Induction of cellular growth by the axon guidance regulators Netrin A and Semaphorin‐1a

Although neurite outgrowth has been linked to axon guidance regulators, the effects of guidance molecules on cellular growth are not well understood. Use of the Drosophila wing imaginal disc, an epithelial tissue and a well‐characterized system for analysis of cellular growth regulation, permits analysis of the impacts of guidance molecules on cellular growth in a setting in which axon guidance is not a confounding factor. In this investigation, the impacts of Netrin A (NetA) and Semaphorin‐1a (Sema1a) signaling on cellular growth are examined during wing development. Levels of these genes were modulated in somatic clones in the developing wing disc, and clone areas, as well as individual sizes of clonal cells were assessed. NetA and Sema1a signaling were found to induce cellular growth in these assays. Furthermore, immunohistochemical analyses indicated that NetA and Sema1a signaling induce expression of several growth regulators, including myc, cycD, cdk4, PCNA, and MapK in the wing disc. These data illustrate that NetA and Sema1a can specifically promote growth through induction of key cellular growth regulators. The abilities of NetA and Sema1a to regulate cellular growth are likely critical to their functions in both nervous system development and oncogenesis. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 70:473–484, 2010     

Visualization of elicitor-binding loci at the plant cell surface

We describe a method which allows the visualization of elicitor-binding loci at the surface of plant protoplasts. Prerequisites for this method are the preparation of protoplasts under conditions of minimal proteolysis, and the availability of antibodies against either the elicitor itself or against the fluorescein portion of elicitor-fluorescein conjugates. Silver enhancement is used to amplify the visibility of 5-nm gold particles which are attached to an appropriate secondary antibody. Bound elicitor can then be visualized by epipolarization microscopy. This method, designated SEIG-EPOM (for silver enhanced immunogold as viewed by epipolarization microscopy), has been applied to protoplasts of parsley (Petroselineum cirspum L.), using the Phytophthora megasperma elicitor, and soybean (Glycine max Merr.) using polygalacturonic acid elicitor isolated from citrus pectin. We have been able to estimate the number of specific binding loci as being less than 100 per protoplast. Such loci possibly represent clusters of individual elicitor-receptor complexes. Structurally related elicitors have been shown to compete effectively for binding sites. The latter are sensitive to proteolysis, as is the elicitation response of protoplasts.Dedicated to Professor Peter Sitte on the occasion of his 65th birthday     

Arabidopsis thaliana root and root exudate metabolism is altered by the growth-promoting bacterium Kosakonia radicincitans DSM 16656T

Plant and Soil - Although phosphite (PO3, Phi) cannot replace phosphate (PO4, Pi) as a nutritional source of phosphorus (P) for plants, decisions about using foliar Phi application in citrus groves...     

Thrombophilia in blood-donation for plasma- and cytapheresis caused by antithrombin III depletion

Induced by the case of a blood-donor with more than 100 donations-mostly apheresis-who suffered acute thromboembolism caused by antithrombin III depletion, nearly 60 apheresis-donors were examined before, during and after aphereses, as well manual fourfold as computerized (CS-3000 TRAVENOL) cytaphereses with special methods of coagulation, mainly antithrombin III levels and fibrin-monomeres. The findings were described and compared, multifold in manual techniques happened breaks caused by occluded tubules were accompanied with decrease of antithrombin III and positive FM-tests. It was discussed, if apheresis-techniques for themselves (extracorporal multifold manipulation in manual techniques and contact with artificial surfaces in both kinds of techniques) can be the reason for a hypercoagulation. It seems to be important, how is the situation of apheresis-donor before starting, therefore we give the recommendation, to pay more attention in examination this kind of donors, additional with testing antithrombin III levels and tests for fibrin-monomers.