Local renin-angiotensin systems

The existence of a local cardiovascular renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is often invoked to explain the long-term beneficial effects of RAS inhibitors in heart failure and hypertension. The implicit assumption is that all components of the RAS are synthesized in situ, so that local angiotensin II formation may occur independently of the circulating RAS. Evidence for this assumption however is lacking. The angiotensin release from isolated perfused rat hearts or hindlimbs depends on the presence of renal renin. When calculating the in vivo angiotensin production at tissue sites in humans and pigs, taking into account the extensive regional angiotensin clearance by infusing radiolabeled angiotensin I or II, it was found that angiotensin production correlated closely with plasma renin activity. Moreover, in pigs the cardiac tissue levels of renin and angiotensin were directly correlated with their respective plasma levels, and both in tissue and plasma the levels were undetectably low after nephrectomy. Similarly, rat vascular renin and angiotensin decrease to low or undetectable levels within 48 h after nephrectomy. Aortic renin has a longer half life than plasma renin, suggesting that renin may be bound by the vessel wall. In support of this assumption, both renin receptors and renin-binding proteins have been described. Like ACE, renin was enriched in a purified membrane fraction prepared from cardiac tissue. Binding of renin to cardiac or vascular membranes may therefore be part of a mechanism by which renin is taken up from plasma. It appears that the concept of a local RAS needs to be reassessed. Local angiotensin formation in heart and vessel wall does occur, but depends, at least under normal circumstances, on the uptake of renal renin from the circulation. Tissues may regulate their local angiotensin concentrations by varying the number of renin receptors and/or renin-binding proteins, the ACE level, the amount of metabolizing enzymes and the angiotensin receptor density.Abbreviations RAS renin-angiotensin system - ANG angiotensin - ACE angiotensin-converting enzyme - PRA plasma renin activity     

Immunolocalization of extensin and potato tuber lectin in carrot, tomato and potato

Tissue-specific expression of two members of the cell wall hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein (HRGP) family, extensin and potato tuber lectin, was examined by immunolocalization at the light microscope level in various organs (leaves, stems, roots, fruit, tuber) of carrot ( Daucus carota cv. Thumbelina), tomato ( Lycopersicon esclentum cv. Pixie Hybrid II), and potato ( Solanum tuberosum cv. Kennebec). Extensin was prominently expressed in vascular tissue, particularly xylem and also phloem, although virtually all cells displayed some degree of staining which varied as a function of the tissue, organ, and plant under study. Antibodies against potato tuber lectin (PTL) displayed a localization pattern similar to that observed for extensin; notably PTL did not stain cambium but did stain epithelial cells lining secretory cavities. These distribution patterns are consistent with a role for extensin, and possibly PTL, in providing mechanical support in tissues subjected to compression or torsional stress imparted by vascular growth, or by similar stress brought about by transport of vascular fluids.     

Substrate subsite recognition of the xyloglucan endo-transglycosylase or xyloglucan-specific endo-(1→4)-β-d-glucanase from the cotyledons of germinated nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.) seeds

We have investigated the substrate subsite recognition requirement of the xyloglucan endo-transglycosylase/xyloglucan-specific endo-(14)--d-glucanase (NXET) from the cotyledons of nasturtium seedlings. Seed xyloglucans are composed almost entirely of the Glc₄ subunits XXXG, XLXG, XXLG and XLLG, where G represents an unsubstituted glucose residue, X a xylose-substituted glucose residue and L a galactosyl-xylose-substituted glucose residue. Thus in the xyloglucan sequence shown below, the xylose (Xyl) residues at the backbone glucose (Glc) residues numbered — 3,— 2, + 2 and + 3 may be galactose-substituted, and NXET cleaves between the unsubstituted glucose at — 1 and the xylose-substituted glucose at + 1, which never carries a galactosyl substituent. We have isolated the xyloglucan oligosaccharides XXXGXXXG and XLLGXLLG from NXET digests of tamarind seed xyloglucan, have modified them enzymatically using a pure xyloglucan oligosaccharide-specific -xylosidase from nasturtium seeds to give GXXGXXXG and GLLGXLLG, and have identified and compared the products of NXET action on XXXGXXXG, GXXGXXXG, XLLGXLLG and GLLGXLLG. We have also compared the molar proportions of XXXG, XLXG, XXLG and XLLG in native tamarind and nasturtium seed xyloglucans with those in NXET digests of these polysaccharides. Using these and existing data we have demonstrated that NXET action does not require xylosesubstitution at glucose residues — 4, — 2, + 1 and + 3 and that xylose substitution at + 2, is a requirement. There may also be a requirement for xylose substitution at — 3. We have demonstrated also that galactosyl substitution of a xylose residue at + 1 prevents, and at — 2 modifies, chain-cleavage. A partial model for the minimum substrate binding requirement of NXET is proposed.Abbreviations G unsubstituted glucose residue - X xylose-substituted glucose residue - L galactosylxylose-substituted glucose residue - F fucosyl-galactosylxylose-substituted glucose residue - Gal galactose - Glc glucose - HPAE high-performance anion-exchange chromatography - NXET nasturtium xyloglucan endo-transglycosylase or xyloglucan-specific endo-(14)--d-glucanase - Xyl xylose This work was funded jointly by Unilever UK and the Department of Trade and Industry (UK) via the LINK initiative Agro-Food Quality.     

