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PubMed1976

Intramembranous particle distribution at the node of Ranvier and adjacent axolemma in myelinated axons of the frog brain.

The plasma membrane of myelinated axons in the frog brain has been examined by the freeze-fracture technique. The cytoplasmic leaflet of the axolemma contains numerous randomly distributed particles in nodal and internodal regions but relatively fewer particles in the axoglial junctional portion of the paranodal region. Particle distribution is even less uniform in the outer leaflet of the axolemma, which contains a low concentration of particles in the internodal region and a relatively high concentration at the node of Ranvier (approximately 1200 particles mum-2). The nodal particles tend to be larger than most intramembranous particles, approaching 200 A diameter. The paranodal region of the leaflet is virtually devoid of such particles except in the narrow helical 'groove' which faces extracellular clefts between terminating glial processes. In places this pathway widens to form 'lakes' up to approximately 0.3 mum2 area which contain large numbers of large particles resembling those at the node. The concentration of particles at the node is in the same range as the concentration of sodium channels estimated to be in this region and it is suggested on the basis of their location and concentration that these particles represent ionophores. The distribution of particles in the paranodal region suggests that the large intramembranous particles do not have free access to the axoglial junctional portion of the membrane and therefore the movement of such particles along the paranodal region of the membrane may occur primarily in the membrane of the 'groove' spiraling through this portion of the axolemma. Such a restriction in surface area for particle movements on either side of the node of Ranvier could result in trapping of particles at the node and thus contribute to their concentration in the nodal axolemma.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Murine scrapie infection causes an abnormal germinal centre reaction in the spleen.

Follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) of the lymphoreticular system play a role in the peripheral replication of prion proteins in some transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), including experimental murine scrapie models. Disease-specific PrP (PrPd) accumulation occurs in association with the plasmalemma and extracellular space around FDC dendrites, but no specific immunological response has yet been reported in animals affected by TSEs. In the present study, morphology (light microscopical and ultrastructural) of secondary lymphoid follicles of the spleen were examined in mice infected with the ME7 strain of scrapie and in uninfected control mice, with or without immunological stimulation with sheep red blood cells (SRBCs), at 70 days post-inoculation or at the terminal stage of disease (268 days). Scrapie infection was associated with hypertrophy of FDC dendrites, increased retention of electron-dense material at the FDC plasma membrane, and increased maturation and numbers of B lymphocytes within secondary follicles. FDC hypertrophy was particularly conspicuous in immune-stimulated ME7-infected mice. The electron-dense material was associated with PrP Napoli accumulation, as determined by immunogold labelling. We hypothesize that immune system changes are associated with increased immune complex trapping by hypertrophic FDCs expressing PrP Napoli molecules at the plasmalemma of dendrites, and that this process is exaggerated by immune system stimulation. Contrary to previous dogma, these results show that a pathological response within the immune system follows scrapie infection.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Cartilage aggrecan. Biosynthesis, degradation and osteoarthritis.

The main "shock absorbing" molecule in cartilage is the proteoglycan, aggrecan, which is trapped within a meshwork of collagen fibrils. Articular cartilage damage in osteoarthritis is associated with damage to the aggrecan protein moiety. This results in abnormal loss of aggrecan which in turn increases the propensity of the joint surface to be damaged. Presently, the treatment for arthritis, pain-relieving drugs, affects the symptoms. End-stage osteoarthritis requires joint replacement surgery. To a certain extent, both the degradation and the repair of cartilage can be understood at the level of the biochemistry of cartilage matrix and the biology of the chondrocyte.

Aggrecans↗

PubMed1999

Low levels of arsenic trioxide stimulate proliferative signals in primary vascular cells without activating stress effector pathways.

