Intracellular localization and size of glycogen particles in glycogen synthesized under histochemical conditions.

During the investigation of the histochemical synthesis of glycogen particles from glucose 1-phosphate by the phosphorylase-branching glycosyltransferase system in various tissue cells, it was observed that focal synthesis localized in a certain area of the cytoplasm occurred in some cells. This differed from the usual synthesis in which particles of similar size were synthesized within the cytoplasm. Otherwise, cytoplasmic particles of various size were also synthesized in other cells under the same histochemical condition. The possible significance of the presence of these patterns in glycogen synthesis is discussed.     

Demonstration of lysosomal and extralysosomal sites for acid phosphatase in mouse kidney tubule cells with p-nitrophenylphosphate lead-salt technique.

Dual localization of acid phosphatase in lysosomal and extralysosomal sites of the tubule epithelial cells of normal mouse kidney was observed at the light and electron microscope level using a modified Gomori lead-salt method with p-nitrophenylphosphate (pNPP) as substrate. Based on previous biochemical and cytochemical findings, we developed optimal conditions for the enzyme activity in extralysosomal sites. The conditions used for the light microscopic level consisted of 1.5 mM PNPP, 2.0 MM Pb(NO3)2 and 0.05 M acetate buffer (pH 5.8). Those for the electron microscopic study required 3.0 mM PNPP, 3.6 MM Pb(NO3)2 and 0.1 M acetate buffer (pH 5.8). This modified lead-salt technique was highly specific and provided a suitable method for the demonstration of nonlysosomal as well as lysosomal sites of acid phosphatase activity in the tubule epithelial cells of normal mouse kidney. As expected, the enzyme activity appeared in the lysosomes, but the prominent reaction in the brush border, the rough endoplasmic reticulum and basal infolding plasma membranes was not anticipated. We were able to demonstrate in situ organelle precursors of microsomal acid phosphatase such as endoplasmic reticulum, plasma membrane and basal infolding membranes showing the same substrate preference, which had been observed previously in biochemical studies in our laboratory. Since the possible participation of alkaline phosphatases, K+-pNPPase or Na+-K+-adenosine triphosphatase was ruled out by use of appropriate inhibitors, the enzyme-reactive sites can be interpreted as reflecting nonspecific acid phosphatase.     

Single-Unit Imaging of Membrane Protein-Embedded Nanodiscs from Two Oriented Sides by High-Speed Atomic Force Microscopy

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A defect in DNA double strand break processing in cells from unaffected parents of retinoblastoma patients and other apparently normal humans

Cells from unaffected parents of retinoblastoma (RB) patients were previously shown to be hypersensitive to radiation induced G(1) arrest and cell killing [1]. The hypersensitivity was similar to that reported for cells from ATM heterozygotes. The latter was consistent with a mild DNA DSB rejoining defect which we demonstrated using a gamma-H2AX focus assay after low dose-rate (LDR) irradiation of non-cycling G(0) cells [2,3]. Since neither parent carried the mutant RB allele of the RB heterozygous probands, these results suggested the possibility of an enhanced germline mutation rate, perhaps resulting from some mild defect in genome maintenance. We therefore examined levels of gamma-H2AX foci for cells from these RB parents in this G(0) LDR assay, which reflects the non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) capacity of cells and in a G(2)/M assay, which reflects additional contributions from other G(2)-related damage processing systems. For several of the cell strains parallel radiosensitivity comparisons were made for cell killing and for G(2) chromosomal radiosensitivities. G(0) cells from the RB parents were clearly hypersensitive both in the LDR gamma-H2AX assay, and for cell killing. In addition, cultured fibroblasts from 6 of 15 apparently normal individuals in this study (and one of six in a previous study) were also hypersensitive in the same assays. In the G(2)/M gamma-H2AX assay, the relative sensitivities were similar to those seen in the low dose-rate G(0) assay and tracked with chromosomal radiosensitivity, but some differences were observed.     

Isolation and characterization of a new cellulosome-producing Clostridium thermocellum strain

The anaerobic thermophilic bacterium, Clostridium thermocellum, is a potent cellulolytic microorganism that produces large extracellular multienzyme complexes called cellulosomes. To isolate C. thermocellum organisms that possess effective cellulose-degrading ability, new thermophilic cellulolytic strains were screened from more than 800 samples obtained mainly from agriculture residues in Thailand using microcrystalline cellulose as a carbon source. A new strain, C. thermocellum S14, having high cellulose-degrading ability was isolated from bagasse paper sludge. Cellulosomes prepared from S14 demonstrated faster degradation of microcrystalline cellulose, and 3.4- and 5.6-fold greater Avicelase activity than those from C. thermocellum ATCC27405 and JW20 (ATCC31449), respectively. Scanning electron microscopic analysis showed that S14 had unique cell surface features with few protuberances in contrast to the type strains. In addition, the cellulosome of S14 was resistant to inhibition by cellobiose that is a major end product of cellulose hydrolysis. Saccharification tests conducted using rice straw soaked with sodium hydroxide indicated the cellulosome of S14 released approximately 1.5-fold more total sugars compared to that of ATCC27405. This newly isolated S14 strain has the potential as an enzyme resource for effective lignocellulose degradation.     

