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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1979

Membrane events in the acrosomal reaction of Limulus sperm. Membrane fusion, filament-membrane particle attachment, and the source and formation of new membrane surface.

The membranes of Limulus (horseshoe crab) sperm were examined before and during the acrosomal reaction by using the technique of freeze-fracturing and thin sectioning. We focused on three areas. First, we examined stages in the fusion of the acrosomal vacuole with the cell surface. Fusion takes place in a particle-free zone which is surrounded by a circlet of particles on the P face of the plasma membrane and an underlying circlet of particles on the P face of the acrosomal vauole membrane. These circlets of particles are present before induction. Up to nine focal points of fusion occur within the particle-free zone. Second, we describe a system of fine filaments, each 30 A in diameter, which lies between the acrosomal vacuole and the plasma membrane. These filaments change their orientation as the vacuole opens, a process that takes place in less than 50 ms. Membrane particles seen on the P face of the acrosomal vacuole membrane change their orientation at the same time and in the same way as do the filaments, thus indicating that the membrane particles and filaments are probably connected. Third, we examined the source and the point of fusion of new membrane needed to cover the acrosomal process. This new membrane is almost certainly derived from the outer nuclear envelope and appears to insert into the plasma membrane in a particle-free area adjacent to an area rich in particles. The latter is the region where the particles are probably connected to the cytoplasmic filaments. The relevance of these observations in relation to the process of fertilization of this fantastic sperm is discussed.

Acrosome↗

PubMed1977

Compositional homology of membrane-protein systems and membrane-associated proteins: comparison with milk fat globule membrane and "membrane"-derived xanthine oxidase.

Amino acid compositions of the milk fat globule membrane protein and plasma membrane protein from other sources, as well as the compositions of milk fat globule membrane-derived xanthine oxidase and selected plasma membranes-associated proteins were compared by statistical difference index. Additionally, the average hydrophobicity of xanthine oxidase and selected membrane proteins were compared. These comparisons indicate high orders of apparent compositional homology between the various plasma membranes and membrane-associated proteins. Because the biological functions of membrane proteins are widely diverse, it is speculated that their "relatedness" may reflect on evolutionary convergence to similar amino acid compositions, necessitated by their in situ environment--the lipoidal bilayer. However, compositional relatedness should not imply sequential homology.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed1978

Synthesis of plasmalemmal glycoproteins in intestinal epithelial cells. Separation of Golgi membranes from villus and crypt cell surface membranes; glycosyltransferase activity of surface membrane.

The relationship between Golgi and cell surface membranes of intestinal cells was studied. These membranes were isolated from intestinal crypt cells and villus cells. The villus cell membranes consisted of microvillus membrane, a Golgi-rich fraction, and two membrane fractions interpreted as representing lateral-basal membranes. The villus cell microvillus membrane was purified by previously published techniques while the other membranes were obtained from isolated cells by differential centrifugation and density gradient velocity sedimentation. The two membrane fractions obtained from villus cells and considered to be lateral-basal membranes were enriched for Na+,K+-ATPase activity, but one also showed enrichment in glycosyltransferase activity. The Golgi membrane fraction was enriched for glycosyltransferase activity and had low to absent Na+,K+-ATPase activity. Adenylate cyclase activity was present in all membrane fractions except the microvillus membrane but co-purified with Golgi rather than lateral-basal membranes. Electron microscopy showed that the Golgi fraction consisted of variably sized vesicles and cisternalike structures. The two lateral-basal membrane fractions showed only vesicles of smaller, more uniform size. After 125I labeling of isolated intact cells, radioactivity was found associated with the lateral-basal and microvillus membrane fractions and not with the Golgi fraction. Antibody prepared against lateral-basal membrane fractions reacted with the surface membrane of isolated villus cells. The membrane fractions from isolated crypt cells demonstrated that all had high glycosyltransferase activity. The data show that glycosyltransferase activity, in addition to its Golgi location, may be a significant property of the lateral-basal portion of the intestinal villus cell plasma membrane. Data obtained with crypt cells support earlier data and show that the crypt cell surface membrane possesses glycosyltransferase activity.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

PubMed1978

Membranes in lupin root nodules. II. Preparation and properties of peribacteroid membranes and bacteroid envelope inner membranes from developing lupin nodules.

