Improved Method for the Preparation of a Human Cell-based,Contact Model of the Blood-Brain Barrier

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) comprises impermeable but adaptable brain capillaries which tightly control the brain environment. Failure of the BBB has been implied in the etiology of many brain pathologies, creating a need for development of human in vitro BBB models to assist in clinically-relevant research. Among the numerous BBB models thus far described, a static (without flow), contact BBB model, where astrocytes and brain endothelial cells (BECs) are cocultured on the opposite sides of a porous membrane, emerged as a simplified yet authentic system to simulate the BBB with high throughput screening capacity. Nevertheless the generation of such model presents few technical challenges. Here, we describe a protocol for preparation of a contact human BBB model utilizing a novel combination of primary human BECs and immortalized human astrocytes. Specifically, we detail an innovative method for cell-seeding on inverted inserts as well as specify insert staining techniques and exemplify how we use our model for BBB-related research.     

Cellular Damage to the Callus Cells of Potato Subjected to Freezing

Callus cells of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cv. Désirée were exposed to various subzero temperatures and examined for the freezing damage. In the cells subjected to –3 °C, plasma membranes appeared to be intact, while tonoplast seemed to be damaged and organelles to be swollen. After freezing at –6 °C, the damage became severe and plasma membranes were ruptured. After exposure to –10 °C, the damage was so severe that the cell organelles could not be recognised and cytoplasm became fragmented.     

Quantitative proteome analysis of detergent‐resistant membranes identifies the differential regulation of protein kinase C isoforms in apoptotic T cells

Several lines of evidence suggest that detergent‐resistant membranes (DRMs) (also known as lipid rafts and glycosphingolipid‐enriched microdomains) may have a role in signaling pathways of apoptosis. Here, we developed a method that combines DRMs isolation and methanol/chloroform extraction with stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture‐based quantitative proteome analysis of DRMs from control and cisplatin‐induced apoptotic Jurkat T cells. This approach enabled us to enrich proteins with a pivotal role in cell signaling of which several were found with increased or decreased amounts in DRMs upon induction of apoptosis. Specifically, we show that three isoforms of protein kinase C (PKC) are regulated differently upon apoptosis. Although PKCα which belongs to the group of conventional PKCs is highly up‐regulated in DRMs, the levels of two novel PKCs, PKCη and PKCθ, are significantly reduced. These alterations/differences in PKC regulation are verified by immunoblotting and confocal microscopy. In addition, a specific enrichment of PKCα in apoptotic blebs and buds is shown. Furthermore, we observe an increased expression of ecto‐PKCα as a result of exposure to cisplatin using flow cytometry. Our results demonstrate that in‐depth proteomic analysis of DRMs provides a tool to study differential localization and regulation of signaling molecules important in health and disease.     

Aquaporins: Structure, Systematics, and Regulatory Features

The review describes current views on the molecular structure, systematics, and functional regulation of aquaporins. These recently discovered channel proteins play a principal role in water transport across cell membranes in the majority of living organisms.     

Profiling the Surfaceome Identifies Therapeutic Targets for Cells with Hyperactive mTORC1 Signaling

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Highlights

• •Quantitative proteomes of the cellular surface changes induced by mTORC1 signaling.
• •Hit validation in human cancer cell lines and biopsies.
• •Functional studies showing new drug targets to which cancer cells with hyperactive mTORC1 may be addicted.
• •A new paradigm for drug development, namely targeting cell surface proteins regulated by mTORC1.

     

Cross-linking of the sarcoplasmic reticulum ATPase protein.

Treatment of rabbit sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles with the cross-linking agent, cupric phenanthroline, causes production of high-molecular weight bands on SDS-gel electrophoresis. A plot of log mol wt $\text{vs}$ mobility indicates that the main band produced from the ATPase (mol wt = 10⁵) has a mol wt of 4 × 10⁵ and thus suggests formation of a tetramer. Notably, bands corresponding to dimers, trimers, pentamers, etc., are absent. The bands attributable to calsequestrin and calcium binding protein are unchanged by cupric phenanthroline. With extended treatment, the tetramer itself is polymerized (mol wt>10⁶). Partial disruption of the membranes with deoxycholate or Triton X-100 before cross-linking favors tetramer formation; the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate, on the other hand, prevents intermolecular cross-linking. Our results suggest that the ATPase is at least partially associated within the membrane as a tetramer.     

Preparation of ready-to-use small unilamellar phospholipid vesicles by ultrasonication with a beaker resonator

Lipid vesicles are widely used as models to investigate the interactions of proteins, peptides, and small molecules with lipid bilayers. We present a sonication procedure for the preparation of well-defined and ready-to-use small unilamellar vesicles composed of phospholipids with the aid of a beaker resonator. This indirect but efficient sonication method does not require subsequent centrifugation or other purification steps, which distinguishes it from established sonication procedures. Vesicles produced by this method reveal a unimodal size distribution and are unilamellar, as demonstrated by dynamic light scattering and ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, respectively.     

ER-mitochondria signaling regulates autophagy

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria form tight functional contacts that regulate several key cellular processes. The formation of these contacts involves “tethering proteins” that function to recruit regions of ER to mitochondria. The integral ER protein VAPB (VAMP associated protein B and C) binds to the outer mitochondrial membrane protein, RMDN3/PTPIP51 (regulator of microtubule dynamics 3) to form one such set of tethers. Recently, we showed that the VAPB-RMDN3 tethers regulate macroautophagy/autophagy. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown of VAPB or RMDN3 to loosen ER-mitochondria contacts stimulates autophagosome formation, whereas overexpression of VAPB or RMDN3 to tighten contacts inhibit their formation. Artificial tethering of ER and mitochondria via expression of a synthetic linker protein also reduces autophagy and this artificial tether rescues the effects of VAPB- or RMDN3-targeted siRNA loss on autophagosome formation. Finally, our studies revealed that the modulatory effects of ER-mitochondria contacts on autophagy involve their role in mediating ITPR (inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor) delivery of Ca²⁺ from ER stores to mitochondria.     

Citric acid extracts a specific set of proteins from isolated cell nuclei

The treatment of isolated cell nuclei with citric acid was described as a method for separating inner and outer nuclear membrane. Using cell nuclei from bovine cerebral cortex, we can show that citric acid does not cause a separation of the two nuclear membranes, but extracts a specific set of proteins from the nuclei. The extraction of proteins is not just an effect of damaging the nuclear membrane or destructing the cytoskeleton, but rather a specific effect of citric acid treatment. One of the extracted proteins, chosen as a marker for the putative outer nuclear membrane fraction, has an apparent molecular weight of 145 kDa and is located in the nucleoplasm as shown by immunofluorescence microscopy. By sequencing tryptic peptides it was identified as RNA helicase A, an abundant nuclear protein assumed to participate in the processing of mRNA. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.