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Biomedical subjects

G Griffiths

Publications and source records attributed to G Griffiths.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Effect of anti-ER antibodies within the ER lumen of living cells.

We describe the production and partial characterization of 12 monoclonal antibodies raised against a preparation of endoplasmic reticulum membranes obtained from Xenopus laevis liver. Four of the antibodies cross-react with liver melanocytes; two of the antibodies recognize extracellular antigens, whilst the remaining six recognize antigens present in hepatocytes. The concentrations of these latter antigens increase markedly in livers stimulated by estrogen. Western blotting analysis revealed that the six anti-hepatocyte monoclonal antibodies recognize at least five different antigens whose molecular weights are 14K, 18K, 19K, 43K, and 125K. The possible functional involvement of the various antigens in the secretory pathway was investigated using Xenopus oocytes as a surrogate secretory system. The mRNAs coding for the monoclonal antibodies were injected into oocytes and the resulting immunoglobulin chains were translated and assembled into active anti-ER antibodies inside the lumen of the ER. The effect on secretion was then observed. Our data indicate that the binding of antibodies to most antigens of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane may result in a blockage of secretion.

Animals↗

Estimation of the amount of internalized ricin that reaches the trans-Golgi network.

We have used a protocol for internalization of ricin, a ligand binding to plasma membrane glycoproteins and glycolipids with terminal galactosyl residues, and infection with the vesicular stomatitis virus ts 045 mutant in BHK-21 cells to determine whether internalized plasma membrane molecules tagged by ricin reach distinct compartments of the biosynthetic-exocytic pathway. At 39.5 degrees C newly synthesized G protein of ts 045 was largely prevented from leaving the endoplasmic reticulum. At the same temperature ricin was endocytosed and reached, in addition to endosomes and lysosomes, elements of the Golgi complex. When the temperature was lowered to 19.5 degrees C, no more ricin was delivered to the Golgi complex, but now G protein accumulated in the Golgi stacks and the trans-Golgi network (TGN). Double-labeling immunogold cytochemistry on ultracryosections was used to detect G protein and ricin simultaneously. These data, combined with stereological and biochemical methods, showed that approximately 5% of the total amount of ricin within the cells, corresponding to 6-8 X 10(4) molecules per cell, colocalized with G protein in the Golgi complex after 60 min at 39.5 degrees C. Of this amount approximately 70-80% was present in the TGN. Since most of the ricin molecules remain bound to their binding sites at the low pH prevailing in compartments of the endocytic pathway, the results indicate that a fraction of the internalized plasma membrane molecules with terminal galactose are not recycled directly from endosomes or delivered to lysosomes, but are routed to the Golgi complex. Also, the results presented here, in combination with other recent studies on ricin internalization, suggest that translocation of the toxic ricin A-chain to the cytosol occurs in the TGN.

Animals↗

Postoperative neuralgia in the leg after saphenous vein coronary artery bypass graft: a prospective study.

The degree of cutaneous sensory deficit in the leg was assessed after removal of the long saphenous vein in 50 consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass vein grafts randomly assigned subcutaneous sutures or a single layer of sutures. Removal of the vein and repair of the leg incision were done by the same team of surgeons. In group 1 (25 patients) the leg incision was repaired with "00" Dexon subcutaneous and "00" prolene subcuticular sutures while in group 2 (25 patients) closure was effected by a single layer of interrupted "00" nylon sutures. All had crepe pressure bandage from the base of the toes to the groin for the first 24 hours followed by TED stockings for six to eight weeks. Sutures were removed on the eighth postoperative day. Cutaneous sensation in the leg and ankle was assessed 48 hours, seven days, and six to eight weeks after surgery, and a final comparison of the cosmetic effects and sensory perception after one year or more was made in 37 patients. There were no major differences between the groups at 48 hours in sensory abnormalities (anaesthesia, hyperaesthesia, and pain) but sensory recovery was significantly better in group 2 at the second and third assessments. There was some reduction in sensory abnormalities at the final review in group 1. No appreciable difference was noted in the quality of the scar between the two groups. We conclude that cutaneous sensation is better preserved by repairing the leg incision in a single layer. Subcutaneous sutures may produce neuropraxia of the long saphenous nerve by direct pressure as healing progresses.

Adult↗

Kinetics of intracellular transport and sorting of lysosomal membrane and plasma membrane proteins.