Chronic human exposure to low levels of inorganic arsenic increases the incidence of vascular diseases and specific cancers. Exposure of endothelial cells to environmentally relevant concentrations of arsenic trioxide (arsenite) induces oxidant formation, activates the transcription factor NF-kappaB, and increases DNA synthesis (Barchowsky et al., Free Radic. Biol. Med. 21, 783-790, 1996). We show, in the current study, that arsenite induces concentration-dependent cell proliferation or death in primary porcine aortic endothelial cells. Low concentrations caused cell proliferation and were associated with increased superoxide and H(2)O(2) accumulation, cSrc activity, H(2)O(2)-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation, and NF-kappaB-dependent transcription. These concentrations were insufficient to activate MAP kinases. However, the MAP kinases, extracellular signal-regulated kinase and p38, were activated in response to levels of arsenite that caused cell death. These data suggest that arsenite-induced oxidant accumulation and subsequent activation of tyrosine phosphorylation represent a MAPK-independent pathway for phenotypic change and proliferation in vascular cells.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Transcription mapping in a 700-kb region around the DXS52 locus in Xq28: isolation of six novel transcripts and a novel ATPase isoform (hPMCA5).

The chromosomal band Xq28 has been a focus of interest in human genetics because > 20 hereditary diseases have been mapped to this region. However, about two-thirds of the disease genes remain uncloned. The region around the polymorphic DXS52 locus (ST14) within Xq28 lies in the candidate regions for several as-yet-uncloned disease genes. So far, only four melanoma antigen genes (MAGE) and the human biglycan (BGN) gene, have been mapped within the 700-kb stretch around DXS52, suggesting that more genes may reside in this region. By combining exon trapping and direct cDNA selection methods, we sought to identify novel transcripts around the DXS52 locus. In addition to recovering the MAGE and BGN genes, we isolated and mapped six putative novel genes (XAP103-XAP108), the caltractin gene, and a gene encoding a novel Ca(2+)-transporting ATPase isoform (hPMCA5). The newly isolated sequences were considered as representing parts of putative genes if they contained at least one unique exon-trap product and/or at least one expressed sequence tag (EST) from sequence data bases and if, in addition, they showed evidence of expressed RT-OCT and/or Northern blot analysis. Our data facilitated the integration of the transcription map with the physical map around the DXS52 locus. Future analysis of the novel genes as candidates for Barth syndrome (BTHS) and chondrodysplasia punctata (CDPX2) is in progress.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1993

Endogenous production of superoxide by rabbit lungs: effects of hypoxia or metabolic inhibitors.

We find spontaneous light emission from isolated Krebs-Henseleit-perfused rabbit lungs when the light-emitting super-oxide trap lucigenin is added to the perfusate. Lucigenin light emission appears to be specific for superoxide anion, because light emission from the lung caused by a superoxide-generating system is abolished by superoxide dismutase but not by catalase or dimethylthiourea. We also studied the relative sensitivity of lucigenin photoemission to superoxide and to H2O2 in vitro. Lucigenin photoemission is three to four orders of magnitude more sensitive to superoxide than to H2O2 and probably cannot detect H2O2 in concentrations thought to occur in biological systems. Basal lucigenin photoemission by the lung is oxygen dependent, because severe hypoxia completely inhibits light emission. Superoxide dismutase reduces basal photoemission by 50%, and administration of the low-molecular-weight superoxide scavenger 4,5-dihydroxy-1,3-benzene disulfonic acid (tiron) inhibits basal photoemission by approximately 90%. These observations suggest that endogenous superoxide production is primarily intracellular and that approximately half of the superoxide reaches the extracellular space. Superoxide transport may involve anion channels, because the anion channel blocker 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid increases photoemission, suggesting intracellular accumulation of superoxide. A cytochrome P-450 inhibitor, SKF 525A, or the mitochondrial transport inhibitor antimycin decreased basal photoemission by approximately 50%, suggesting that cytochrome P-450-mediated reactions and perhaps mitochondrial function contribute to basal superoxide production in the isolated perfused lung. Endogenous superoxide production may be important in regulation of pulmonary vascular reactivity and may contribute to the pathogenesis of lung reperfusion injury.

1,2-Dihydroxybenzene-3,5-Disulfonic Acid Disodium ↗

PubMed2005

Screening for inhibitors of tau polymerization.

