Environmental hazards from a hospital incinerator.
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Air Pollutants↗
Biomedical subjects
G Griffiths
Publications and source records attributed to G Griffiths.
The dynamic nature of the Golgi complex.
The intracellular transport of newly synthesized G protein of vesicular stomatitis virus is blocked at 20 degrees C and this spanning membrane glycoprotein accumulates in the last Golgi compartment, the trans Golgi-network (TGN). Previous morphological evidence suggested that the TGN enlarged significantly under this condition. In the present study we have used stereological procedures to estimate the volume and surface area of the Golgi stack and the TGN of baby hamster kidney cells under different conditions. The results indicate that the increase in the size of the TGN at 20 degrees C is accompanied by a significant decrease in the surface area and volume of the preceding Golgi compartments. A similar effect is also seen in uninfected cells at 20 degrees C, as well as during normal (37 degrees C) infection with Semliki Forest virus. In the latter case, however, the decrease in the size of the Golgi stack and the increase in that of the TGN is not accompanied by inhibition of transport from the Golgi complex to the cell surface. The results indicate that the Golgi stack and the TGN are dynamic and interrelated structures that are capable of rapid alteration in total surface area in response to changes in the rates of membrane transport.
Animals↗
Low cytoplasmic pH inhibits endocytosis and transport from the trans-Golgi network to the cell surface.
A fibroblast mutant cell line lacking the Na+/H+ antiporter was used to study the influence of low cytoplasmic pH on membrane transport in the endocytic and exocytic pathways. After being loaded with protons, the mutant cells were acidified at pH 6.2 to 6.8 for 20 min while the parent cells regulated their pH within 1 min. Cytoplasmic acidification did not affect the level of intracellular ATP or the number of clathrin-coated pits at the cell surface. However, cytosolic acidification below pH 6.8 blocked the uptake of two fluid phase markers, Lucifer Yellow and horseradish peroxidase, as well as the internalization and the recycling of transferrin. When the cytoplasmic pH was reversed to physiological values, both fluid phase endocytosis and receptor-mediated endocytosis resumed with identical kinetics. Low cytoplasmic pH also inhibited the rate of intracellular transport from the Golgi complex to the plasma membrane. This was shown in cells infected by the temperature-sensitive mutant ts 045 of the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) using as a marker of transport the mutated viral membrane glycoprotein (VSV-G protein). The VSV-G protein was accumulated in the trans-Golgi network (TGN) by an incubation at 19.5 degrees C and was transported to the cell surface upon shifting the temperature to 31 degrees C. This transport was arrested in acidified cells maintained at low cytosolic pH and resumed during the recovery phase of the cytosolic pH. Electron microscopy performed on epon and cryo-sections of mutant cells acidified below pH 6.8 showed that the VSV-G protein was present in the TGN. These results indicate that acidification of the cytosol to a pH less than 6.8 inhibits reversibly membrane transport in both endocytic and exocytic pathways. In all likelihood, the clathrin and nonclathrin coated vesicles that are involved in endo- and exocytosis cannot pinch off from the cell surface or from the TGN below this critical value of internal pH.
Animals↗
Characterization of the early endosome and putative endocytic carrier vesicles in vivo and with an assay of vesicle fusion in vitro.
