Immunocytochemical localization of tubulin with colloidal gold in cilia of rabbit tracheal epithelial cultures

Ciliated tracheal epithelia cell cultures were investigated immunocytochemically with anti-tubulin and colloidal gold. When rabbit tracheal cultures were fixed in paraformaldehyde, treated with acetone, anti-tubulin and a second antibody coupled to FITC, fluorescence was associated with cytoskeletal and axonemal microtubules. Cilia covering the apical surface of the ciliated tracheal cells fluoresced very brightly thus facilitating identification of this cell type. Electron microscopy of tracheal cultures fixed as above, treated with Triton-X 100 and incubated in anti-tubulin and protein A coupled to colloidal gold resulted in the highly specific localization of tubulin in ciliary axonemes and basal bodies. Omission of primary or secondary antibody resulted in extremely low levels of fluorescence while no colloidal gold particles could be detected in cultures at the electron microscopy level when rabbit anti-tubulin was omitted.     

A New Electrolyte Formulation for Securing High Temperature Cycling and Storage Performances of Na‐Ion Batteries

The Na‐ion battery is recognized as a possible alternative to the Li‐ion battery for applications where power and cost override energy density performance. However, the increasing instability of their electrolyte with temperature is still problematic. Thus, a central question remains how to design Na‐based electrolytes. Here, the discovery of a Na‐based electrolyte formulation is reported which enlists four additives (vinylene carbonate, succinonitrile, 1,3‐propane sultone, and sodium difluoro(oxalate)borate) in proper quantities that synergistically combine their positive attributes to enable a stable solid electrolyte interphase at both negative and positive electrodes surface at 55 °C. Moreover, the role of each additive that consists in producing specific NaF coatings, thin elastomers, sulfate‐based deposits, and so on via combined impedance and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy is rationalized. It is demonstrated that empirical electrolyte design rules previously established for Li‐ion technology together with theoretical guidance is vital in the quest for better Na‐based electrolytes that can be extended to other chemistries. Overall, this finding, which is implemented to 18 650 cells, widens the route to the rapid development of the Na‐ion technology based on Na₃V₂(PO₄)₂F₃/C chemistry.     

Synthesis of isochroman-4-ones and 2H-pyran-3(6H)-ones by gold-catalyzed oxidative cycloalkoxylation of alkynes

Gold catalysis is a convenient tool to oxidatively functionalize alkyne into a range of valuable compounds. In this article, we report a new access to isochroman-4-one and 2H-pyran-3(6H)-one derivatives that involves a gold-catalyzed oxidative cycloalkoxylation of an alkyne in the presence of a pyridine N-oxide. The reaction proceeds under mild conditions, is relatively efficient and exhibits a high functional group compatibility.     

Reaction mechanism of surfactant‐sensitized chemiluminescence of bis(2,4,6‐trichlorophyenyl) oxalate and hydrogen peroxide induced by gold nanoparticles

The chemiluminescence (CL) of bis(2,4,6‐trichlorophyenyl) oxalate with hydrogen peroxide in the present of cationic surfactant and gold nanoparticles was studied. The CL emission was obviously enhanced in the presence of surfactant at a suitable concentration, with a synergetic catalysis effect exhibited. Different sizes of gold nanoparticles (15 and 50 nm) showed different effects on CL intensity. Mechanisms of the CL reaction and sensitization effect are discussed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The cell wall-plasmalemma interface in sieve tubes of barley

Both thick- and thin-walled sieve tubes in leaf-blade veins of Hordeum vulgare L. exhibit a distinct, electron-opaque inner wall layer after fixation in glutaraldehyde-osmium tetroxide and staining with uranyl acetate and lead citrate. This inner wall layer is thickest at the sieve plates and lateral sieve areas where it is permeated by a labyrinth of tubules formed by the plasmalemma. Along the lateral walls between sieve areas the inner wall layer apparently is penetrated by numerous microvilli-like evaginations of the plasmalemma, giving the cell wall-plasmalemma interface the appearance of a brush border. It is suggested that a similar brush-border-like structure may occur at the cell wall-plasmalemma interface of sieve elements in a wide variety of vascular plants.Abbreviation ER endoplasmic reticulum     