We have used monospecific antisera to two lysosomal membrane glycoproteins, lgp120 and a similar protein, lgp110, to compare the biosynthesis and intracellular transport of lysosomal membrane components, plasma membrane proteins, and lysosomal enzymes. In J774 cells and NRK cells, newly synthesized lysosomal membrane and plasma membrane proteins (the IgG1/IgG2b Fc receptor or influenza virus hemagglutinin) were transported through the Golgi apparatus (defined by acquisition of resistance to endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H) with the same kinetics (t1/2 = 11-14 min). In addition, immunoelectron microscopy of normal rat kidney cells showed that lgp120 and vesicular stomatitis virus G-protein were present in the same Golgi cisternae demonstrating that lysosomal and plasma membrane proteins were not sorted either before or during transport through the Golgi apparatus. To define the site at which sorting occurred, we compared the kinetics of transport of lysosomal and plasma membrane proteins and a lysosomal enzyme to their respective destinations. Newly synthesized proteins were detected in dense lysosomes (lgp's and beta-glucuronidase) or on the cell surface (Fc receptor or hemagglutinin) after the same lag period (20-25 min), and accumulated at their final destinations with similar kinetics (t1/2 = 30-45 min), suggesting that these two lgp's are not transported to the plasma membrane before reaching lysosomes. This was further supported by measurements of the transport of membrane-bound endocytic markers from the cell surface to lysosomes, which exhibited additional lag periods of 5-15 min and half-times of 1.5-2 h. The time required for transport of newly synthesized plasma membrane proteins to the cell surface, and for the transport of plasma membrane markers from the cell surface to lysosomes would appear too long to account for the rapid transport of lgp's from the Golgi apparatus to lysosomes. Thus, the observed kinetics suggest that lysosomal membrane proteins are sorted from plasma membrane proteins at a post-Golgi intracellular site, possibly the trans Golgi network, before their delivery to lysosomes.

Animals↗

The distribution of plaque and gingivitis and the influence of toothbrushing hand in a group of South Wales 11-12 year-old children.

Numerous factors may affect the distribution of plaque and gingivitis in any individuals mouth. Of considerable importance must be the oral hygiene habits of each person, which will be influenced by compliance and dexterity with tooth cleaning methods. The pattern of gingivitis seen at a young age may, with time, reflect the eventual distribution of attachment loss. This in part, could explain the considerable variation in chronic periodontal disease seen between individuals and at different sites within the same mouth. This study reports the baseline data for the distribution of plaque and gingivitis in 1105, 11-12-year-old children in South Wales. The children were selected by disproportionate stratified random sampling and examined by a multidisciplinary group with the long-term aim of evaluating the importance of malocclusion to dental health and psychosocial variables. Toothbrushing frequency had a very low but significant correlation with the distribution of plaque and gingivitis, accounting therefore for only a small % of the variance in the group. For the total group and right-handed toothbrushers, buccal plaque and gingivitis was significantly increased on right contralateral teeth. No specific pattern for plaque and gingivitis distribution by side was seen for 100 left-handed toothbrushers. Plaque and gingivitis also showed significant differences dependent upon arch, tooth number, and surface. The population is being followed at 4-year intervals to monitor the pattern of periodontal disease with time and correlate changes with these baseline findings.

Child↗

The trans Golgi network: sorting at the exit site of the Golgi complex.

The Golgi complex is a series of membrane compartments through which proteins destined for the plasma membrane, secretory vesicles, and lysosomes move sequentially. A model is proposed whereby these three different classes of proteins are sorted into different vesicles in the last Golgi compartment, the trans Golgi network. This compartment corresponds to a tubular reticulum on the trans side of the Golgi stack, previously called Golgi endoplasmic reticulum lysosomes (GERL).

Animals↗

Three-dimensional structure of endosomes in BHK-21 cells.

The organization of the endosome compartment in BHK-21 cells was studied by using horseradish peroxidase as a fluid-phase marker and Semliki Forest virus as an adsorptive marker. Stereo pairs of semithin sections (0.2-0.5 micron) and computer-aided reconstruction and tracing of serial thin sections (CARTOS) were used to obtain three-dimensional images of the labeled compartments. Two types of labeled organelles could be observed: small vesicles and tubules (approximately equal to 50 nm in diameter) and large complex structures consisting of central vesicular elements (with diameters up to 0.5 micron) and associated systems of radiating tubules. The large endosomes were located either in the peripheral cytoplasm or in the perinuclear region, and, importantly, they existed as independent organelles and not as an interconnected reticulum. Each endosomal vacuole had two to seven tubules oriented in random directions from the central vesicle. The tubules were 60-100 nm in diameter and up to 4 micron in length. Morphometric estimates indicated that 60-70% of the endosomal membrane was in the tubules, in contrast to 30-40% of the volume. No structural continuity between endosomes and Golgi cisternae was observed, although elements of the two systems were frequently found in close proximity.