Autotaxin is overexpressed in glioblastoma multiforme and contributes to cell motility of glioblastoma by converting lysophosphatidylcholine to lysophosphatidic acid

Autotaxin (ATX) is a multifunctional phosphodiesterase originally isolated from melanoma cells as a potent cell motility-stimulating factor. ATX is identical to lysophospholipase D, which produces a bioactive phospholipid, lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), from lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC). Although enhanced expression of ATX in various tumor tissues has been repeatedly demonstrated, and thus, ATX is implicated in progression of tumor, the precise role of ATX expressed by tumor cells was unclear. In this study, we found that ATX is highly expressed in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most malignant glioma due to its high infiltration into the normal brain parenchyma, but not in tissues from other brain tumors. In addition, LPA1, an LPA receptor responsible for LPA-driven cell motility, is predominantly expressed in GBM. One of the glioblastomas that showed the highest ATX expression (SNB-78), as well as ATX-stable transfectants, showed LPA1-dependent cell migration in response to LPA in both Boyden chamber and wound healing assays. Interestingly these ATX-expressing cells also showed chemotactic response to LPC. In addition, knockdown of the ATX level using small interfering RNA technique in SNB-78 cells suppressed their migratory response to LPC. These results suggest that the autocrine production of LPA by cancer cell-derived ATX and exogenously supplied LPC contribute to the invasiveness of cancer cells and that LPA1, ATX, and LPC-producing enzymes are potential targets for cancer therapy, including GBM.     

Detection of alginate oligosaccharides from mollusks

We attempted in this study to detect alginate oligosaccharides (AO) from mollusks. The samples used were digestive organs taken from turban shells and abalones which commonly ate brown algae. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and negative-ion electrospray ionization (ESI) quadrupole time-of-flight (Q-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) analyses were used to confirm the presence of AO. Samples spiked with AO resulted in observable peaks where the HPLC area was increased. The highest content was estimated to be 401.8 mg/100 g of digestive organ. The product-ion data derived from AO molecular weight were detected at a constant interval by Q-TOF MS/MS analysis. These findings indicate that AO was present in the digestive organs of mollusks.     

Identification of novel putative virulence factors, adhesin AIDA and type VI secretion system, in atypical strains of fish pathogenic Edwardsiella tarda by genomic subtractive hybridization

Edwardsiella tarda, which is known to be the causative agent of edwardsiellosis in freshwater and marine fish, has two motility phenotypes. Typical strains exhibiting motility are isolated mainly from freshwater fish and Japanese flounder. Atypical strains exhibiting non-motility are isolated mainly from marine fish, with the exception of Japanese flounder. Subtractive hybridization was performed to identify genomic differences between these two phenotypes. Two fragments which showed homology to potential virulence factors were isolated from atypical strains: the autotransporter adhesin AIDA and a component of T6SS. We analysed DNA sequences of about 5 kbp containing these fragments and identified two partial ORF, and ORF encoding for other components of T6SS. The predicted amino acid sequences showed remarkably low homology to components of T6SS reported in the typical E. tarda strain PPD130/91. Furthermore, the organization of these ORF was different from the gene cluster of the typical E. tarda strain. AIDA and T6SS may therefore be associated with different pathogenicity in typical and atypical E. tarda hosts.     

The amount of secreted IgA may not determine the secretory IgA coating ratio of gastrointestinal bacteria

It is reported that some, but not all, bacteria in human faeces are coated with secretory immunoglobulin A (S-IgA). We evaluated the proportion of S-IgA-coated bacteria to total intestinal bacteria (S-IgA coating ratio) in the gastrointestinal tract of two different strains of mice supplied by two different suppliers. The S-IgA coating ratio was significantly different in each gastrointestinal segment and between mouse suppliers. The amount of non-bacteria-bound IgA (free IgA) in each gastrointestinal segment indicated that this difference in the S-IgA coating ratio might not be due to the amount of secreted IgA. Furthermore, immunoblotting analysis revealed that only a small amount of IgA (<5% to free-IgA) was used for the coating. This indicates that, although sufficient S-IgA was secreted to coat the entire intestinal population of bacteria, only some part of the bacteria were coated with S-IgA. This study suggests that the amount of luminal S-IgA may not determine the S-IgA coating ratio, and that the amount of IgA coating intestinal commensal bacteria is very small.