We have investigated two aspects of membrane traffic at early stages of endocytosis: membrane fusion and microtubule-dependent transport. As a marker, we have used the trans-membrane glycoprotein G of vesicular stomatitis virus implanted into the plasma membrane and then internalized for different times at 37 degrees C. The corresponding endosomal fractions were immunoisolated using the cytoplasmic domain of the G protein as antigen. These fractions were then used in an in vitro assay to quantify the efficiency of fusion between endosomal vesicles. To identify the vesicular partners of the fusion, these in vitro studies were combined with in vivo biochemical and morphological experiments. Internalized molecules were delivered to early endosomal elements, which corresponded to a network of tubular and tubulovesicular structures. Rapid recycling back to the plasma membrane and routing to late stages of the pathway occurred from these early endosomal elements. These elements exhibited a high and specific fusion activity with each other in vitro, suggesting that individual elements of the early endosomal compartment interact with each other in vivo. After their appearance in the early endosome, the molecules destined to be degraded were observed at the next stage of the pathway in distinct spherical vesicles (0.5 micron diam) and then in late endosomes and lysosomes. When the microtubules were depolymerized with nocodazole, endocytosis proceeded as in control cells. However, internalized molecules remained in the spherical vesicles and did not appear in late endosomes or lysosomes. These spherical vesicles had relatively little fusion activity with each other or with early endosomal elements in vitro. Our observations suggest that the spherical vesicles mediate transport between the early endosome and late endosomes and that this process requires intact microtubules.
Animals↗
Isolation and characterization of membranes from bovine liver which are highly enriched in mannose 6-phosphate receptors.
We have developed a method for the isolation of the subcellular organelles from bovine liver which are enriched in the cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor (CI-MPR) and the cation-dependent mannose 6-phosphate receptor (CD-MPR). The purification scheme consists of sedimentation of a postnuclear supernatant fraction on a sucrose gradient followed by immunoisolation using specific anti-peptide antibodies conjugated to magnetic polystyrene beads. Antibodies that recognize the cytoplasmic domain of either the CI-MPR or the CD-MPR routinely give membrane preparations that are approximately 50-fold enriched in each of the respective receptors, as determined by quantitative Western blotting. The immunoisolated membranes are also enriched in the other MPR, as well as in the asialoglycoprotein receptor. They contain significantly lower levels of enzyme activities representative of the plasma membrane (5' nucleotidase) or the Golgi complex (galactosyltransferase and sialyltransferase). There is little or no enrichment for either the lysosomal enzymes beta-hexosaminidase and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, or the mitochondrial enzyme succinate-tetrazolium reductase. These data, together with electron microscopy of the immunoisolated material, suggest that the bulk of MPR-containing membranes we have isolated from bovine liver correspond to endosomes. Analysis by SDS-PAGE indicates that several proteins, including two with apparent molecular weights of 170 K and 400 K, are significantly enriched in the purified fractions and may represent potential markers for MPR-containing endosomes.
Animals↗
A quantitative analysis of the endocytic pathway in baby hamster kidney cells.
A morphological analysis of the compartments of the endocytic pathway in baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells has been made using the fluid-phase marker horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The endocytic structures labeled after increasing times of endocytosis have been identified and their volume and surface densities measured. In the first 2 min of HRP uptake the volume density of the labeled structures increased rapidly and thereafter remained constant for the next 13-18 min. This plateau represents the volume density of endosome organelles and accounts for 0.65% of the cytoplasmic volume (or 6.8 microns 3 per cell). The labeled structures consist of tubular-cisternal elements which are frequently observed in continuity with 300-400 nm vesicles. After 15-20 min of internalization the volume density of HRP-labeled structures again increased rapidly and reached a second plateau between 30 and 60 min of labeling. This second increase corresponded to detectable levels of HRP reaching later, acid phosphatase (AcPase)-reactive compartments. These structures, comprising the prelysosomes and lysosomes, were mostly vesicular and collectively accounted for 3.5% of the cytoplasmic volume (or 37 microns 3 per cell). The absolute peripheral surface areas of the two classes of organelles (endosomes and prelysosomes/lysosomes) were estimated to be 430 and 370 microns 2 per cell, respectively. The volume of fluid internalized in the first 2 min of uptake was five- to sevenfold less than the volume of the compartment labeled in this time. To account for these results we propose that, after uptake from the cell surface, HRP is delivered to, and diluted in, endosomes that are preexisting organelles initially devoid of the marker. With increasing times of endocytosis the concentration of HRP in the early endosomes increases, as more of the marker enters this compartment. An elevation in HRP concentration in endosomes during the early time points was shown directly using anti-HRP antibodies and colloidal gold on cryosections. The stereological values given in the present study, in combination with earlier studies, provide a minimum estimate for both the total surface area of membranes and the rate of membrane synthesis in a BHK cell.
