA expression. De-energized BR11 cells bound radiolabelled L-cystine with a Kd of 0.2 M. A bspA mutant could not bind L-cystine. L-cystine-BR11 binding was unaffected by large excesses of L-glutamine, L-methionine, or collagen, indicating L-cystine specificity. BR11 and the bspA mutant were identical in their abilities to bind L-cysteine, indicating that L-cysteine is not a BspA ligand. BspA expression levels were deduced from radiolabelled L-cystine binding and it was found that there are 1–2 × 10⁵ BspA molecules per cell, and that expression is slightly higher under oxidizing conditions. It is proposed that BspA be renamed CyuC.     

Specific diversity of plant populations at rainfed scale and crop protection: the example of banana production in the French West Indies

Banana is a major crop in the French West Indies, where it is subjected to strong parasite pressure, resulting in pesticide pollution. An increase in plant population diversity in the cultivated ecosystem is generated by changing cultural practices. This results in a decrease in parasite pressure and hence a decrease in pollutant pesticide loads. Agricultural sustainability is therefore reinforced for better coexistence of populated, cultivated and protected areas.     

Anaerobic promotion of stem extension in Potamogeton pectinatus. Roles for carbon dioxide, acidification and hormones

Dark-grown shoots of tubers of the aquatic monocot Potamogön pectinatus L. elongated more strongly in anaerobic than aerobic solutions over 5 days. The response was located in the stem rather than the leaf. Anaerobic carbon dioxide (CO₂) production was similar to that in aerobic conditions. Approximately half the anaerobic stem extension was attributed to acidification of the submerging medium by respiratory CO₂. Sparging with an anaerobic gas mixture of nitrogen and hydrogen to remove dissolved CO₂ inhibited stem elongation and prevented acidification of the medium. Similarly, supplying CO₂ anaerobically promoted stem elongation while acidifying the medium. Carbon dioxide was also active on aerobic shoots. The effect of CO₂ on anaerobic stem extension could be mimicked with an acidic buffer. Anaerobic stem extension was inhibited by exogenous abscisic acid (ABA), while gibberellic acid and the gibberellin-biosynthesis inhibitor paclobutrazol proved inactive. Exogenous indole-3-acetic acid promoted stem extension in the absence of oxygen. A strong gravitropic response by anaerobic stems of P. pectinatus was inhibited by the auxin-efflux inhibitor naphthylphthalamic acid.