Peribacteroid membranes and bacteroid envelope inner membranes have been isolated from developing lupin nodules. Isolation of the peribacteroid membranes was achieved by first preparing membrane-enclosed bacteroids free from other plant organelles or membranes. The peribacteroid membranes were then released by osmotic shock and purified by centrifugation to equilibrium on sucrose gradients. The bacteroids were broken in a pressure cell and the bacteroid envelope inner membranes were isolated using sucrose gradient fractionation of the bacteroid total envelope preparation. The density of the peribacteroid membranes decreased during the period of development of N2-fixation in lupin nodules from 1.148 g/ml for nodules from 12-day plants to 1.137 g/ml for nodules from 18-day plants. The density of the bacteroid envelope inner membranes from nodules from 18-day plants was 1-153 g/ml. The identity and homogeneity of the isolated membranes was established, by comparison with membranes in intact nodules, using phosphotungstic acid and silver staining of thin sections and particle densitites on faces of freeze-fracture replicas of the membranes. Analyses for NADH oxidase and succinate dehydrogenase, spectral analyses and gel-electrophoretic analysis of proteins were also used to characterize the membrane and soluble protein fractions from the nodules. The ratio of lipid to protein was 6.1 for the peribacteroid membranes and 2.5 for the bacteroid envelope inner membranes. Leghaemoglobin was localized in the plant cytoplasm in lupin nodules and not in the peribacteroid space.

Cell Fractionation↗

PubMed1979

Synthesis of membrane glycoproteins in rat small-intestinal villus cells. Redistribution of L-[1,5,6-3H]fucose-labelled membrane glycoproteins among Golgi, lateral basal and microvillus membranes in vivo.

The biogenesis of plasmalemma glycoproteins of rat small-intestinal villus cells was studied by following the incorporation of l-[1,5,6-(3)H]fucose, given intraperitoneally with and without chase, into Golgi, lateral basal and microvillus membranes. Each membrane fraction showed distinct kinetics of incorporation of labelled fucose and was differently affected by the chase, which produced a much greater decrease in incorporation of label into Golgi and microvillus than into lateral basal membranes. The kinetic data suggest a redistribution of newly synthesized glycoproteins from the site of fucosylation, the Golgi complex, directly into both lateral basal and microvillus membranes. The observed biphasic pattern of label incorporation into the microvillus membrane fraction may be evidence for a second indirect route of incorporation. The selective effect of the chase suggests the presence of two different pools of radioactive fucose in the Golgi complex that differ in (1) their accessibility to dilution with non-radioactive fucose, and (2) their utilization for the biosynthesis of membrane glycoproteins subsequently destined for either the microvillus or the lateral basal parts of the plasmalemma. The radioactively labelled glycoproteins of the different membrane fractions were separated by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-slab-gel electrophoresis and identified by fluorography. The patterns of labelled glycoproteins in Golgi and lateral basal membranes were identical at all times. At least 14 bands could be identified shortly after radioactive-fucose injection. Most seemed to disappear at later times, although one of them, which was never observed in microvillus membranes, increased in relative intensity. All but two of the labelled glycoproteins present in the microvillus membrane corresponded to those observed in Golgi and lateral basal membranes shortly after fucose injection. The patterns of labelled glycoproteins in all membrane fractions were little affected by the chase. These data support a flow concept for the insertion of most surface-membrane glycoproteins of the intestinal villus cells.

Animals↗

PubMed1977

Reconstitution of model membranes from phospholipid and outer membrane proteins of Proteus mirabilis. Role of proteins in the formation of hydrophilic pores and protection of membranes against detergents.