Variations in the structure of neutral sugar chains in the pectic polysaccharides of morphologically different carrot calli and correlations with the size of cell clusters

Carrot (Daucus carota L.) embryogenic callus (EC) loses its embryogenic competence and becomes nonembryogenic callus (NC) during long-term culture. With the loss of embryogenic competence, the cell clusters become smaller and the extent of intercellular attachments is reduced. Pectic fractions prepared from EC and NC were separated into two subfractions by gel filtration. A difference in sugar composition between EC and NC was found only in the high-molecular-mass (ca. 1300 kDa) subfraction, and the ratio of the amount of arabinose to that of galactose (Ara/Gal) was strongly and positively correlated with the size of cell clusters in several different cultures. From the results of sugar-composition and methylation analyses, and the results of treatment with exo-arabinanase, models of the neutral sugar chains of pectins from EC and NC are proposed. Both neutral sugar chains are composed of three regions. The basal region is composed of linearly linked arabinan 5-Ara_f> moieties in both types of callus. The middle galactan region is composed of 6-linked galactose, some of which branches at the 3 and 4 positions, and this region is larger and more frequently branched in NC than in EC. Finally, the terminal arabinan region is composed of 5-linked arabinose, branched at the 3 position, and the size of the terminal arabinan is larger in EC than in NC. The significance of the neutral sugar chains of pectins in the interaction of cell wall components and intercellular attachment is discussed.Abbreviations Ara/Gal ratio (w/w) of the amount of arabinose to that of galactose - EC embryogenic callus - NC non-embryogenic callus - T-Ara_f terminal arabinose The authors are grateful to Dr. Naoto Shibuya of the National Institute of Agrobiological Resources for his gift of exo-arabinanase.     

The sporophyte-gametophyte junction in the moss Acaulon muticum (Pottiaceae): EARLY STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT

The sporophyte-gametophyte junction in Acaulon muticum is composed of the sporophyte foot, the surrounding gametophyte vaginula, and an intervening placental space. At an early stage of development the foot has a large basal cell, characterized by extensive wall ingrowths beginning at the lowermost tip of the basal cell and extending along its tangential walls. Sporophyte cells in contact with the basal cell develop ingrowths on their outer tangential walls and on radial walls in contact with the basal cell. All sporophyte cells at this stage are characterized by numerous mitochondria, strands of endoplasmic reticulum, and dictyosomes, particularly in the cytoplasm adjacent to areas of extensive wall development. Plastids typically contain abundant starch reserves. As development proceeds, wall ingrowths become more extensive on all walls in the sporophyte foot but are never found on the upper wall of the basal cell in contact with the remainder of the sporophyte. Plastids in the foot contain fewer starch reserves later in development. Wall ingrowths are not visible in the cells of the gametophyte vaginula until well after extensive development has occurred in the sporophyte foot. Stacks or layers of endoplasmic reticulum are characteristic of the cells of the gametophyte vaginula, along with numerous mitochondria, dictyosomes, and well-developed plastids. Starch reserves typically are less abundant in cells of the gametophyte. The early development of extensive wall elaborations in the cells of the sporophyte foot, and particularly in the basal cell, may favor the rapid movement of water and nutrients from the gametophyte into the sporophyte at a time when rapid development in this minute, ephemeral moss is critical.     