The histopathological diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease relies on two kinds of proteinaceous aggregates: the extracellular plaques built from filaments of the Abeta-peptide and the intracellular tangles consisting of tau polymerized into Paired Helical Filaments (PHFs). The order of aggregation events is still under debate, but it is well accepted that tau-related changes have an important impact on the viability of neurons. In neurons, early morphological changes are seen in axons which begin to loose and retract synapses. This process is accompanied by an increase of aggregated tau protein. Thus the prevention of tau aggregation seems to be a valuable target for therapy of Alzheimer's disease. Here we present a screening procedure by which we identified inhibitors of tau polymerization. In the primary screen we used a thioflavin-S based assay which detects PHF formation in solution. These initial hits were further analyzed for their capacity to depolymerize preformed PHFs. These results were confirmed by several secondary assays (tryptophan fluorescence, pelleting, filter trapping and electron microscopy). By this approach it is possible to identify small molecule compounds which prevent or reverse the aggregation of tau and thereby might improve the viability of neurons in a therapeutic approach.

Alzheimer Disease↗

PubMed2006

Co-localization of TFF2 with gland mucous cell mucin in gastric mucous cells and in extracellular mucous gel adherent to normal and damaged gastric mucosa.

Trefoil factor 2 (TFF2) is mucin associated peptide that has a mucosal barrier function in addition to participating in repair and healing. We examined the localization of TFF2 and gastric mucins in gastric mucous cells, the surface mucous gel layer (SMGL) adherent to normal gastric mucosa, and in the mucoid cap covering gastric erosions. Carnoy's solution, or formalin/picric acid-fixed paraffin embedded materials from resected stomachs and formalin-fixed paraffin embedded gastric biopsy materials were used. Sections were immunostained for the TFF2 and histochemically stained for gastric mucins. In addition, thick sectioned gastric mucosa fixed in Carnoy's solution were stained with FITC-labeled GSA-II lectin specific for gland mucous cell mucin and examined for three-dimensional images of the SMGL using a confocal laser scanning microscope. The TFF2 and gland mucous cell mucin were found intermixed together in the gastric gland mucous cells, in the SMGL in laminated layers, and in the mucoid cap. A laminated arrangement of continuous sheets of gland mucous cell mucin in the SMGL was demonstrated in the three-dimensional images. Co-localization of the TFF2 with gland mucous cell mucin suggests a physical interaction between the TFF2 and gland mucous cell mucin. The TFF2 trapped in the adherent mucins may be responsible for mucosal defense, healing, and repair.

Biopsy↗

PubMed1988

Regulation of cytoplasmic pH of cultured bovine corneal endothelial cells in the absence and presence of bicarbonate.

Intracellular pH (pHi) in confluent monolayers of cultured bovine corneal endothelial cells was determined using the pH-dependent absorbance of intracellularly trapped 5(and 6)carboxy-4',5'-dimethylfluorescein. Steady-state pH was 7.05 +/- 0.1 in the nominal absence of bicarbonate, and 7.15 +/- 0.1 in the presence of 28 mM HCO3-/5% CO2. Following an acid load imposed by a NH4Cl prepulse, pHi was regulated in the absence of HCO3- by a Na+-dependent process inhibitable to a large extent by 1 mM amiloride and 0.1 mM dimethylamiloride. In the presence of 28 mM HCO3-/5% CO2, this regulation was still dependent on Na+, but the inhibitory potency of amiloride was less. DIDS (1 mM) partially inhibited this regulation in the presence, but not in the absence of bicarbonate. With cells pretreated with DIDS, amiloride was as effective in inhibiting recovery from acid load as in the absence of HCO3-. The presence of intracellular Cl- did not appreciably affect this recovery, which was still sensitive to DIDS in the absence of Cl-. Removal of extracellular Na+ led to a fall of pHi, which was greatly attenuated in the absence of HCO3-. This acidification was largely reduced by 1 mM DIDS, but not by amiloride. Cl removal led to an intracellular alkalinization in the presence of HCO3-. The presence of a Cl-/HCO3- exchanger was supported by demonstrating DIDS-sensitive 36Cl- uptake into confluent cell monolayers. Thus, bovine corneal endothelial cells express three processes involved in intracellular pH regulation: an amiloride-sensitive Na+/H+ antiport, a Na+-HCO3- symport and a Cl-/HCO3- exchange, the latter two being DIDS sensitive.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗

PubMed2005

Motorcycle exhaust particles induce IL-8 production through NF-kappaB activation in human airway epithelial cells.