Heterogeneous distribution of phospholipids in membranes along the secretory pathway in pancreatic B-cells

The membrane content in phospholipids along the secretory pathway in rat pancreatic B-cells was studied in situ by high-resolution cytochemistry, applying the recently introduced phospholipase A2-gold technique. The gold particles were mostly associated with cell membranes, and the various types of membranes were labeled to a different extent. Quantitation of the labeling over these membranes revealed a heterogeneous distribution of the labeling across the secretory pathway. This heretogeneity occurred mainly as a progressive, decreasing gradient in the first half of this pathway, between the rough endoplasmic reticulum and the mi-cisternae of the Golgi apparatus. The labeling density remained at a lower level in the trans-most Golgi cisternae and immature secretory granule membranes, to increase in the mature secretory granule membrane, where it reached the value found in the plasma membrane. These results provide evidence that the functional heterogeneity existing across the membrane forming the secretory pathway is parallelled by substantial changes in their phospholipid content.     

Morphological studies on endocytosis of chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan by rat liver endothelial cells

Summary Endocytosis via the hyaluronic acid/chondroitin sulphate receptor of rat liver endothelial cells was studied ultrastructurally, by use of a probe consisting of chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan attached to 15-nm gold particles. The probe bound to the surface of the cells exclusively in coated regions of the plasma membrane. Internalization at 37° C took place in less than one minute during which time interval the bound probe was transferred to coated vesicles. Further transfer to lysosomes was delayed in association with an accumulation of probes in a prelysosomal compartment consisting of large vacuoles in which probes lined the inner aspect of the membrane. Transport to lysosomes occurred only after a lag phase of at least 40–60 min at 37° C.Abbreviations CS chondroitin sulphate - CSPG chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan - CSPG-Au CSPG-gold complex - EM electronmicroscopical or electron microscopy - HA hyaluronic acid - KC Kuppfer cells - LEC liver endothelial cells - PC parenchymal cells - RES reticuloendothelial system     

Ultrastructural study of cholecystokinin-like immunoreactivity in endocrine cells of the insect midgut

Summary Electron-microscopic immunocytochemistry for the demonstration of CCK-like material in basal endocrine cells of the midgut of Aeschna cyanea, Locusta migratoria, Carausius morosus and Periplaneta americana was performed by use of the peroxidase-antiperoxidase procedure and the colloidal gold method. Immunoreactive cells appeared scattered among digestive and regenerative cells of the epithelium. Immunoreactivity was specifically detected over round to oval electron-dense granules whose size appeared rather different from species to species. Thus, the average size of 30% (d30) of the largest granules ranged from 312 nm in Periplaneta americana to 159 nm in Carausius morosus with intermediate values in Aeschna cyanea (d30=195 nm) and Locusta migratoria (d30=225 nm).     

Processing of colloidal gold particles in the glomerular mesangium and macula densa of the duck kidney

Bovine-serum-albumin coated colloidal gold particles were injected intravenously into healthy, adult domestic ducks. The fate of these tracer particles was followed in a time-sequence up to 4.5 days in the renal glomerular mesangium--distal tubule macula densa junction with transmission electron microscopy. The bulk of particle aggregates is 'trapped' in the mesangial channel system, phagocyted by mesangial cells, exocyted back into the mesangial channels, transported extracellularily towards the vascular hilus, rephagocyted by macula densa cells and expelled into the tubular lumen. This process requires about nineteen hours in the experimental model chosen, although it continues to take place to a much lower extent even 4.5 days after administration of the tracer. This mode of macromolecular excretion may be of interest in connection with the pathogenesis of several forms of glomerulonephritis.     

A new device for collection of interstitial water from wetland sediments

A sampler for collection of interstitial water from wetland sediments is described. It differs from other sampling devices because it does not have to be filled with solution to facilitate diffusion, it does not have to be removed from the wetland to collect samples, and it can be used to draw repeated samples over time from identical locations. The device facilitates in situ measurement of a wide range of abiotic parameters such as electrical conductivity, redox potential, and pH in wetland sediments. The device has application in ecological investigations of sediment-borne wildlife diseases, studies of benthic invertebrates, measurement of nutrient exchange, and other aspects of wetland ecology.