Outer membrane proteins extracted from isolated cell walls of Proteus mirabilis were able to combine the cell wall phospholipids in a model membrane system. The presence of outer membrane proteins in vesicular model membranes mediated the release of previously entrapped [14C]sucrose while [3H]inulin was retained. Incorporation of lipopolysaccharide from the same cell walls was not required for the formation of such selectively permeable membranes. Three major outer membrane proteins of apparent molecular weights 39000, 36000 and 17000 were isolated using acetic acid and sodium deoxycholate solution as solvents and avoiding the strongly denaturing sodium dodecyl sulfate. The isolated proteins were assayed for their ability to form hydrophilic pores in reconstituted membranes. The trypsin-sensitive 39000-Mr protein and the peptidoglycan-associated 36000-Mr protein were equally effective in this function whereas the 17000-Mr protein mediated little penetration of low molecular weight solute. The 39000-Mr and 36000-Mr proteins also protected reconstituted membrane vesicles from disruption by detergent while 17000-Mr protein was ineffective in this regard.

Cell Membrane↗

PubMed1978

Expansion and apparent fluidity decrease of nuclear membranes induced by low Ca/Mg. Modulation of nuclear membrane lipid fluidity by the membrane-associated nuclear matrix proteins?

Macronuclei isolated from Tetrahymena are contracted in form (average diameter: 10.2 micron) at a final Ca/Mg (3:2)concentration of 5 mM. Lowering the ion concentration to 1 mM induces an expansion of the average nuclear diameter to 12.2 micron. Both contracted and expanded nuclei are surrounded by a largely intact nuclear envelope as revealed by thin-sectioning electron microscopy. Nuclear swelling is accompanied by an expansion of the nuclear envelope as indicated by the decrease in the frequency of nuclear pore complexes from 52.6 to 42.1 pores/micron2 determined by freeze-etch electron microscopy. Contracted nuclear membranes reveal particle-devoid areas (average size: 0.21 micron2) on 59% of their fracture faces at the optimal growth temperature of 28 degrees C. About three-fifths of the number of these smooth areas disappear upon nuclear membrane expansion. Electron spin resonance using 5-doxylstearic acid as a spin label indicates a higher lipid fluidity in contracted than in expa,ded nuclear membranes. Moreover, a thermotropic lipid clustering occurs at approximately 17 degrees C only in expanded nuclear membranes. In contrast to the nuclear membrane-bound lipids, free lipids extracted from the nuclei rigidify with increasing Ca/Mg concentrations. Our findings are compatible with the view that the peripheral layer of the fundamental nuclear protein-framework, the so-called nuclear matrix, can modulate, inter alia, the lipid distribution and fluidity, respectively, in nuclear membranes. We suggest that a contraction of the nuclear matrix's peripheral layer induces a contraction of the nuclear membranes which, in turn, leads to an isothermic lateral lipid segregation within nuclear membranes.

Animals↗

PubMed1978

Membrane-bound neuraminidase from calf brain: regulation of oligosialoganglioside degradation by membrane fluidity and membrane components.

The degradation of lipophilic ganglioside GD1a and hydrophilic sialyllactitol by membrane-bound neuraminidase (EC 3.2.1.18) from calf brain has been studied at substrate concentrations of 0.1 mM. Ganglioside GD1a taken up by cell membranes is hydrolyzed faster membrane-bound neuraminidase than are water-soluble substrates of the enzyme, sialyllactitol and des-GD1a. Availability and enzymic breakdown of the disialoganglioside are enhanced by general anesthetics such as N2O or halothane whereas the degradation of the hydrophilic substrate silayllactitol is not affected or even is decreased by these agents. General anesthetics lower the microviscosity of membranes as indicated by studies of fluorescence depolarization with the indicator 1,6-diphenylhexatriene. Increased fluidity can result in higher lateral diffusion of ganglioside GD1a, thus increasing its chances of presentation to, and interaction with, membrane-bound neuraminidase. Lipophilic derivatives of the disialoganglioside, gangliosides GM1 and GM2 and gangliotriaosylceramide GA2, are strong inhibitors of the ganglioside degradation whereas water-soluble derivatives des-GM1, des-GM2, N-acetylneuraminic acid, and sialyllactose are not. A model is presented that suggests that the activity of membrane-bound neuraminidase on gangliosides of brain membranes is regulated by the viscosity of these membranes and their monosialoganglioside content.