Motorcycle exhaust particles (MEP) are among the major air pollutants, especially in urban area of Taiwan. In our previous study, data showed that MEP induce proinflammatory and proallergic response profiles in BALB/c mice. Effects of MEP on interleukin (IL)-8 production in A549 human airway epithelial cells were further investigated in this study. It was found that MEP enhanced IL-8 protein and mRNA expression in human epithelial cells. Pretreatment with an NF-kappaB inhibitor (1 mM PDTC), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) inhibitor (50 microM PD98059), JNK inhibitor (25 microM SP600125), p38 inhibitor (2 microM SB203580), and three antioxidants (500 U/ml superoxide dismutase [SOD], 50 microM vitamin E, 10 mMN-acetylcysteine [NAC]) attenuated the MEP-induced increase in IL-8 production. Through further, direct detection of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB activation in epithelial cells using immunoblotting of nuclear p65 and NF-kappaB reporter assay, data showed that MEP induced nuclear translocation of p65 and enhancement of NF-kappaB luciferase gene expression. MEP also induced activation of ERK, JNK, and p38 signaling pathways and produced an increase of oxidative stress in A549 cells. By using mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors and antioxidant, it was demonstrated that ERK inhibitor, JNK inhibitor, and antioxidants but not p38 inhibitor attenuated the MEP-induced increase in NF-kappaB reporter activity. In conclusion, evidence shows that filter-trapped particles emitted from unleaded gasoline-fueled, two-stroke motorcycle engines induce an increase in IL-8 production by activation of NF-kappaB in human airway epithelial cells.

Acetylcysteine↗

PubMed2000

Mechanical forces in plant growth and development.

Plant cells perceive forces that arise from the environment and from the biophysics of plant growth. These forces provide meaningful cues that can affect the development of the plant. Seedlings of Arabidopsis thaliana were used to examine the cytoplasmic tensile character of cells that have been implicated in the gravitropic response. Laser-trapping technology revealed that the starch-containing statoliths of the central columella cells in root caps are held loosely within the cytoplasm. In contrast, the peripheral cells have starch granules that are relatively resistant to movement. The role of the actin cytoskeleton in affecting the tensile character of these cells is discussed. To explore the role that biophysical forces might play in generating developmental cues, we have developed an experimental model system in which protoplasts, embedded in a synthetic agarose matrix, are subjected to stretching or compression. We have found that protoplasts subjected to these forces from five minutes to two hours will subsequently elongate either at right angles or parallel to the tensive or compressive force vector. Moreover, the cortical microtubules are found to be organized either at right angles or parallel to the tensive or compressive force vector. We discuss these results in terms of an interplay of information between the extracellular matrix and the underlying cytoskeleton.

Actins↗

PubMed2004

The time course of hydroxyl radical formation following spinal cord injury: the possible role of the iron-catalyzed Haber-Weiss reaction.

