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Biomedical subjects

D J Watts

Publications and source records attributed to D J Watts.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

The growth hormone-like factor produced by the tapeworm Spirometra mansonoides specifically binds receptors on cultured human lymphocytes.

Plerocercoid larvae of the tapeworm Spirometra mansonoides produce a factor with activities similar to those of growth hormone (GH). Highly selective receptors for GH have been described on cultured human lymphocytes (IM-9 cells) and these cells have been used as a model of binding essentially restricted to human GH (hGH). We compared the displacement of [125I]hGH by hGH and partially purified plerocercoid growth factor (PGF) in assays using rabbit hepatic membranes and IM-9 cells. PGF displaced [125I]hGH from both rabbit hepatic membranes and IM-9 cells in a dose-dependent manner (r greater than 0.98). These results show that PGF specifically binds to hGH receptors on human IM-9 cells and suggest the possibility that PGF will have somatotropic activity in humans.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

The role of the cell cycle in differentiation of the cellular slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum.

During development and differentiation of the cellular slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum there appears to be a relationship between the cell cycle and cell fate: amoebae halted in G2 phase during early development differentiate into spores whereas stalk cells are formed from amoebae halted in G1 phase. It is proposed that this is because a major effect of the cell cycle is to generate heterogeneity in the cell surface properties of the developing amoebae.

Cell Cycle↗
PubMed1985

Polypeptide compositions of amoebae of the cellular slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum separated by partitioning during development.

Amoebae of the cellular slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum at 8 h or 10 h development were separated into two populations by countercurrent distribution in a dextran-poly (ethylene glycol), two-phase system. Two-dimensional, polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis was then used to separate the polypeptides from the populations of amoebae. The two populations of amoebae at 8 h development differed 9n polypeptide composition as did the populations separated at 10 h development. This confirms that cell differentiation is initiated in D. discoideum prior to 8 h development.

Countercurrent Distribution↗
PubMed1985

Use of aqueous two-phase partition to detect cell surface changes during growth of Dictyostelium discoideum.

Changes in the cell surface properties of amoebae of Dictyostelium discoideum during growth in different culture conditions have been studied by aqueous two-phase partitioning on a thin-layer countercurrent distribution apparatus. Changes in cell surface properties were not dependent on the source of nutrients but only on cell density. There was a progressive increase in cell surface hydrophobicity with cell density in both axenic cultures and cultures grown with a bacterial substrate. It is proposed that it is these cell-density-related surface changes that account for the ability of amoebae grown in different conditions to sort out during subsequent development in a manner related to cell fate.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1984

Changes in the DNA content of amoebae of Dictyostelium discoideum during growth and development.

A fluorimetric assay has been used to determine the DNA content of amoebae of Dictyostelium discoideum during growth and development. Amoebae grown in axenic culture tended to be multinucleate and had a greater DNA content than amoebae grown with a bacterial substrate, which were mononucleate. During the first 10 h of development there was little change in the DNA content of amoebae grown with a bacterial substrate, but the average DNA content per cell in amoebae grown axenically decreased as the amoebae became virtually mononucleate. Amoebae at 10 h development that had been harvested during exponential axenic growth were divided into two populations by countercurrent distribution in a polymer two-phase system. DNA content indicated that one population was largely in the G2-phase of the cell cycle, whereas the other population was largely in the G1-phase. Similar results were obtained at 10 h development with amoebae harvested during the stationary phase of axenic growth, although these amoebae start development all in the G2-phase of the cell cycle. Spores had a low DNA content, indicating that they were in G1-phase. It is proposed that all amoebae in G2-phase after early development differentiate, after mitosis, into spores and that stalk cells are formed from amoebae that remain in G1-phase after 10 h development.

Cell Nucleus↗
PubMed1984

The effect of tunicamycin on cell-surface changes associated with development and differentiation of Dictyostelium discoideum.

Developmental changes in surface properties of Dictyostelium discoideum cells have been detected by partitioning. Changes occurring between 0 and 6 h development were not affected by tunicamycin but subsequent changes associated with formation of presumptive spore cells were inhibited. It would seem that only the latter changes are dependent on glycoprotein synthesis.

Cell Membrane↗
PubMed1976

Culmination in the slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum studied with a scanning electron microscope.

Myxamoebae of Dictyostelium discoideum were allowed to develop on cellulose acetate filters, and specimens taken at various stages of fruiting body formation were prepared for study by scanning electron microscopy. In the immature fruiting body where the mass of pre-spore cells has just been lifted off the substratum by the developing stalk, the pre-spore cells are irregular in shape and are similar in appearance to cells in aggregates at earlier stages of development. As the stalk lengthens, the pre-spore cells gradually separate from one another and become rounded and elongate, but mature spores are not visible until the fruiting body reaches its maximum height. It is concluded that, contrary to previous reports, spore maturation is a slow process and is not completed until the sorus becomes pigmented. The mature stalk is surrounded by a smooth cellulose sheath but this does not envelop the cells of the basal disc, which remain discrete. The fruiting body is enclosed in a slime sheath and this may be important in holding together the mass of spores.

Dictyostelium↗
PubMed1975

Studies on the vitamin nutrition of the cellular slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum.

Vitamin auxotrophs of Escherichia coli grown in the presence or absence of the corresponding vitamin were used as substrates for the growth of Dictyostelium discoideum strain Ax-2 in order to investigate some of the growth-factor requirements of this cellular slime mould. Compared with the growth yields observed on vitamin-sufficient auxotrophs and on a prototroph, the yields on lipoate-, folate-, thiamin- or biotin-depleted auxotrophs were low but could be restored by the addition of exogenous vitamin to the slime mould cultures. It is concluded that these four vitamins are essential nutrients for D. discoideum. Similar experiments with other auxotrophs were inconclusive, indicating either that the slime mould does not require pantothenate, nicotinate or vitamin B6 or that the strains of E. coli were insufficiently depleted to detect such requirements. It is also concluded that cobalamin is not an essential nutrient, since the myxamoebae grew well with E. coli which lacks this vitamin when grown in cobalamin-free media. Similar arguments suggest that ubiquinone and vitamin K are also non-essential.

Aminobenzoates↗
PubMed1970

Metabolism of the cellular slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum grown in axenic culture.

1. The DNA, RNA, protein and carbohydrate contents of myxamoebae of Dictyostelium discoideum strain Ax-2 were measured after growth on bacteria or in various axenic media. 2. Myxamoebae grown in the different axenic media have similar DNA, RNA and protein contents, but there are marked differences in the contents of glycogen and free sugars. The DNA and protein contents of myxamoebae grown on bacteria are different from those in myxamoebae grown axenically. 3. Approximately half the DNA found in myxamoebae grown on bacteria is of bacterial rather than of slime-mould origin. 4. The specific activities of some enzymes (including UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase) are higher in myxamoebae grown axenically than in myxamoebae grown on bacteria. Nevertheless the characteristic increase in the specific activity of UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase occurring during differentiation of cells of the wild-type strain NC-4 is also found in cells grown axenically. 5. The rate of amino acid oxidation during axenic growth of the myxamoebae is decreased when the cells are supplied with glucose.

Carbohydrate Metabolism↗