Animals↗

Prevalence of plaque, gingivitis and caries in 11-12-year-old children in South Wales.

The overall eruption and dental disease status of a group of 1015 11-12-yr-old schoolchildren in South Wales is presented. The mean number of teeth erupted was 21.8 with a distribution pattern reflecting continuing eruption of teeth at this age. Almost equal numbers of contralateral and opposing tooth types were present with exceptions including maxillary canines and lateral incisors. DMFT, DMFS, and DFS scores were consistent with other recent studies. The mean plaque score was 2.44 and showed a normal distribution for the group. All children had gingivitis at one or more sites as evidenced by bleeding on probing, and again the distribution pattern was a normal one. The mean pocketing was 1.24 mm and there was little clinical evidence of chronic periodontitis. As expected, plaque and gingivitis showed a very high and significant correlation, with plaque and pocketing and gingivitis and pocketing having lower correlation coefficients which were nevertheless highly significant.

Child↗

Quantitation in immunocytochemistry: correlation of immunogold labeling to absolute number of membrane antigens.

Baby hamster kidney cells infected with Semliki Forest virus were used as a model system for quantitative immunocytochemical labeling studies. In this system, a well-characterized membrane protein complex is present in different concentrations in three separate locations. Using immunogold labeling of cryosections, we compared the number of gold particles labeling the membranes of endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi stack, and fully formed virions at the plasma membrane to the biochemically determined concentrations. The efficiency of labeling was 40, 13, and 14% for the three structures, respectively. In a comparative study, Lowicryl K4M sections were found to give significantly lower levels of labeling.

Antigens, Surface↗

The acylation of sn-glycerol 3-phosphate and the metabolism of phosphatidate in microsomal preparations from the developing cotyledons of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seed.

Microsomal preparations from the developing cotyledons of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) catalysed the acylation of sn-glycerol 3-phosphate in the presence of acyl-CoA. The resulting phosphatidate was further utilized in the synthesis of diacyl- and tri-acylglycerol by the reactions of the so-called 'Kennedy pathway' [Kennedy (1961) Fed. Proc. Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol. 20, 934-940]. Diacylglycerol equilibrated with the phosphatidylcholine pool when glycerol backbone, with the associated acyl groups, flowed from phosphatidate to triacylglycerol. The formation of diacylglycerol from phosphatidate through the action of a phosphatidate phosphohydrolase (phosphatidase) was substantially inhibited by EDTA and, under these conditions, phosphatidate accumulated in the microsomal membranes. The inhibition of the phosphatidase by EDTA was alleviated by Mg2+. The presence of Mg2+ in all incubation mixtures stimulated quite considerably the synthesis of triacylglycerol in vitro. Microsomal preparations incubated with acyl-CoA, sn-glycerol 3-phosphate and EDTA synthesized sufficient phosphatidate for the reliable analysis of its intramolecular fatty acid distribution. In the presence of mixed acyl-CoA substrates the sn-glycerol 3-phosphate was acylated exclusively in position 1 with the saturated fatty acids, palmitate and stearate. The polyunsaturated fatty acid linoleate was, however, utilized largely in the acylation of position 2 of sn-glycerol 3-phosphate. The affinity of the enzymes involved in the acylation of positions 1 and 2 of sn-glycerol 3-phosphate for specific species of acyl-CoA therefore governs the non-random distribution of the different acyl groups in the seed triacylglycerols. The acylation of sn-glycerol 3-phosphate in position 1 with saturated acyl components also accounts for the presence of these groups in position 1 of sn-phosphatidylcholine through the equilibration of diacylglycerol with the phosphatidylcholine pool, which occurs when phosphatidate is utilized in the synthesis of triacylglycerol. These results add further credence to our previous proposals for the regulation of the acyl quality of the triacylglycerols that accumulate in developing oil seeds [Stymne & Stobart (1984) Biochem. J. 220, 481-488; Stobart & Stymne (1985) Planta 163, 119-125].

Acyl Coenzyme A↗

Charter for care.

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Central Nervous System Diseases↗

Exit of newly synthesized membrane proteins from the trans cisterna of the Golgi complex to the plasma membrane.

