Depth profiling in membranes by fluorescence quenching

Membrane penetration depth is an important parameter in relation to membrane structure and organization. A methodology has been developed to analyze the membrane penetration depths of fluorescent molecules or groups utilizing differential fluorescence quenching caused by membrane embedded spin-label probes located at different depths. The method involves determination of the parallax in the apparent location of fluorophores, detected when quenching by phospholipids spin-labelled at two different depths is compared. By use of relatively simple algebraic expressions, the method allows calculation of depth in å. This method has been used to determine the location of fluorophores in NBD-labelled lipids and anthroyloxy-labelled fatty acids in model membranes and of the membrane embedded tryptophan residues in the reconstituted nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.     

山莨菪碱对经有限蛋白水解后的脑突触膜Ca~(2+)-ATPase的影响

 从猪脑中提取钙调蛋白和突触质膜,我们研究了山莨菪碱对经有限蛋白水解和磷脂酶A_2处理后的突触膜Ca~(2+)-ATPase活性影响。发现药物对不同预处理后的Ca~(2+)-ATPase表现出不同影响并调节钙调蛋白对它的激活作用。     

A comparison of fertilization envelope development in three species of Strongylocentrotus (S. franciscanus, S. droebachiensis, and S. purpuratus)

The ultrastructure of fertilization envelope (FE) development and the polypeptide spectra of Strongylocentrotus franciscanus and S. droebachiensis envelopes were compared to S. purpuratus. In S. franciscanus, the FE reached its maximum thickness of 67 nm by 3 minutes postinsemination (PI), and final structuralization was observed by 40 minutes PI. The fully formed FE did not have microvillar impressions (casts) and was symmetrical, with outer double laminar elements surrounding an amorphous central region. Isolated S. franciscanus FEs were soluble in reducing and denaturing solvents and the same set of 33 polypeptides ranging from 18.5 to 260 kD was detected in FEs isolated from 10 to 180 minutes PI. The S. droebachiensis FE retained microvillar casts, assumed its definitive form by 3 minutes PI, and was 70 nm thick between microvillar impressions. Isolated S. droebachiensis FEs were partially soluble in reducing and denaturing solvents, and the polypeptide spectra of FEs isolated between 10 and 60 minutes PI were identical and showed 14 polypeptides from 18.5 to 265 kD. Antisera against extracted FEs and the FE extract from S. purpuratus were immunologically cross-reactive (using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) with S. franciscanus and S. droebachiensis FE preparations; immunoblots identified 13 and 5 cross-reactive polypeptides, respectively. Most of the cross-reactive polypeptides were of slightly different molecular weight. Based on comparative ultrastructural, solubility, and electrophoretic data, we suggest that S. droebachiensis FE development is most like that observed in S. purpuratus.     

Fusion of enveloped viruses with cells and liposomes

The fusion of viruses with cells and liposomes is reviewed with focus on the analysis of the final extents and kinetics of fusion.Influenza virus andSendai virus exhibit 100% of fusion capacity with cells at pH 5 and pH 7.5, respectively. On the other hand, there may be in certain cases, a limit on the number of virions that can fuse with a single cell, that is significantly below the limit on binding. It still remains to be resolved whether this limit reflects a limited number of possible fusion sites, or a saturation limit on the amount of viral glycoproteins that can be incorporated in the cellular membrane, like the case of virus fusion with pure phospholipid vesicles, in which the fusion products were shown to consist of a single virus and several liposomes. Both viruses demonstrate incomplete fusion activity towards liposomes of a variety of compositions. In the case ofSendai virus, fusion inactive virions bind essentially irreversibly to liposomes. Yet, preliminary results revealed that such bound, unfused virions can be released by sucrose gradient centrifugation. The separated unfused virions subsequently fuse when incubated with a “fresh” batch of liposomes. We conclude, therefore, that the fraction of initially bound unfused virions does not consist of dective particles, but rather of particles bound to liposomes via “inactive” sites. Details of the low pH inactivation of fusion capacity ofinfluenza virus towards cells and liposomes are presented. This inactivation is caused by protonation and exposure of the hydrophobic segment of HA₂, and affects primarily the fusion rate constants. Some degree of inactivation also occurs when virions are bound to cellular membranes.     