Animals↗
Meeting of the apical and basolateral endocytic pathways of the Madin-Darby canine kidney cell in late endosomes.
Electron microscopic approaches have been used to study the endocytic pathways from the apical and basolateral surface domains of the polarized epithelial cell, MDCK strain I, grown on polycarbonate filters. The cells were incubated at 37 degrees C in the presence of two distinguishable markers administered separately to the apical or the basolateral domain. Initially each marker was visualized within distinct apical or basolateral peripheral endosomes. However, after 15 min at 37 degrees C, both markers were observed within common perinuclear structures. The compartment in which meeting first occurred was shown to be a late endosome (prelysosome) that labeled extensively with antibodies against the cation-independent mannose-6-phosphate receptor (MPR) on cryosections. With increasing incubation times, markers passed from these MPR-positive structures into a common set of MPR-negative lysosomes that were mainly located in the apical half of the cell. A detailed quantitative analysis of the endocytic pathways was carried out using stereological techniques in conjunction with horseradish peroxidase and acid phosphatase cytochemistry. This enabled us to estimate the absolute volumes and membrane surface areas of the endocytic organelles involved in apical and basolateral endocytosis.
Acid Phosphatase↗
The safe disposal of clinical waste.
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Medical Waste↗
The structure and function of a mannose 6-phosphate receptor-enriched, pre-lysosomal compartment in animal cells.
The characteristics of a distinct prelysosomal compartment, evident in many animal cells, are described. The main feature of this compartment is that it is an acidic, tubulo-vesicular late endosome structure that contains high concentrations of the cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor. The pathway to the lysosomes from the early endosomes, as well as that of newly synthesized lysosomal proteins from the trans-Golgi network, appear to converge in this prelysosomal compartment.
Animals↗
Intracellular localization of the glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C of Trypanosoma brucei.
Glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (GPI-PLC) is a membrane-bound enzyme of bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei, which cleaves the GPI-membrane anchor of the variant surface glycoprotein forming diacylglycerol and 1,2-cyclic phosphate on the inositol ring. The cellular localization of the enzyme was studied by fractionation of sub-cellular organelles and immunofluorescence microscopy and was found to be primarily cytoplasmic. This was confirmed by immuno-electron microscopy using cryo-sections, which showed that the labelling was predominantly on the cytoplasmic side of intracellular membranes but was absent from the plasma membrane including the region lining the flagellar pocket. The significance of these results for the possible function of the phospholipase is discussed.
Animals↗
The infection control team and quality control.
Experience and research over the last twenty years has shown that an organised team approach is needed to reduce hospital acquired infection and prevent outbreaks. This team must be able to influence the behaviour of health care workers and can be compared with the work of quality control in an industry. Much more emphasis is now placed on the measurement of quality of care. The Japanese are to be commended for their 'quality circle' approach which has certainly changed the attitude of the rest of the world to the 'Made in Japan' label.
Central Supply, Hospital↗
The structure of organelles of the endocytic pathway in hydrated cryosections of cultured cells.
The structure of cellular organelles, in particular those involved in endocytosis, was studied by electron microscopy with hydrated cryosections. In this technique no chemical treatment is used, and the native structure of organelles can be observed in sections viewed at temperatures below -140 degrees C, using a cold stage accessory on the electron microscope. The compartments of the endocytic pathway were prelabeled with gold markers in the living cell, facilitating the identification of different structures in the cryosections. The structure of most identifiable cellular organelles, including those involved in endocytosis, appeared very similar in the hydrated cryosections to that seen after conventional plastic and cryosections of chemically fixed cells. In particular, the internal membranes of the structure we refer to as the prelysosomal compartment (Griffiths et al., Cell 52, 329-341 (1988] could be clearly visualized in these sections indicating that the organization of these membranes is not a consequence of the chemical fixation process.
