Primary cultures and the levels of cytochromeP450 in hepatocytes from mouse,rat, hamster,and rabbit liver

Summary Hepatocyte primary cultures (HPC) derived from rat, mouse, hamster, and rabbit liver were characterized for a variety of parameters. The conditions that maximized recovery, attachment, and survival varied between species. Hepatocytes from all four species were capable of attaching in serum-free Williams’ medium E (WME), but optimal attachment as monolayer cultures was achieved for mouse and hamster HPC in medium receiving 1% calf serum supplementation. Hamster hepatocytes required additional cations, whereas rabbit and rat hepatocytes displayed maximal attachment in medium supplemented with 10% calf serum. Survival of mouse and rabbit hepatocytes after 24 h in serum supplemented media was in the order of 90%. Rat and hamster hepatocyte 24 h survival was approximately 70 and 60%, respectively, and was not significantly affected by serum supplementation. Hepatocytes from each species varied in their content of cytochromeP450 at the time of isolation and in the rate of reduction during culture. Mouse and rat hepatocytes demonstrated the most rapid decline in content during the initial 24 h in culture, whereas concentrations in rabbit hepatocytes were virtually unchanged. The rate of decline inP450 concentrations in hamster hepatocytes was intermediate between those displayed by rat and rabbit hepatocytes. These studies have delineated conditions useful for the culture of hepatocytes from four species and have documented the status of an important parameter of their functional capability. This study was supported by EPA contract 68-01-6179. C. J. Maslansky was a recipient of a Monsanto Fund Fellowship in Toxicology.     

Effects of Brassica oleracea waxblooms on predation and attachment by Hippodamia convergens

Four mutations that reduce waxbloom in Brassica oleracea L. were examined for their effects on predation, mobility, and adhesion to the plant surface by the general predator Hippodamia convergens (Guérin-Menéville) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). The mutations reduce waxbloom to different degrees, but all produce a glossy phenotype. Plants tested were inbred lines, near isogenic lines, or segregating F₂ populations, depending on the mutation. In an experiment on caged leaves, predation of Plutella xylostella L. larvae by H. convergens adult females was significantly greater on glossy types as compared with normal-wax or wild-type counterparts. Although the trend was the same for each mutation, individual comparisons between glossy and normal-wax lines or segregants were only significant for two of them, those producing mutant alleles gl_a and gl_d. Individual H. convergens were observed to spend more time walking on leaf edges and less time walking on leaf surfaces of normal-wax plants than glossy plants. Hippodamia convergens also obtained better adhesion to the surfaces of glossy plants than to normal-wax plants when tested using a centrifugal device. Two of the mutations produced similarly strong effects on predation, behaviour, and adhesion by H. convergens. These two are the same previously determined by us to provide the strongest similar effects on another generalist predator, Chrysoperla plorabunda (Fitch). The results indicate that waxbloom variation in nature could affect herbivore populations through its effects on generalist predators.     

A direct observation of bacterial coverage and biofilm formation by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans on chalcopyrite and pyrite surfaces

To obtain a fundamental understanding of the population behaviour of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans at chalcopyrite and pyrite surfaces, the early stage attachment behaviour and biofilm formation by this bacterium on chalcopyrite (CuFeS₂) and pyrite (FeS₂) were studied by optical microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The results indicate there was no significant difference in selectivity of bacterial attachment between chalcopyrite and pyrite. However, the result of ToF-SIMS analysis suggests that the surface of the pyrite was covered more extensively by biofilm than that of the chalcopyrite, which may indicate more extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) formation by bacterial cells growing on pyrite. EBSD and optical image analysis indicated that selectivity of bacterial attachment to chalcopyrite was not significantly affected by crystal orientation. The results also suggest that the bacterial population in defective areas of chalcopyrite was significantly higher than on the polished surfaces.     

Cellular functions of NSF: not just SNAPs and SNAREs

N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor (NSF) is an ATPases associated with various cellular activities protein (AAA), broadly required for intracellular membrane fusion. NSF functions as a SNAP receptor (SNARE) chaperone which binds, through soluble NSF attachment proteins (SNAPs), to SNARE complexes and utilizes the energy of ATP hydrolysis to disassemble them thus facilitating SNARE recycling. While this is a major function of NSF, it does seem to interact with other proteins, such as the AMPA receptor subunit, GluR2, and beta2-AR and is thought to affect their trafficking patterns. New data suggest that NSF may be regulated by transient post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation and nitrosylation. These new aspects of NSF function as well as its role in SNARE complex dynamics will be discussed.     