Growth kinetics of a bacteriophage in continuous culture

Lytic coliphage Qbeta was grown in continuously cultured host bacteria using a cascade of stirred flow reactors. The apparatus was constructed so that the steady stream of exponentially growing bacterial cells passing through the stirred flow reactors served to prevent coevolution brought about by host-parasite interactions. Wall growth was the primary cause for deviation from ideal continuous culture conditions and is largely dependent on the surface structure of the host bacteria. Using an Escherichia coli strain deficient in adhesive type I pili expression, the desynchronization of single burst events could easily be followed over the course of four infection latency periods. Computer simulations based on a two-stage model for the Qbeta infection cycle were in perfect agreement with the experimental data. Applications of the optimized system to strategies of molecular evolution are discussed. (c) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

水稻伸长生长的数学模型

水稻地上部诸器官的伸长生长,可以分为3个阶段和两个过渡期．器官在前期的凹型曲线生长为加速生长（定为第1阶段）,中期的直线生长为等速生长（第2阶段）,后期的凸型曲线生长为减速生长（第3阶段）;每两个阶段临界处均存在特殊的生长过程,前面的定为第1过渡期,做变加速生长,后面的定为第2过渡期,做变减速生长.组成器官的各个细胞的伸长生长,也可以分为前期凹型曲线阶段、中期的直线阶段以及这两个阶段临界处的过渡期.运用类比原理推断;细胞在凹型曲线阶段,其原生质的膨压大于壁压,而且这两个压差始终维持稳定,这就使细胞做等加速生长;细胞经过过渡期的变加速生长过渡到直线生长阶段,在这个阶段中,膨压大小与壁压相等,这就使细胞以过渡期最末的生长速度做等速生长;最后壁压大于膨压,而且这两个相差压会阻止细胞的“惯性”生长直至停止生长,其结果产生减速生长．     

凤凰木种子蛋白的分离提纯和生化性质

研究了植物凤凰木种子中的蛋白质成分,试图分离出新的核糖体失活蛋白凤凰木种子经磷酸盐缓冲液抽提,硫酸铵分级盐析,分子筛和阴离子交换剂等多次柱层析,分离出三种组分ＤｒⅠ、ＤｒⅡ和ＤｒⅢ．ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ和ＩＥＦ实验表明这三种蛋白质均达到单一纯,而ＨＰＬＣ实验则表明它们的纯度不低于９０％。它们的分子量据ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ和ＨＰＬＣ实验分别约２３５００、２６０００、２８５００．ＩＥＦ实验测得三者的等电点均为５．２左右。测定了组分ＤｒⅠ的蛙卵泡裂解活性,其毒性约为天花粉蛋白的１／４０．分析了它们的氨基酸组成。估算了三种蛋白质的二级结构含量,结果表明三者均富含β折叠结构。已有的实验事实表明这三种蛋白质的生化行为明显异于核糖体失活蛋白,因而很可能不属于这一蛋白质家族。     

Subunits of forming pollen exine and Ubisch bodies as seen in freeze substitutedLedebouria socialis Roth (Hyacinthaceae)

Summary High-pressure freezing/freeze substitution/TEM was employed to investigate anthers of the monocotyledonous angiospermLedebouria socialis Roth (Hyacinthaceae) during early tetrad stage. The initials of the outer sporopollenous pollen wall stratum (=sexine) and of the homologous tapetal products (=Ubisch bodies) are composed of highly regular subunits: clustered globules with a constant diameter of approximately 28 nm. The clusters develop within diffuse accumulations of electron-dense material. This process, interpreted as sporopollenin polymerization, does not necessarily depend on the presence of membrane-bound enzymes. Immunogold labeling with JIM 5 and JIM 7 antibodies revealed that the primexine as well as the dissolving tapetal cell walls, the sites of sexine and Ubisch body formation, respectively, contain un-esterified and methyl-esterified pectins.Abbreviations E-PTA ethanolic phosphotungstic acid - PA periodic acid - UA/Pb uranyl acetate/lead     

Aspects of morphogenesis and function of diatom cell walls with implications for taxonomy

Summary Aspects of morphogenesis and morphology of diatom cell walls are reviewed to highlight functional correlations between wall structures and three-dimensional cytoplasmic activities during the cell cycle. Morphogenesis of the siliceous valve within the silica deposition vesicle is discussed in the light of the dependency on a precisely orchestrated moulding machinery, involving the cytoskeleton, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, spacer vesicles produced by the Golgi apparatus, and the plasmalemma, in combination with adhesion of the cells to parts of the parental wall and localized plasmolyses. Sensitivity of morphogenetic events to fluctuations of external factors has implications for taxonomy.Abbreviations CF cleavage furrows - cPL cleavage plasmalemma - GB girdle bands - LP labiate process - LPA labiate process apparatus - MC microtubule center - mLP macro labiate process - MT microtubule - MTOC microtubules organizing center - PL plasmalemma - SDV silica deposition vesicle - SL SDV membrane - SpV spacer vesicles Dedicated to Professor Peter Sitte on the occasion of his 65th birthday