Anesthesia, General↗

PubMed1979

Synthesis of membrane glycoproteins in rat small-intestinal villus cells. Effect of colchicine on the redistribution of L-[1,5,6-3H]fucose-labelled membrane glycoproteins among Golgi, lateral basal and microvillus membranes.

To define the role of cytoplasmic microtubules in the biogenesis of plasmalemma glycoproteins of rat small-intestinal villus cells, we studied the effect of colchicine on the incorporation of L-[1,5,6-3H]fucose into Golgi, lateral basal and microvillus membranes. Colchicine was administered intraperitoneally before or after injection of radioactive fucose. The incorporation of radioactivity into Golgi membranes was little affected by colchicine, which did not prevent the redistribution of most of the labelled glycoproteins from the Golgi complex into other parts of the villus cell. The incorporation of labelled glycoproteins into the microvillus membrane was greatly inhibited by colchicine given 2 h or 10 min before the radioactive fucose: all labelled glycoproteins present in this membrane were equally affected. In contrast, the administration of colchicine considerably increased the incorporation of radioactivity into the lateral basal part of the plasmalemma, and prevented the disappearance of most of the labelled glycoproteins from this membrane at late times after fucose injection. These results suggest that cytoplasmic microtubular structures are important for the polarization of the intestinal villus cell and the biogenesis of the microvillus membrane, although playing little or no role in the movement of membrane components from the Golgi complex to the lateral basal part of the plasmalemma.

Animals↗

PubMed1976

Isolation and characterization of hydrophobic proteins (H proteins) in the membrane fraction of Bacillus subtilis. Involvement in membrane biosynthesis and the formation of biochemically active membrane vesicles by combining H proteins with lipid.

Cytoplasmic membranes of Bacillus subtilis, grown in complex medium containing glucose, were fractionated into three membrane subfractions [light band (1.155 - 1.158 g/cm3); medium band (1.181 - 1.183 g/cm3); heavy band (1.21 - 1.25 g/cm3)] by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Among these subfractions, the light and medium bands consisted mainly of membranes but the heavy band consisted of an irregular arrangement or aggregate of small globular protein components of 5 - 8 nm in diameter. We named this H-protein. H-protein formed trilamellar unit membrane structure when combined with lipid. In pulse-labeling and pulse-chase experiments with radioactive leucine, it was found that H-protein consisted of the newest membrane protein synthesized in the cells and the label incorporated into H-protein was shifted into light and medium band of the membranes during the chase. Cytochromes were not found in H-protein. However, when H-protein was incubated with haem alpha and protohaem, these compounds were incorporated into the apoproteins of the cytochromes present in H-protein and form cytochromes a and b. Cytochromes were also formed in H-protein which were isolated from the cells grown in the presence of haemin (haemin-grown H protein). Succinate dehydrogenase activity was increased about 4-fold by combining H-protein or haemin-grown H protein with lipid. H-protein had no cytochrome oxidase activity; however, haemin-grown H protein was found to have some of the activity and this was increased about 4-fold by combining the protein with lipid. Haemin-grown H protein was also found to form succinate: cytochrome c oxidoreductase when combined with lipid and vitamin K2. On the other hand, succinate oxidase was required for the addition of lipid, vitamin K2 and cytochrome c. NADH oxidase was also found in haemin-grown H protein and was activated about 9-fold in constituted reaction systems. Vesicles formed by haemin-grown H protein and lipid, could accumulate alanine and proline by addition of NADH or reduced phenazine methosulfate. Alanine and proline was also accumulated into the vesicles when transport energy was supplied as a membrane potential introduced by K+-diffusion via valinomycin. These results would indicate that H-protein contains the apoprotein of cytochromes, and a carrier involved in the active transport of alanine and proline.

Alanine↗

PubMed1978

Colicins and bacterial membranes: structures and functions. II. Studies on reconstituted homologous and hybrid membranes prepared from cytoplasmic membranes of untreated and colicin K-treated bacteria.