This study explores whether the hydroxyl radical (*OH)-one of the most destructive reactive oxygen species-plays a role in secondary spinal cord injury (SCI). First, we measured the time course of *OH formation in rat spinal tissue after impact SCI by administering salicylate as a trapping agent into the intrathecal space of the cord and measuring the hydroxylation products of salicylate, 2,3- and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,3- and 2,5-DHBA) by HPLC. The 2,3-DHBA concentration was significantly higher in injured spinal tissue than in sham controls at 5 min, 1 and 3 h, but not at 5 h post-injury. Second, we generated *OH by administering H(2)O(2) and FeCl(2)/EDTA (Fenton's reagents) at the concentrations produced by SCI into the gray matter of the cord for 4 h and found that it induced significant cell loss at 24 h post-*OH exposure. Mn (III) tetrakis (4-benzoic acid) porphyrin(MnTBAP)-a broad spectrum reactive species scavenger-significantly reduced *OH-induced cell death. Finally, we generated superoxide and administered FeCl(3)/EDTA in the intrathecal space of the cord at the concentration produced by SCI and measured extracellular *OH formation in the gray matter of the cord by microdialysis sampling. We found that the levels of *OH significantly increased compared to the pre-administration level, indicating that *OH can be produced in vivo by the iron-catalyzed Haber-Weiss reaction. All together, we demonstrated that *OH is an endogenous secondary damaging agent following SCI and the metal-catalyzed Haber-Weiss reaction may contribute to early *OH formation after SCI.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Functional expression and cellular distribution of diastrophic dysplasia sulfate transporter (DTDST) gene mutations in HEK cells.

Defects in sulfate transport in chondrocytes lead to undersulfation of the cartilage extracellular matrix proteoglycans. Mutations in the diastrophic dysplasia sulfate transporter (DTDST) gene have been linked to four chondrodysplasias of varying severity. To characterize disease-causing mutations of DTDST, we expressed DTDST-mediated sulfate transport in mammalian HEK-293 cells and determined that the wild-type protein is glycosylated and localized to the cell plasma membrane. Four mutations, A715V, C653S, Q454P and R279W, stimulated sulfate transport at rates only 39-62% of wild-type DTDST. These four mutations were expressed on the plasma membrane of the cell, but the amount of expressed protein was reduced when compared with wild-type DTDST. The Q454P mutant is unique in that it is not properly glycosylated in HEK cells. There was no difference in sulfate transport activity between cells transfected with either the DeltaV340 or the G678V mutations and control HEK cells. Furthermore, the G678V mutation is not expressed along the plasma membrane, but is trapped within the cytoplasm. When comparing the sulfate transport capacity of each DTDST mutation with the chondrodysplasia in which it has been identified, we find that individuals with severe achondrogenesis 1B phenotype have null mutations on both DTDST alleles. Heterozygotes for both a null mutation and a partial-function mutation result in either atelosteogenesis type 2 or DTD, whereas the milder, recessive multiple epiphyseal dysplasia phenotype is homozygous for partial-function mutations. In contrast to previous studies in Xenopus laevis oocytes, we find a strong correlation between the severity of the phenotype and the level of residual transport function in mammalian cells.

Anion Transport Proteins↗

PubMed2005

Sequential super-stereotypy of an instinctive fixed action pattern in hyper-dopaminergic mutant mice: a model of obsessive compulsive disorder and Tourette's.

BACKGROUND: Excessive sequential stereotypy of behavioral patterns (sequential super-stereotypy) in Tourette's syndrome and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is thought to involve dysfunction in nigrostriatal dopamine systems. In sequential super-stereotypy, patients become trapped in overly rigid sequential patterns of action, language, or thought. Some instinctive behavioral patterns of animals, such as the syntactic grooming chain pattern of rodents, have sufficiently complex and stereotyped serial structure to detect potential production of overly-rigid sequential patterns. A syntactic grooming chain is a fixed action pattern that serially links up to 25 grooming movements into 4 predictable phases that follow 1 syntactic rule. New mutant mouse models allow gene-based manipulation of brain function relevant to sequential patterns, but no current animal model of spontaneous OCD-like behaviors has so far been reported to exhibit sequential super-stereotypy in the sense of a whole complex serial pattern that becomes stronger and excessively rigid. Here we used a hyper-dopaminergic mutant mouse to examine whether an OCD-like behavioral sequence in animals shows sequential super-stereotypy. Knockdown mutation of the dopamine transporter gene (DAT) causes extracellular dopamine levels in the neostriatum of these adult mutant mice to rise to 170% of wild-type control levels. RESULTS: We found that the serial pattern of this instinctive behavioral sequence becomes strengthened as an entire entity in hyper-dopaminergic mutants, and more resistant to interruption. Hyper-dopaminergic mutant mice have stronger and more rigid syntactic grooming chain patterns than wild-type control mice. Mutants showed sequential super-stereotypy in the sense of having more stereotyped and predictable syntactic grooming sequences, and were also more likely to resist disruption of the pattern en route, by returning after a disruption to complete the pattern from the appropriate point in the sequence. By contrast, wild-type mice exhibited weaker forms of the fixed action pattern, and often failed to complete the full sequence. CONCLUSIONS: Sequential super-stereotypy occurs in the complex fixed action patterns of hyper-dopaminergic mutant mice. Elucidation of the basis for sequential super-stereotypy of instinctive behavior in DAT knockdown mutant mice may offer insights into neural mechanisms of overly-rigid sequences of action or thought in human patients with disorders such as Tourette's or OCD.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

