Adhesiveness and surface patterns of eggs in neotropical freshwater teleosts

Eggs of 23 Characiformes and eight Siluriformes, belonging to nine families with diverse reproductive behaviour, were ultrastructurally analysed. The migratory species exhibited non-adhesive eggs, whereas, most of the sedentary species presented some degree of egg adhesiveness. Among the Characiformes, non-adhesive eggs showed zona radiata with pore-canals or a fibrillar net at the surface; weakly adhesive eggs presented only zona radiata with pore-canals while adhesive eggs exhibited zona radiata with apparatus like globules, filaments, villi or honeycomb-like pores depending on the systematic group. The 'jelly' coat is strongly related to the Siluriformes eggs apparently without relationship with adhesiveness. A micropylar disc was present in adhesive eggs of a few species of both Characiformes and Siluriformes. Some patterns were characteristic of the animal pole, others of the vegetal pole, and others were common to both poles. The radial ridges converging to the micropyle in Astyanax bimaculatus lacustris appear to be related to fertilization. In general, egg surface structures in the Characiformes varied according to the genus, whereas all Siluriformes showed a similar egg surface pattern, regardless of the group analysed. Multivariate analysis allowed the identification of eight clusters among the Characiformes and three among the Siluriformes showing relationships between reproductive style and egg characteristics. It is suggested that egg surface and adhesiveness may be related to reproductive patterns and to phylogenesis.     

Mutan produced in potato amyloplasts adheres to starch granules

Production of water-insoluble mutan polymers in Kardal potato tubers was investigated after expression of a full-length (GtfI) and a truncated mutansucrase gene referred to as GtfICAT (GtfI without glucan-binding domain) from Streptococcus downei. Subsequent effects on starch biosynthesis at the molecular and biochemical levels were studied. Expression of the GtfICAT gene resulted in the adhesion of mutan material on starch granules, which stained red with erythrosine, and which was hydrolysed by exo-mutanase. In addition, GtfICAT-expressing plants exhibited a severely altered tuber phenotype and starch granule morphology in comparison to those expressing the full-length GtfI gene. In spite of that, no structural changes at the starch level were observed. Expression levels of the sucrose-regulated, AGPase and GBSSI genes were down-regulated in only the GTFICAT transformants, showing that GtfICAT expression interfered with the starch biosynthetic pathway. In accordance with the down-regulated AGPase gene, a lower starch content was observed in the GTFICAT transformants. Finally, the rheological properties of the GTFICAT starches were modified; they showed a higher retrogradation during cooling of the starch paste.     

Motility of endodermal epithelial cells plays a major role in reorganizing the two epithelial layers in Hydra

Cell-cell interactions and cell rearrangements play important roles during development. Aggregates of Hydra cells reorganize into the two epithelial layers and subsequently form a normal animal. Examination of the formation of the two layers under various situations, indicates that the motility of endodermal epithelial cells, but not the differential adhesive forces of the two types of epithelial cells, plays the critical role in setting up the two epithelial layers. (1) When aggregates of ectodermal cells and of endodermal cells were placed in direct contact, the endodermal cells migrated into the interior of the ectodermal aggregate. This process was completely inhibited by cytochalasin B although initial firm attachment between the two aggregates was not blocked. (2) A single endodermal epithelial cell placed in contact with an ectodermal aggregate, actively extended pseudopod-like structures and migrated toward the center of the ectodermal aggregate. In contrast, an ectodermal epithelial cell remained in contact with an endodermal aggregate and never exhibited migratory behavior. Cytochalasin treatment of only endodermal epithelial cells abolished the migration. (3) One to 4 endodermal epithelial cells and/or ectodermal epithelial cells were placed in contact with one another forming up to 4-cell aggregates. Endodermal epithelial cells exhibited high motility that can be attributed to the migratory movement described above. Finally, formation of actin bundles, as visualized with rhodamine-phalloidin, was always correlated with pseudopod formation in endodermal epithelial cells during early and mid stages of aggregate formation.     

A molten globule intermediate of the Von Willebrand factor A1 domain firmly tethers platelets under shear flow

Clinical mutations in patients diagnosed with Type 2A von Willebrand disease (VWD) have been identified that break the single disulfide bond linking N‐ and C‐termini in the vWF A1 domain. We have modeled the effect of these mutations on the disulfide‐bonded structure of A1 by reducing and carboxy‐amidating these cysteines. Solution biophysical studies show that loss of this disulfide bond induces a molten globule conformational state lacking global tertiary structure but retaining residual secondary structure. The conformational dependence of platelet adhesion to these native and molten globule states of A1 is quantitatively compared using real‐time high‐speed video microscopy analysis of platelet translocation dynamics under shear flow in a parallel plate microfluidic flow chamber. While normal platelets translocating on surface‐captured native A1 domain retain the catch‐bond character of pause times that increase as a function of shear rate at low shear and decrease as a function of shear rate at high shear, platelets that interact with A1 lacking the disulfide bond remain stably attached and do not translocate. Based on these findings, we propose that the shear stress‐sensitive regulation of the A1‐GPIb interaction is due to folding the tertiary structure of this domain. Removal of the tertiary structure by disrupting the disulfide bond destroys this regulatory mechanism resulting in high‐strength interactions between platelets and vWF A1 that are dependent only on residual secondary structure elements present in the molten globule conformation. Proteins 2014; 82:867–878. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Envelope surface ultrastructure and specific gravity of artificially fertilized Pacific cod Gadus macrocephalus eggs