Cytoplasmic membranes of Escherichia coli K12 C600 treated and not treated with colicin K were dissociated into unsolubilized and solubilized fractions. Neither fraction catalyzed ATP-linked transhydrogenase activity. Mixtures of unsolubilized fractions of the untreated bacteria with solubilized fractions of either the treated or untreated bacteria yielded reconstituted membranes with restored ATP-linked transhydrogenase activity. The level of the activity was similar to that of the undissociated membranes of untreated bacteria. The membranes which were reconstituted from unsolubilized fractions of the treated bacteria and the solubilized fraction of the treated or the untreated bacteria showed impairment of activity. The impairment is not due to an inability to bind ATPase of the soluble fraction or to an incorrect binding of the ATPase. The impaired, reconstituted membranes showed striking decreases in the relative amounts of three proteins with apparent molecular weights of 122,000, 73,000, and 62,000. The affected proteins were found to be components of the unsolubilized membrane fraction. It is, thus, concluded that the impaired activity is due to the defective nature of the unsolubilized membrane fraction of colicin-treated cells.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

PubMed1978

Paracrystalline arrays of membrane-to-membrane cross bridges associated with the inner surface of plasma membrane.

In cultured cells of the rat kangaroo PtK2 line, veils of the cell surface were observed which consisted of only plasma membrane and paracrystalline arrays of membrane-associated particles sandwiched in between. These membrane-to-membrane cross-bridging 9-to 11-nm wide particles were somewhat coumellar-shaped and were arranged on a hexagonal lattice with an interparticle distance of 16nm. At higher magnification, they revealed an unstained core, thus suggesting a ringlike substructure. Similar arrays of paracrystal-containing veils, which were rather variable in size and frequency, were also observed in other cultured cells. It is hypothesized that these paracrystals represent protein macromolecular complexes associated with the inner plasma membrane surface which crystallize when plasma membranes come into close intracellular contact and other components of the subsurface network are removed.

Animals↗

PubMed1976

Plasma membrane of a murine T cell lymphoma: surface labelling, membrane isolation, separation of membrane proteins and distribution of surface label amongst these proteins.

Two established techniques for analysis of plasma membranes, namely, lactoperoxidase catalyzed surface radioiodination of intact cells and bulk membrane isolation following disruption of cells by shear forces, were applied in studies of membrane proteins of continuously cultured cells of the monoclonal T lymphoma line WEHI-22. It was found that macromolecular 125I-iodide incorporated into plasma membrane proteins of intact cells was at least as good a marker for the plasma as was the commonly used enzyme 5'-nucleotidase. T lymphoma plasma membrane proteins were complex when analysed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecylsulphate-containing buffers and more than thirty distinct components were resolved. More than fifteen of the components observed on a mass basis were also labelled with 125I-iodide. Certain bands, however, exhibited a degree of label disproportionate to their staining properties with Coomassie Blue. This was interpreted in terms of their accessibility to the solvent in the intact cells.

Animals↗

PubMed1977

Assembly of viral membranes. I. Association of vesicular stomatitis virus membrane proteins and membranes in a cell-free system.

We report here an in vitro system designed to study the interactions of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) proteins with cellular membranes. We have synthesized the VSV nucleocapsid (N) protein, nonstructural (NS) protein, glycoprotein (G protein), and membrane (M) protein in a wheat germ, cell-free, protein-synthesizing system directed by VSV 12 to 18S RNA. When incubated at low salt concentrations with purified cytoplasmic membranes derived from Chinese hamster ovary cells, the VSV M andG proteins bind to membranes, whereas the VSV N and NS proteins do not. The VSV M protein binds to membranes in low or high divalent cation concentrations, whereas binding of significant amounts of G protein requires at least 5 mM magnesium acetate concentrations.

Cell Line↗

PubMed1978

Chloroplast membrane biogenesis in Chlamydomonas: correlation between the formation of membrane components and membrane structure.