Modulation of microvascular growth and morphogenesis by reconstituted basement membrane gel in three-dimensional cultures of rat aorta: A comparative study of angiogenesis in Matrigel,collagen, fibrin,and plasma clot

Summary Rings of rat aorta cultured in Matrigel, a reconstituted gel composed of basement membrane molecules, gave rise to three-dimensional networks composed of solid cellular cords and occasional microvessels with slitlike lumina. Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies showed that the solid cords were composed of endothelial sprouts surrounded by nonendothelial mesenchymal cells. The angiogenic response of the aortic rings in Matrigel was compared to that obtained in interstitial collagen, fibrin, or plasma clot. Morphometric analysis demonstrated that the mean luminal area of the microvascular sprouts and channels was significantly smaller in Matrigel than in collagen, fibrin, or plasma clot. The percentage of patent microvessels in Matrigel was also markedly reduced. Autoradiographic studies of³H-thymidine-labeled cultures showed reduced DNA synthesis by developing microvessels in Matrigel. The overall number of solid endothelial cords and microvessels was lower in Matrigel than in fibrin or plasma clot. A mixed cell population isolated from Matrigel cultures formed a monolayer in collagen or fibrin-coated dishes but rapidly reorganized into a polygonal network when plated on Matrigel. The observation that gels composed of basement membrane molecules modulate the canalization, proliferation, and organization into networks of vasoformative endothelial cells in three-dimensional cultures supports the hypothesis that the basement membrane is a potent regulator of microvascular growth and morphogenesis. This work was supported by grants from the W. W. Smith Charitable Trust and grants CA14137 and HL43392 from the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.     

豌豆叶绿体脂氧合酶活性与叶片衰老及膜脂过氧化作用的关系

豌豆叶绿体脂氧合酶(LOX)活性在连体叶片衰老过程中变化不大。ABA处理离体叶片2d叶绿体LOX活性升高,处理时间延长活性下降。抗氧化剂α-生育酚、谷胱甘肽、没食子酸丙酯抑制豌豆叶绿体LOX活性。脂质过氧化产物丙二醛对豌豆叶绿体LOX和大豆纯LOX-1的活性均有抑制作用,大豆LOX-1能促进离体豌豆叶绿体膜脂过氧化作用。因此,豌豆叶绿体LOX可能参与叶片衰老过程中叶绿体膜结构和功能的改变,又受膜脂过氧化产物的制约。     

Characterization of K+ Channels in the Basolateral Membrane of Rat Tracheal Epithelia

To study K⁺ channels in the basolateral membrane of chloride-secreting epithelia, rat tracheal epithelial monolayers were cultured on permeable filters and mounted into an Ussing chamber system. The mucosal membrane was permeabilized with nystatin (180 μg/ml) in the symmetrical high K⁺ (145 mm) Ringer solution. During measurement of the macroscopic K⁺ conductance properties of the basolateral membrane under a transepithelial voltage clamp, we detected at least two types of K⁺ currents: one is an inwardly rectifying K⁺ current and the other is a slowly activating outwardly rectifying K⁺ current. The inwardly rectifying K⁺ current is inhibited by Ba²⁺. The slowly activating K⁺ current was potentiated by cAMP and inhibited by clofilium, phorbol 12-myristae 13-acetate (PMA) and lowering temperature. This is consistent with the biophysical characteristics of I _SK channel. RT-PCR analysis revealed the presence of I _SK cDNA in the rat trachea epithelia. Although 0.1 mm Ba²⁺ only had minimal affect on short-circuit current (I _sc) induced by cAMP in intact epithelia, 0.1 mm clofilium strongly inhibited it. These results indicate that I _SK might be important for maintaining cAMP-induced chloride secretion in the rat trachea epithelia. Received: 1 March 1996/Revised: 5 August 1996     

Specificities of Red Cell Membrane Sites Transporting Three Long Chain Fatty Acids