Free hydroxyl radical is not involved in an important reaction of lignin degradation by Phanerochaete chrysosporium Burds.

Hydroxyl radical (HO.) has been implicated in the degradation of lignin by Phanerochaete chrysosporium. This study assessed the possible involvement of HO. in degradation of lignin substructural models by intact cultures and by an extracellular ligninase isolated from the cultures. Two non-phenolic lignin model compounds [aryl-C(alpha)HOH-C(beta)HR-C(gamma)H2OH, in which R = aryl (beta-1) or R = O-aryl (beta-O-4)] were degraded by cultures, by the purified ligninase, and by Fenton's reagent (H2O2 + Fe2+), which generates HO.. The ligninase and the cultures formed similar products, derived via an initial cleavage between C(alpha) and C(beta) (known to be an important biodegradative reaction), indicating that the ligninase is responsible for model degradation in cultures. Products from the Fenton degradation were mainly polar phenolics that exhibited little similarity to those from the biological systems. Mass-spectral analysis, however, revealed traces of the same products in the Fenton reaction as seen in the biological reactions; even so, an 18O2-incorporation study showed that the mechanism of formation differed. E.s.r. spectroscopy with a spin-trapping agent readily detected HO. in the Fenton system, but indicated that no HO. is formed during ligninase catalysis. We conclude, therefore that HO. is not involved in fungal C(alpha)-C(beta) cleavage in the beta-1 and beta-O-4 models and, by extension, in the same reaction in lignin.

Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy↗

PubMed1986

Differential subcellular distribution of bioactive human chorionic gonadotropin in pseudopregnant rat ovary.

The subcellular metabolism of internalized hCG was examined by monitoring the distribution of bioactive and immunoreactive hCG in subcellular fractions of pseudopregnant rat ovaries. Homogenates of ovaries from rats injected with 1.0 microgram (12.8 IU; bioassay) hCG were fractionated on self-generating Percoll gradients into three hCG-containing compartments: soluble proteins (cytosolic fraction), a combined plasma membrane/prelysosomal vesicle fraction, and lysosomes. The hCG level in each fraction was measured by RIA and in vitro bioassay. When necessary, receptor-bound hCG was dissociated at low pH before assay. Levels of cytosolic hCG were highest 1-3 h after injection, attaining peak immunoreactive concentrations of 18 ng/ovarian pair. Cytosolic hormone was not primarily derived from nonspecific trapping of serum or interstitial fluid, because after 1.0 microgram [125I]iodobovine gamma-globulin was injected into rats, cytosolic globulin levels (nanograms per ovarian pair) were approximately 7-10 times lower than those of hCG. Cytosolic hCG retained significant bioactivity for at least 10 h after hCG stimulation. Peak immunoreactive hCG levels associated with the plasma membrane/prelysosomal fraction were 82 ng/ovarian pair between 3 and 6 h after hCG injection, and hormone associated with that fraction retained the highest bioactivity of the three fractions examined. Peak lysosomal hCG levels reached 55 ng/ovarian pair 10 and 14 h after hCG stimulation, but lysosomal hCG was not bioactive. These results suggest that the lysosomal compartment is a major pathway for hCG inactivation. A nonlysosomal pathway for hCG inactivation may exist, because the cytosolic compartment contained partially inactivated hormone that did not appear to be of lysosomal origin. Cytosolic hCG may reflect hormone delivered to the cell cytoplasm or to the extracellular fluid that is either modified within prelysosomal vesicles or is degraded subsequently by nonlysosomal proteases.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Invasion potential and N-acetylgalactosamine expression in a human melanoma model.