The y-1 mutant of Chlamydomonas reinhardi, when allowed to green in the presence of chloramphenicol (CAP), an inhibitor of protein synthesis on 70s ribosomes, form photosynthetic membranes which contain somewhat less chlorophyll than those of cells greened in the absence of the drug. Photosystem I and II activities are drastically reduced in the CAP-greened cells, and specific alterations in the polypeptide composition of the thylakoid membranes are also observed. We have examined the internal structure of the thylakoid membranes from cells greened in the presence and absence of CAP, and have found that the large particles observed on the exoplasmic fracture face (EF) are substantially reduced in size and number in the CAP-greened cells. This structural defect seems related to the absence of significant photo-system activities in the CAP-greened cells, despite the presence of most major membrane polypeptides. We suggest that CAP treatment results in a failure of the cell to organize functional reaction complexes, and is structurally reflected in the absence of large (EF) particles in such membranes. This defect can be repaired by allowing the affected cells to re-green in the absence of the drug, and the large particles reappear, paralleling an increase in photosynthetic activity.

Chlamydomonas↗

PubMed1977

Role of lipids in the Neurospora crassa membrane. II. Membrane potential and resistance studies; the effect of altered fatty acid composition on the electrical properties of the cell membrane.

The effect of doubling the saturated fatty acid content on the electrophysiology of Neurospora crassa membranes was studied. Intracellular membrane input resistance (Rm) and potential (Em) were measured for wild-type (w/t) and cel- (Tween 40) organisms as a function of temperature. Over the 0 to 40 degrees C temperature range studied, mean Em values of both w/t and cel- (Tw 40) organisms increased from -160 to -210 mV. This difference is greater than that expected from Nernst potential considerations, indicating an active component of Em. This active component is insensitive to a doubling of the saturated fatty acid content. Rm exhibits a temperature dependence and hysteresis. Averaged data indicate an increase in Rm with decreased temperature. The slope of the temperature dependence varies among individual hyphae. Above 17.5 degrees C cel- (Tw 40) hyphae averaged greater than 70% higher values of Rm than w/t. Below 17.5 degrees C w/t Rm data divided into low and high temperature dependence groups, while cel- data exhibited a low temperature dependence. The results are discussed in relation to gel-liquid crystal phase transitions, membrane fluidity, and the contribution of fatty acid structure to membrane electrical properties.

Cell Membrane↗

PubMed1978

F20C, a new fluorescent membrane probe, moves more slowly in malignant and mitogen-transformed cell membranes than in normal cell membranes.

New fluorescent probes of membrane mobility can be introduced into cell membranes at single points with particles of a membrane mobility agent, A2C. The initial entry of fluorescence from the particle into the cell membrane and the subsequent lateral spread of fluorescence have been observed for cells in suspension. A dramatic difference between the behavior of normal lymphocytes and that of mitogen-transformed and mastocytoma cells is found. Both the initial entry and the spreading of fluorescence are much slower in the transformed and tumor cells than in the normal cells at 18 degrees C. Entry and spread of fluorescence in normal cells become slow enough to be observed only at 12 degrees C or below.

Cell Line↗

PubMed1976

Metabolic properties of human platelet membranes. II. Thrombin-induced phosphorylation of membrane lipids and demonstration of phosphorylating enzymes in the platelet membrane.

Washed human platelets have been labeled with either 32Pi or glycerol-1-14C and the distribution of the label in the phospholipids determined. 32Pi was introduced primarily into polyphosphoinositides, i.e. di- and triphosphoinositide, whereas the label from glycerol which indicates de novo synthesis of lipid molecules did not appear in these phospholipids. In the course of thrombin-induced aggregation and release the phosphate incorporation into phosphatic acid, di- and triphosphoinositide was rapidly stimulated in parallel to the platelet reaction. The incorporation of glycerol did not change under the same conditions. It is concluded that phosphoinositides with rapid incorporation of phosphate groups are not as rapidly synthesized de novo and presumably form a separate phospholipid pool in the platelets. Only the phosphorylating reactions are stimulated by the thrombin aggregation. The necessary enzymes for these reactions, namely diglyceride kinase, phosphatidylinositol kinase, and phosphatidylinositol-phosphate kinase all can be shown to be associated with a well characterized platelet membrane fraction.

Blood Platelets↗