The widely expressed extracellular matrix protein SMOC-2 promotes keratinocyte attachment and migration

SMOC-2 is a recently discovered member of the BM-40/SPARC/osteonectin family of extracellular multidomain proteins of so far unknown function. While we have shown earlier that the homologous protein SMOC-1 is associated with basement membranes, in this study we demonstrate that, in the mouse, SMOC-2 could be detected in a large number of non-basement membrane localizations, often showing a diffuse tissue distribution. A more distinct expression pattern was seen in skin where SMOC-2 is mainly present in the basal layers of the epidermis. Functionally, recombinant SMOC-2 stimulated attachment of primary epidermal cells as well as several epidermal-derived cell lines but had no effect on the attachment of non-epidermal cells. Inhibition experiments using blocking antibodies against individual integrin subunits allowed the identification of αvβ6 and αvβ1 integrins as important cellular receptors for SMOC-2. Cell attachment as well as the formation of focal adhesions could be attributed to the extracellular calcium-binding domain. The calcium-binding domain also stimulated migration, but not proliferation of keratinocyte-like HaCaT cells. We conclude that SMOC-2, like other members of the BM40/SPARC family, acts as a regulator of cell–matrix interactions.     

核基质结合区对转爬山虎芪合酶基因烟草中产生白藜芦醇的作用

采用核基质结合区(MARs)来提高转芪合酶基因(STS)烟草(Nicotianatabacum L.)中白藜芦醇产物的含量.MARs是细胞中能与核基质特异紧密结合的DNA片段,体外结合实验表明克隆自酵母的MARs序列能特异地与烟草核基质结合.芪合酶是白藜芦醇生物合成中的关键酶,用RT-PCR方法从川鄂爬山虎(Parthenocissus henryana(Hemsl.)Diels et Gilg)中克隆了与葡萄芪合酶基因有较高同源性的芪合酶编码区,将其置于CaMV35SΩ强启动子下,分别构建两侧带有MARs及不含MARs序列的表达载体,通过农杆菌介导转化烟草.Northern blot及HPLC等分析表明STS基因已整合至烟草染色体中并正常转录,且表达的外源芪合酶在烟草中可催化其底物合成白藜芦醇产物.与对照相比,MARs的存在使转芪合酶基因烟草中白藜芦醇的含量平均提高了约一倍.MARs在转芪合酶基因植物中的应用也为获得抗病性更强、白藜芦醇含量更高、更保健的转基因果蔬的研究奠定了基础.     

中华绒螯蟹胚胎附着系统的结构和形成机制

利用透射电镜和扫描电镜技术研究了中华绒螯蟹(Eriocheir sinensis)胚胎附着系统的结构及形成机制。中华绒螯蟹受精卵附着在雌性腹肢内肢的携卵刚毛上。该附着系统由三个连续部分组成:卵膜、卵柄和被膜,后者覆盖在携卵刚毛的绒毛上。研究结果显示:中华绒螯蟹的成熟胚胎由三层明显的卵膜组成,即E1、E2和E3层,但胚胎附着系统的卵柄及被膜仅为外层(E1)。卵巢中成熟卵的卵膜仅由E1层组成,E1分为两个亚层(E1a′、E1b′)。胚胎附着系统的形成与雌蟹的行为、腹肢粘液腺分泌的粘液、卵膜的超微结构及各层的变化有关。受精卵刚从生殖孔中排出时,卵膜(E1a′、E1b′)并不能直接粘附在携卵绒毛上。产卵后不久,雌蟹腹肢粘液腺分泌粘液的量增多,E1a′、E1b′的结构发生变化,表现为边界模糊,卵膜出现很强的粘性。在产卵后约60min E1层又明显分为两个亚层(E1a、E1b),同时排卵后雌蟹腹部的携卵绒毛不断地运动,这种运动促使携卵绒毛外的被膜形成。随着E1层亚结构的变化,E2层也开始形成,当E1新的两个亚层出现时,部分区域的E1层与E2层发生分离,卵柄开始形成,并牢固地附着在携卵绒毛上。被膜、卵柄与卵膜最外层的结构相同,均由E1层构成[动物学报51(5):852-861,2005]。