Animals↗
Making music. Interview by Tim Rice.
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Humans↗
Delta 6- and delta 12-desaturase activities and phosphatidic acid formation in microsomal preparations from the developing cotyledons of common borage (Borago officinalis).
Microsomal membrane preparations from the maturing cotyledons of common borage (Borago officinalis) exhibit delta 12- and delta 6-desaturase activities, which resulted in the synthesis of linoleate and gamma-linolenate respectively. The desaturase enzymes utilized the complex lipid substrate phosphatidylcholine. The activity of these enzymes was sufficiently high to allow the monitoring of the mass changes in the endogenous oleate, linoleate and gamma-linolenate in the microsomal phosphatidylcholine in the presence of NADH (i.e. under desaturating conditions). The results illustrate that the delta 12-desaturase uses the oleate substrate at both the sn-1 and -2 positions of sn-phosphatidylcholine, whereas the delta 6-desaturase is almost totally restricted to the linoleate at position 2 of the complex lipid. Estimate of the acyl-substrate pool size at position 2 of sn-phosphatidylcholine for both desaturases indicated that some 50% of the oleate and linoleate was available to the enzymes. The microsomes (microsomal fractions) had a somewhat impaired Kennedy [(1961) Fed. Proc. Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol. 20, 934-940] pathway for the formation of triacylglycerols when compared with other oil-rich plant species that have been studied [Stymne & Stobart (1987) The Biochemistry of Plants: a Comprehensive Treatise (Stumpf, P.K., ed.), vol. 10, chapter 8, pp. 175-214, Academic Press, New York]. In the presence of sn-glycerol 3-phosphate and acyl-CoA, large quantities of phosphatidic acid accumulated in the membranes. Acyl-selectivity studies on the glycerol-acylating enzymes showed that gamma-linolenate could be acylated to both the sn-1 and sn-2 positions of sn-glycerol 3-phosphate. However, stereochemical analysis of the acyl components of the sn-triacylglycerol obtained from mature seeds indicated that, whereas no gamma-linolenate was present at the sn-1 position, it accounted for over 50% of the fatty acids at position sn-3. The results indicate that the diacylglycerol acyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.20) may show a strong selectivity for gamma-linolenoyl-CoA and hence result in the efficient removal of this fatty acid from the acyl-CoA pool in vivo, leaving negligible substrate for utilization by the sn-glycerol 3-phosphate acyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.15).
Acyl Coenzyme A↗
Spectroscopic determination of the band discontinuity in GaSb/AlSb multiple-quantum-well structures.
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Journal Article↗
The mannose 6-phosphate receptor and the biogenesis of lysosomes.
Localization of the 215 kd mannose 6-phosphate receptor (MPR) was studied in normal rat kidney cells. Low levels of receptor were detected in the trans Golgi network, Golgi stack, plasma membrane, and peripheral endosomes. The bulk of the receptor was localized to an acidic, reticular-vesicular structure adjacent to the Golgi complex. The structure also labeled with antibodies to lysosomal enzymes and a lysosomal membrane glycoprotein (lgp120). While lysosome-like, this structure is not a typical lysosome that is devoid of MPRs. The endocytic marker alpha 2 macroglobulin-gold entered the structure at 37 degrees C, but not at 20 degrees C. With prolonged chase, most of the marker was transported from the structure into lysosomes. We propose that the MPR/lgp-enriched structure is a specialized endosome (prelysosome) that serves as an intermediate compartment into which endocytic vesicles discharge their contents, and where lysosomal enzymes are released from the MPR and packaged along with newly synthesized lysosomal glycoproteins into lysosomes.
Animals↗
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↗