The intracellular location at which the G protein of vesicular stomatitis virus accumulated when transport was blocked at 20 degrees C has been studied by biochemical, cytochemical, and immunocytochemical methods. Our results indicated that the viral G protein was blocked in that cisterna of the Golgi stack which stained for acid phosphatase. At 20 degrees C this trans cisterna became structurally altered by the accumulation of G protein. This alteration was characterized by extensive areas of membrane buds which were covered by a cytoplasmic coat. These coated structures were of two kinds--those that labeled with anti-clathrin antibodies and those that did not. The clathrin-coated pits consistently did not label with anti-G antibodies. Upon warming infected cells to 32 degrees C, G protein appeared on the surface within minutes. Concomitantly, the trans cisterna lost its characteristic structural organization. Double-labeling experiments were performed in which G protein localization was combined with staining for horseradish peroxidase, which had been taken up from the extracellular medium by endocytosis. The results suggest that the trans cisterna was distinct from the endosome compartment and that the latter was not an obligatory station in the route taken by G protein to the cell surface.

Animals↗

Newly synthesized G protein of vesicular stomatitis virus is not transported to the Golgi complex in mitotic cells.

Newly synthesized G protein of vesicular stomatitis virus is not transported to the surface of cultured mammalian cells during mitosis (Warren et al., 1983, J. Cell Biol. 97:1623-1628). To determine where intracellular transport is inhibited, we have examined the post-translational modifications of G protein, which are indicators of specific compartments on the transport pathway. G protein in mitotic cells had only endo H-sensitive oligosaccharides containing seven or eight mannose residues, but no terminal glucose, and was not fatty acylated. These modifications were indicative of processing only by enzymes of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Quantitative immunocytochemistry was used as an independent method to confirm that transport of G protein out of the ER was inhibited. The density of G protein in the ER cisternae was 2.5 times greater than in infected G1 cells treated similarly. Incubation of infected mitotic cells with cycloheximide, which inhibits protein synthesis without affecting transport, did not result in a decrease in the density of G protein in the ER cisternae, demonstrating that G protein cannot be chased out of the ER. These results suggest that intracellular transport stops at or before the first vesicle-mediated step on the pathway.

Animals↗

Restriction of docking protein to the rough endoplasmic reticulum: immunocytochemical localization in rat liver.

Docking protein (or SRP receptor) is an integral membrane protein essential for translocation of nascent polypeptides across the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Anti-docking protein antibodies were used to localize this protein in situ in thin frozen sections using protein A-gold detection methods. The majority of gold particles was restricted to ribosome-studded membranes, whereas particles were rarely seen in areas rich in smooth ER. Quantitative evaluation of labeling suggests that there is one molecule of docking protein for roughly 10 to 20 bound ribosomes. On the basis of these results we conclude that docking protein is the first functionally-characterized integral marker protein specific for the rough membranes of ER.

Animals↗

On the preparation of cryosections for immunocytochemistry.

The key preparation steps in the Tokuyasu thawed frozen section technique for immunocytochemistry, namely freezing, sectioning, thawing, and drying, were studied. A spherical tissue culture cell was used as a model system. The frozen hydrated section technique indicated that glutaraldehyde-fixed, 2.1 M sucrose-infused pellets of cells were routinely vitrified by immersion in liquid nitrogen but water was crystallized when lower sucrose concentrations (0.6-1 M) were used. Quantitative mass measurements showed that the fixed cells are freely permeable to sucrose. The frozen hydrated sections were severely compressed but cell profiles regained their circular appearance upon thawing. The average section thickness of our frozen-hydrated sections was 110 nm: this was reduced to 30-50 nm upon thawing, washing, and air-drying. This change was accompanied by severe drying artifacts. By using the methyl cellulose drying technique, this collapse upon air-drying could be significantly reduced, but not completely prevented, giving an average thickness of 70 nm.

Animals↗

Density of newly synthesized plasma membrane proteins in intracellular membranes. I. Stereological studies.

As the spike proteins of Semliki Forest virus (SFV) pass from their site of synthesis in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the cell surface, they must be concentrated and freed from endogenous proteins. To determine the magnitude of this sorting process we have measured the density of spike proteins in membranes of the intracellular transport pathway. In this first paper, using stereological procedures, we have estimated the surface areas of the ER, Golgi complex, and plasma membrane of infected and mock-infected baby hamster kidney cells. First, we estimated the mean cell volume in absolute units. This was done using a novel in situ method which is described in detail. Infection by SFV was found to have no effect on any of the parameters measured. In the accompanying paper ( Quinn , P., G. Griffiths, and G. Warren, 1984, J. Cell Biol., 2142-2147) these stereological estimates were combined with biochemical estimates of the amount of spike proteins in ER, Golgi complex, and plasma membrane to determine the density in the membranes of these compartments.

Animals↗