3D Coupling of Fibronectin Fibril Arrangement with Topology of Ventral Plasma Membrane

Abstract

Interaction of integrins with extracellular matrices is essential for cell adhesion to substrata. Ventral surfaces of fibroblasts adhering to flat substrata are not flat but have uneven 3D topology. However, spatial relationship between the topology of the ventral cell surface and arrangement of extracellular matrix fibrils remains unclear. Here, we report a novel and simple method based on total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy to quantify the distance between the ventral plasma membrane and the glass substratum. We observe that the distance varies from <?25 nm at focal adhesions to 40–50 nm at close contacts and >?80 nm in other regions. Furthermore, by applying this novel method, we show that fibronectin fibrils are also separated from the substratum in regions where the ventral cell surface-substratum distance is >?80 nm. Our results reveal that fibronectin fibrils are not simply adsorbed to the glass substratum but follow the ventral cell surface topology.     

EDDS处理对硒胁迫下彩叶草根系FTIR—ATR、SEM—EDXS特征及生理特性的影响

为了解乙二胺二琥珀酸（EDDS）诱导植物耐受硒（Se）胁迫的生理机制, 以彩叶草（Coleus blumei）为材料,采用营养液培养的方法、借助傅里叶变换-衰减全反射红外光谱（FTIR-ATR）和扫描电子显微镜-X-射线能量色散谱（SEM-EDXS）分析方法及生理指标的变化,研究1.0 mg/L Se胁迫条件下添加0、0.5、1.0、1.5、2.5、5.0 mmol/L EDDS 对彩叶草根系化学成分变化的影响。利用FTIR-ATR图谱分析发现,随着EDDS处理浓度的提高,彩叶草根系透射峰所对应峰形基本不变,而参与Se吸附的基团如羟基、酰胺基和指纹区等的透射峰发生了不同程度的位移。FTIR-ATR的特征峰与彩叶草根系响应Se胁迫的各生理指标变化趋势基本一致,且FTIR-ATR比传统的生理指标测定更敏感、便捷。SEM-EDXS扫描还发现随着EDDS处理浓度的升高,根系中K、Mg、Fe、Si 等元素的含量升高,而营养元素Ca含量降低。该研究结果可为深入了解EDDS处理下彩叶草对Se胁迫的响应机理提供科学依据。     

DPP-4 inhibitor des-F-sitagliptin treatment increased insulin exocytosis from db/db mice β cells

Incretin promotes insulin secretion acutely. Recently, orally-administered DPP-4 inhibitors represent a new class of anti-hyperglycemic agents. Indeed, inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-4), sitagliptin, has just begun to be widely used as therapeutics for type 2 diabetes. However, the effects of sitagliptin-treatment on insulin exocytosis from single β-cells are yet unknown. We therefore investigated how sitagliptin-treatment in db/db mice affects insulin exocytosis by treating db/db mice with des-F-sitagliptin for 2 weeks. Perfusion studies showed that 2 weeks-sitagliptin treatment potentiated insulin secretion. We then analyzed insulin granule motion and SNARE protein, syntaxin 1, by TIRF imaging system. TIRF imaging of insulin exocytosis showed the increased number of docked insulin granules and increased fusion events from them during first-phase release. In accord with insulin exocytosis data, des-F-sitagliptin-treatment increased the number of syntaxin 1 clusters on the plasma membrane. Thus, our data demonstrated that 2-weeks des-F-sitagliptin-treatment increased the fusion events of insulin granules, probably via increased number of docked insulin granules and that of syntaxin 1 clusters.     

In vivo and in vitro analyses of toxic mutants of HET-s: FTIR antiparallel signature correlates with amyloid toxicity

The folding and interactions of amyloid proteins are at the heart of the debate as to how these proteins may or may not become toxic to their host. Although little is known about this issue, the structure seems to be clearly involved with effects on molecular events. To understand how an amyloid may be toxic, we previously generated a yeast toxic amyloid (mutant 8) from the nontoxic HET-s_(218-289) prion domain of Podospora anserina. Here, we performed a comprehensive structure-toxicity study by mutating individually each of the 10 mutations found in mutant 8. The study of the library of new mutants generated allowed us to establish a clear link between Fourier transform infrared antiparallel signature and amyloid toxicity. All of the mutants that form parallel β-sheets are not toxic. Double mutations may be sufficient to shift a parallel structure to antiparallel amyloids, which are toxic to yeast. Our findings also suggest that the toxicity of antiparallel structured mutants may be linked to interaction with membranes.     

