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Biomedical subjects

R Feder

Publications and source records attributed to R Feder.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

X-ray holograms at improved resolution: a study of zymogen granules.

X-ray holography offers the possibility of three-dimensional microscopy with resolution higher than that of the light microscope and with contrast based on x-ray edges. In principle, the method is especially advantageous for biological samples if x-rays in the wavelength region between the carbon and oxygen K edges are used. However, until now the achieved resolution has not exceeded that of the light microscope because of the poor coherence properties of the x-ray sources and the low resolution of the detectors that were available. With a recently developed x-ray source based on an undulator on an electron storage ring, and high resolution x-ray resist, a hologram has been recorded at about 400-angstrom resolution. The experiment utilized x-rays with wavelengths of 24.7 angstroms and required a 1-hour exposure of the pancreatic zymogen granules under study.

Animals↗

Structure and organization of the histidine-rich protein gene of Plasmodium lophurae.

Recombinant cDNA clones representing the carboxy-terminal portion of the histidine-rich protein of Plasmodium lophurae and the 3' untranslated region of the mRNA have been sequenced. Histidine accounts for 78% of the predicted amino acid sequence. The DNA and protein sequences in this region differ significantly from published sequences deduced from cloned genomic DNA of P. lophurae. Sequence data from two independent cDNA clones, comparison of restriction endonuclease sites present in genomic DNA, genomic and cDNA clones, gene titrations, S1 nuclease digestion of cDNA-mRNA hybrids and comparison of predicted and published data for the amino acid composition of the histidine-rich protein all suggest that P. lophurae contains one histidine-rich protein gene and that the sequence of the 3' coding region of this gene has been correctly deduced from the cDNA clones.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Contact x-ray microscopy. A new technique for imaging cellular fine structure.

Contact x-ray microscopy potentially allows living, wet cells to be visualized at a resolution of up to 100 A. Furthermore, differential absorption by specific elements permits the study of the distribution of those elements in biological specimens. In contact x-ray microscopy, soft x-rays (10 A to 100 A) pass through a biological sample and expose an underlying x-ray sensitive polymer (resist), producing an image that reflects the photon absorbance within the specimen. The high penetrating power of soft x-ray enables images to be obtained from specimens up to several microns thick. In this paper, the technique is described, some of the areas currently under study are considered, and biological examples of the use of contact x-ray microscopy are given.

Animals↗

Direct imaging of live human platelets by flash x-ray microscopy.

A 100-nanosecond pulse of long-wavelength x-rays was used to produce high-resolution stop-motion images of living human platelets. Although some aspects of the structure conform to those seen in dehydrated specimens, novel features are apparent. The technique should permit detailed stop-motion examination of the interaction of platelets with their surrounding medium as well as exploration of the phagocytic and secretory activities of a wide variety of other cells.

Blood Platelets↗

Flash X-ray microscopy with a gas jet plasma source.

A novel flash X-ray source, the gas jet plasma source, has been used for contact X-ray microscopy. Using a wavelength range of 2-7 nm a resolution of the order of 30 nm can be obtained. The gas jet plasma source provides a new and unique tool which should allow future imaging of wet live cells.

Blood Platelets↗

In vitro biosynthesis and core glycosylation of the histidine-rich protein of Plasmodium lophurae.

We have characterized the early biosynthetic forms of the histidine-rich protein (HisRP), a major, granule-bound protein (Mr 58 000) of the avian malarial parasite Plasmodium lophurae. We have translated poly(A)-containing, size-selected parasite mRNA in the wheat germ cell-free system in the presence of [3H]histidine. HisRP was synthesized as a larger precursor (Mr 63 000). When dog pancreas microsomal membranes were present in the cell-free system during translation, a still larger form of HisRP (Mr 66 000) was detected. This larger form was segregated into the dog pancreas microsomal vesicles and was core glycosylated. Presumably, it corresponds to an intermediate form located in the parasite rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER). The difference in the Mr of approx. 8 000 between this RER associated 'pro' form and the granule-bound, mature form of HisRP suggests that proteolytic processing occurs upon transport from the RER to the granule. Segregation and core glycosylation were strictly coupled to translation and were not observed upon posttranslational addition of microsomal membranes. Thus, the early events in the biosynthesis of HisRP are similar to those established for secretory and lysosomal proteins.

Animals↗

Auditory hallucinations treated by radio headphones.

A young man with chronic auditory hallucinations was treated according to the principle that increasing external auditory stimulation decreases the likelihood of auditory hallucinations. Listening to a radio through stereo headphones in conditions of low auditory stimulation eliminated the patient's hallucinations.

Acoustic Stimulation↗