The envelope surface ultrastructure and specific gravity of artificially fertilized eggs of the Pacific cod Gadus macrocephalus were examined. The unfertilized, demersal and slightly adhesive eggs of G. macrocephalus were almost spherical and had no oil globules. Wrinkled envelope surface with elaborated hexagonal reticulated patterns and type I micropyle were observed under a scanning electron microscope. The adhesiveness of the eggs was lost at the blastodermal‐cap stage after fertilization. The micropylar canal was sealed by secretion of the perivitelline fluid, and the entire surface became rough. Numerous bacilli were deposited at the micropyle and the outer envelope surface at the late germ‐ring stage and at the embryo five‐eighths around the yolk stage. The micropyle was completely deformed at the embryo seven‐eighths around the yolk stage. The specific gravity of the fertilized G. macrocephalus eggs ranged from c. 1·0316 to 1·0454. These values, however, sharply decreased towards the end stages of egg development to produce pelagic larvae. The ultrastructural changes in the micropyle and envelope surface of the G. macrocephalus eggs protected the embryo from microorganism infections and mechanical stress during the long incubation period. The adhesiveness and specific gravity of the eggs influenced their dispersion potential.     

魔芋-卡拉胶复配凝胶质构特性研究

以魔芋-卡拉胶复配胶为原料,使用物性测试仪对复配胶的质构参数断裂强度、弹性、粘性等进行了测定,并研究了相关因素对复配胶质构参数的影响。结果表明：增加魔芋精粉比例可以增强卡拉胶的弹性,而凝胶强度在胶比例为0．9：0．1时达到最大;随复配胶浓度增加,凝胶强度和粘度增加;钾离子的添加使复配胶的凝胶强度和脆度增强;低浓度的蔗糖对复配胶的质构影响不大,高浓度蔗糖可以降低凝胶的断裂强度、粘度和弹性;柠檬酸降低了复配胶的凝胶强度和弹性。     

Adhesive structures in the eggs of Corydoras aeneus(Gill, 1858; Callichthyidae)

The surface structure of the eggs of the catfish Corydoras aeneus was examined and showed to be a unique pattern among teleosts. The surface was covered with small protuberances, which resemble attaching‐filaments of teleost eggs. Eggs were, however, found to be very adhesive and since the species is known to inhabit turbid waters, this rare egg attachment mode could well be related to these environmental conditions.     

Changes in number,cell shape and adhesiveness induced by dopamine on chick primordial germ cells

Summary Dopamine (DA), injected beneath the blastodisc of the chick embryo before the beginning of incubation, induced an approximately 2.5 times increase in the total number of primordial germ cells (PGCs) at the definitive primitive streak stage. It also produced changes in the shape and behaviour of PGCs since more than half of them adhered to one another, forming groups or chains of three or more cells and, in contrast to their characteristic spherical form, most single PGCs displayed a fibroblastic appearance. On the 2nd day of incubation most PGCs remained adherent to each other, which did not hinder them from entering the extra-embryonic blood vessels of the crescent. Ultrastructural analysis showed that PGCs adhered to each other by large areas of cell membrane apposition and specialized adhesive structures, such as tight junctions and desmosomes. PGCs also displayed many lamellipodial and filopodial processes. The effects of DA on PGCs were prevented by either glucose or EDTA. Although it is difficult to account for the effect of glucose, the effect of EDTA suggests that the action of DA may be calcium-dependent.     

Circadian Variations in Blood Coagulation Parameters, Alpha-Antitrypsin Antigen and Platelet Aggregation and Retention in Clinically Healthy Subjects

Ten clinically healthy subjects (5 men and 5 women), 31 11 yrs of age, were studied at six timepoints (0800, 1200, 1600, 2000, 0000, 0400) distributed over a 1-week span. Circadian rhythms in platelet aggregation in response to adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and adrenalin (A), platelet adhesiveness measured as retention in a glass bead column, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time (TT), fibrinogen, Factor VIII activity and alpha-1-antitrypsin antigen showed circadian rhythms. The plasma concentrations of plasminogen, alpha-2-macroglobulin, and antithrombin III (AT III) antigen, Factor V and fibrinogen degradation products showed no circadian rhythm by ANOVA or cosinor analysis. The phase relations of the rhythms of different coagulation parameters are of interest in the physiology and pathobiology of the coagulation-fibrinolytic system. The extent of the circadian rhythm (range of change) described is not of a magnitude to lead to diagnostic problems in the clinical laboratory. The timing of these rhythms, however, may determine transient risk states for thromboembolic phenomena, including myocardial infarction and stroke. Several but not all coagulation parameters suggest a transient state of hypercoagulability during the morning hours. The recognition of these rhythmic, and thus in the time of the occurrence predictable temporary risk states for thromboembolic phenomena, may lead to timed treatment and/or effective prevention.