Less is more or more is less: Implications of glucose metabolism in the regulation of the reproductive potential and total lifespan of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast

Carbohydrates are dietary nutrients that have an influence on cells physiology, cell reproductive capacity and, consequently, the lifespan of organisms. They are used in cellular processes after conversion to glucose, which is the primary source of energy and carbon skeleton for biosynthetic processes. Studies of the influence of glucose on cellular parameters and lifespan of organisms are primarily concerned with the effect of low glucose concentration defined as calorie restriction conditions. However, the effect of high glucose concentration on cell physiology is also very important. Thus, a comparative analysis of the effects of low and high glucose concentration conditions on cell efficiency was proposed with regard to reproductive capacity and total lifespan of the cell. Glucose concentration determines the type of metabolism and biosynthetic capabilities, which in turn, through the regulation on the cell size, may affect the reproductive capacity of cells. This study was conducted on yeast cells of wild-type and mutant strains Δgpa2 and Δgpr1 with glucose signalling pathway impairment. Such an experimental model enabled testing both the role of glucose concentration in the regulation of metabolic changes and the extent to which these changes depend on the extracellular or intracellular glucose concentrations. It has been shown here that calorie/glucose excess connected with changes in cell metabolic fluxes increases biosynthetic capabilities of yeast cells. This leads to an increase in cell dry weight accompanied by the increase in cell size and a simultaneous decrease in the reproductive potential and the overall length of cell life.     

温度和盐度对西藏拟溞抗氧化酶和脂质过氧化作用的影响

采用实验生态学方法,研究了温度(T=16、19、22、25、28℃)、盐度(S=5、10、15、20、25)对西藏拟溞总超氧化物歧化酶(TSOD)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-PX)活力以及脂质过氧化产物丙二醛(MDA)含量的影响。结果表明:温度和盐度能够诱导西藏拟溞抗氧化应激反应,胁迫24h后,SOD、GPX活性及MDA含量在28℃、盐度20时均达到最高值,分别为(37.18±1.97)U mg-1μg-1、(75.1±9.96)U mg-1μg-1和(12.24±2.12)nmol mg-1μg-1;48h后,高温低盐组(25—28℃、5—10)和高温高盐组(25—28℃、20—25)SOD、GPX活性及MDA含量显著高于其他处理组(P0.05),在28℃,盐度5时均达到最大值,分别为(19.25±3.48)U mg-1μg-1、(59.95±4.66)U mg-1μg-1和(4.98±0.66)nmol mg-1μg-1;温度、盐度以及这两个因子之间对西藏拟溞体内SOD、GPX活性和MDA含量均有极显著影响(P0.01)。     

The effects of long-term elevated UV-B on the growth and phenolics of field-grown silver birch (Betula pendula)

The effects of long‐term elevated UV‐B radiation on silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) seedlings were studied over three growing seasons in an outdoor experiment in Finland started 64 days after germination. One group of seedlings was exposed to a constant 50% increase in UV‐B_CIE radiation, which corresponds to 20–25% of ozone depletion; another group received a small increase in UV‐A radiation and a third (the control group) received ambient solar radiation. Changes in growth appeared during the third growing season; the stems of the UV‐B treated seedlings were thinner and their height tended to be shorter compared with that of the control seedlings. In contrast, there were no UV‐B effects on biomass, bud burst, bud dry weights, leaf area, rust frequency index or chlorophyll concentrations in any of the summers. During the three‐year study, the flavonols were significantly increased by the elevated UV‐B only in the first growing season. The responses varied greatly among individual compounds; the most induced were the quercetin glycosides, while the main flavonols, myricetins, were reduced by the UV‐A control treatment. In the second summer phenolic acids, such as 3,4′‐dihydroxypropiophenone‐3‐glucoside, neochlorogenic acid and 5‐coumarylquinic acid, were increased by the UV‐B treatment. In the third year, the constitutive concentrations of phenolics were not affected by the UV‐B treatment.     

十二烷基硫酸钠协同微波-酶法提取布渣叶总黄酮

采用十二烷基硫酸钠(SDS)协同微波-酶法提取布渣叶总黄酮,选取微波辐射时间(X1)、SDS质量分数(X2)、液固比(X3)、恒温水浴提取时间(X4)、酶解时间(X5)进行U15(54×3)混合水平均匀试验设计,利用偏最小二乘法(PLS)处理试验数据,建立数学模型,确定提取的最优条件并进行验证;另外,将优化后的提取结果与其他提取方法进行比较.研究结果表明:优化的提取条件为X1=1min、X2=0.16％、X3=30.75 mL/g、X4=50 min、X5=30 min.与其他提取方法相比,该法提取效率高,环保无污染,具有一定的应用价值.     

Delimitation of the maritime boundary in the gulf of Maine area

The compulsory dispute settlement regime included in the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention is recognized as one of the most comprehensive in a modern international convention. Yet, in the recent application of this regime, the question has arisen as to whether the procedural prerequisites associated with the LOS Convention's compulsory dispute settlement mechanism are so arduous as to avoid binding and compulsory jurisdiction in most instances. This article addresses that question by examining, in particular, the reasoning of the Southern Bluefin Tuna arbitration tribunal, which found Article 281 of Section 1 of the LOS Convention to bar jurisdiction to the compulsory dispute settlement mechanism prescribed by the Convention, and offers suggestions as to how states might distinguish or overcome the barriers imposed by the Southern Bluefin Tuna tribunal in future cases.