We studied the specificities of human red cell membrane bindings of three long chain fatty acids, palmitic- arachidonic- and oleic acid, using resealed membranes, ghosts. Previously estimated binding capacities, affinities and inside/outside distributions [6, 10, 11, 12], suggest separated binding sites. This possibility is explored by estimating the binding properties of one fatty acid in the presence of one or two of the others. Binding capacities, nmol g⁻¹ ghosts, of palmitic and arachidonic acid estimated simultaneously vs. separately are 27.4 ± 2.7 vs. 29.0 ± 2.1 (P < 0.6) and 6.5 ± 0.6 vs. 5.5 ± 0.5 (P < 0.2) respectively. The corresponding estimates for oleic- and palmitic acid are 36.5 ± 2.0 vs. 34.0 ± 2.2 (P < 0.4) and 28.4 ± 1.8 versus 29.1 ± 2.1 (P < 0.8). The binding sites are therefore independent. For each of the three fatty acids in the absence or in the presence of one or two of the others, the inside/outside distributions of the binding sites and the membrane transfer rate constants are elucidated by exchange efflux kinetics at 0°C from ghosts with and without enclosed albumin. Packed ghosts loaded with radioactive acids are injected rapidly into a large volume of vigorously stirred buffer with albumin. With a resolution time of about 1-sec serial filtered ghost-free aliquots are collected and counted. The analyses show that palmitic- and oleic acid sites of transport are entirely independent but do not exclude that palmitic- and/or oleic acid binding may diminish the arachidonic acid affinity a little. The diversity combined with specificity suggests that the transport sites for long chain fatty acids are protein-determined microdomains of phospholipids. Received: 26 June 1995/Revised: 11 October 1995     

Evidence for plasma membrane-associated forms of sucrose synthase in maize

Plasma membrane fractions were isolated from maize (Zea mays L.) endosperms and etiolated kernels to investigate the possible membrane location of the sucrose synthase (SS) protein. Endosperms from seedlings at both 12 and 21 days after pollination (DAP), representing early and mid-developmental stages, were used, in addition to etiolated leaf and elongation zones from seedlings. Plasma membrane fractions were isolated from this material using differential centrifugation and aqueous two-phase partitioning. The plasma membrane-enriched fraction obtained was then analyzed for the presence of sucrose synthase using protein blots and activity measurements. Both isozymes SS1 and SS2, encoded by the lociSh1 andSus1, respectively, were detected in the plasma membrane-enriched fraction using polyclonal and monoclonal antisera to SS1 and SS2 isozymes. In addition, measurements of sucrose synthase activity in plasma membrane fractions of endosperm revealed high levels of specific activity. The sucrose synthase enzyme is tightly associated with the membrane, as shown by Triton X-100 treatment of the plasma membrane-enriched fraction. It is noteworthy that the gene products of bothSh1 andSus1 were detectable as both soluble and plasma membrane-associated forms.     

Modulation of maize roots H+-ATPase by sulfated polysaccharides

Vesicles derived from maize roots retain a membrane bound H⁺-ATPase that is able to pump H⁺ at the expense of ATP hydrolysis. In this work it is shown that heparin, fucose-branched chondroitin sulfate and dextran sulfate 8000 promote a shift of the H⁺-ATPase optimum pH from 6.0 to 7.0. This shift is a result of a dual effect of the sulfated polysaccharides, inhibition at pH 6.0 and activation at pH 7.O. At pH 6.0 dextran 8000 promotes an increase of the apparent K_m for ATP from 0.28 to 0.95 mM and a decrease of the V_max from 14.5 to 7.1 mol P_i/mg · 30 min^–1. At pH 7.0 dextran 8000 promotes an increase in V_max from 6.7 to 11.7 mol Pi/mg · 30 min^–1. In the presence of lysophosphatidylcholine the inhibitory effect of the sulfated polysaccharides observed at pH 6.0 was not altered but the activation of pH 7.0 decreased. It was found that in the presence of sulfated polysaccharides the ATPase became highly sensitive to K⁺ and Na⁺. Both the inhibition at pH 6.0 and the activation promoted by the polysaccharide were antagonized by monovalent cations (K⁺>Na⁺Li⁺).Abbreviations Mops 4-morpholinopropanesulfonic acid - EDTA ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid - ACMA 9-amino-6-chloro-2-methoxyacridine - FCCP carbonyl cyanide p(trifluoromethoxy)-phenylhyrazone