Reactivity of the N-acetylgalactosamine-binding Helix pomatia agglutinin (HPA) in tumours has been associated with poor prognosis and metastasis development. In our LOX/FEMX-I human melanoma model, the binding of HPA correlates with experimental lung metastasis formation in athymic nude mice. In the present study, the metastatic potential of 2 human melanoma cell lines (LOX and FEMX-I) was assessed in relation to carbohydrate and invasive phenotype. Immunocytological and invasion assays highlighted significant differences between these 2 cell lines. Immuno-cytochemical analysis confirmed the widespread expression of HPA-binding glycoconjugates on LOX but not FEMX-I cells. One of these HPA-binding glycoconjugates, the Tn antigen, was expressed highly on the surface of LOX cells but only weakly in the cytoplasm of FEMX-I cells. The sialyl Tn antigen was expressed in FEMX-I but not in LOX cells. There was no difference between the cell lines in adhesion/rate of trapping in athymic nude mouse lung tissues. In Matrigel invasion assays, LOX cells demonstrated an invasion potential more than 6 times greater than that observed with FEMX-I cells. Matrigel invasion of LOX cells was inhibited after incubation with HPA (89%) compared to controls with HPA and GalNAc blocking sugar or without HPA (p < 0.0005 at 5 df). In contrast, there was no inhibitory effect with the anti-Tn antibody IE3. Invasion of FEMX-I cells was not affected by the lectin and the IE3 antibody. Immuno-cytochemical analysis revealed expression of the terminal galactose- and polylactosamine-binding lectin galectin 3 (Mac-2) in these melanoma cell lines. Expression of both the lectin and its receptor may be a contributory feature in the pulmonary invasion of LOX melanoma cells. Overall, our findings suggest that HPA-binding glycoconjugates other than the alphaGalNAc-O-Ser/Thr of the Tn antigen may be important in the extracellular matrix invasion of LOX melanoma cells.

Acetylgalactosamine↗

PubMed1979

Soil stabilization by a prokaryotic desert crust: implications for Precambrian land biota.

A cyanophyte dominated mat, desert crust, forms the ground cover in areas measuring hundreds of square meters in Utah and smaller patches in Colorado. The algal mat shows stromatolitic features such as sediment trapping and accretion, a convoluted surface, and polygonal cracking. Sand and clay particles are immobilized by a dense network of filaments of the two dominating cyanophyte species, Microcoleus vaginatus and M. chthonoplastes, which secrete sheaths to which particles adhere. These microorganisms can tolerate long periods of desiccation and are capable of instant reactivation and migration following wetting. Migration occurs in two events: 1. immediately following wetting of dry mat, trichomes are mechanically expelled from the sheath as it swells during rehydration, and 2. subsequently, trichomes begin a self-propelled gliding motility which is accompanied by further production of sheath. The maximum distance traveled on solid agar by trichomes of Microcoleus vaginatus during a 12 hour period of light was 4.8 cm. This corresponds to approximately 500 times the length of the fastest trichome, and provides a measure of the potential for spreading of the mat in nature via the motility of the trichomes. Dehydration resistence of the sheath modifies the extracellular environment of the trichomes and enables their transition to dormancy. Following prolonged wetting and evaporative drying of the mat in the laboratory, a smooth wafer-like crust is formed by the sheaths of Microcleus trichomes that have migrated to the surface. Calcium carbonate precipitates among the algal filaments under experimental conditions, indicating a potential for mat lithification and fossilization in the form of a caliche crust. It is suggested that limestones containing tubular microfossils may, in part, be of such an origin. The formation of mature Precambrian soils may be attributable to soil accretion, stabilization, and biogenic modification by blue-green algal land mats similar to desert crust.

Cyanobacteria↗