Biomedical subjects

W W Webb

Publications and source records attributed to W W Webb.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1995

Two classes of alamethicin transmembrane channels: molecular models from single-channel properties.

Molecular structures of transmembrane channels formed by alamethicin polypeptide aggregates were analyzed by measuring open-channel conductances and state-transition kinetics using voltage-clamp technique with artificial phospholipid bilayers isolated onto micropipettes by a novel solvent-free tip-dip method. Two distinct classes of alamethicin channels, each with a unique set of conductance states and kinetic properties, were identified. Alamethicin Rf50 at low temperatures forms mostly nonpersistent channels with lifetimes of < 1 min. Long-lasting persistent channels are formed by alamethicin Rf30 at all temperatures and by alamethicin Rf50 at room temperature. In the "modified barrel-stave" model for persistent channels based on the crystalline alamethicin secondary structure, the aqueous pore of the channel surrounded by parallel alamethicin monomers has a constriction generated by amino acid side chains protruding from the alamethicin helices into the pore. The model explains quantitatively the nonohmic channel conductance at high applied voltages and the conductance values and ion selectivities of various persistent channel states. The kinetic properties of nonpersistent channels are explained qualitatively by the "reversed-molecule" model in which nonpersistent channels differ from persistent channels by having one of the channel-forming alamethicin monomers oriented antiparallel to the others.

Alamethicin↗

PubMed1995

Molecular dynamics of alamethicin transmembrane channels from open-channel current noise analysis.

Conductance noise measurement of the open states of alamethicin transmembrane channels reveals excess noise attributable to cooperative low-frequency molecular dynamics that can generate fluctuations approximately 1 A rms in the effective channel pore radius. Single-channel currents through both persistent and nonpersistent channels with multiple conductance states formed by purified polypeptide alamethicin in artificial phospholipid bilayers isolated onto micropipettes with gigaohm seals were recorded using a voltage-clamp technique with low background noise (rms noise < 3 pA up to 20 kHz). Current noise power spectra between 100 Hz and 20 kHz of each open channel state showed little frequency dependence. Noise from undetected conductance state transitions was insignificant. Johnson and shot noises were evaluated. Current noise caused by electrolyte concentration fluctuation via diffusion was isolated by its dependence on buffer concentration. After removing these contributions, significant current noise remains in all persistent channel states and increases in higher conductance states. In nonpersistent channels, remaining noise occurs primarily in the lowest two states. These fluctuations of channel conductance are attributed to thermal oscillations of the channel molecular conformation and are modeled as a Langevin translational oscillation of alamethicin molecules moving radially from the channel pore, damped mostly by lipid bilayer viscosity.

Alamethicin↗

PubMed1995

Three-dimensionally resolved NAD(P)H cellular metabolic redox imaging of the in situ cornea with two-photon excitation laser scanning microscopy.

Three-dimensional maps of cellular metabolic oxidation/reduction states of rabbit cornea in situ were obtained by imaging the fluorescence of the naturally occurring reduced pyridine nucleotides (both reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide, NADH, and reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate, NADPH, denoted here as NAD(P)H). Autofluorescence images with submicrometre lateral resolution were obtained throughout the entire 400 microns thickness of the cornea. Two-photon excitation scanning laser microscopy with near-infrared excitation provided high fluorescence collection efficiency, reduced photodamage, and eliminated ultraviolet chromatic aberration, all of which have previously degraded the visualization of pyridine nucleotide fluorescence. Sharp autofluorescence images of the basal epithelium (40 microns within the cornea) show substantial subcellular detail, providing the ability to monitor autofluorescence intensity changes over time, which reflect changes in oxidative metabolism and cellular dynamics necessary for maintenance of the ocular surface. The autofluorescence was confirmed to be mostly of NAD(P)H origin by cyanide exposure, which increased the fluorescence from all cell types in the cornea by about a factor of two. Autofluorescence images of individual keratocytes in the stroma were observed only after cyanide treatment, while in the predominant extracellular collagen (> 90% of the stromal volume), fluorescence was not distinguished from the background. Observation of keratocyte metabolism demonstrates the sensitivity made available by two-photon microscopy for future redox fluorescence imaging of cellular metabolic states.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Gastroparesis: current management.

Gastroparesis is delayed gastric emptying of either solids or liquids, which occurs in the absence of mechanical obstruction. Although associated with many diseases, the most frequent cause of gastroparesis is diabetes mellitus. It is estimated that up to 50% of diabetic patients may have this problem. Symptoms of gastroparesis include postprandial nausea, epigastric pain/burning, bloating, early satiety, excessive eructation, anorexia and vomiting. The vomiting associated with gastroparesis often has the following two features: (1) emesis of undigested foods ingested more than four hours previous; and (2) emesis of undigested foods in the middle of the night or in the morning prior to eating breakfast. It is important to recognize and treat gastroparesis not only to decrease symptoms but also to prevent bezoar formation and nutritional deficiencies as well as to improve glycemic control in brittle diabetics. The purpose of this article is to review the physiology of gastric emptying and to use this information to understand the pharmacological therapies for this debilitating problem.

Gastroparesis↗

PubMed1994

Imaging of total intracellular calcium and calcium influx and efflux in individual resting and stimulated tumor mast cells using ion microscopy.

Ion microscopy was employed to investigate intracellular total calcium concentrations and calcium influx, and efflux in resting and antigen-stimulated tumor mast cells (RBL-2H3 cells). The nucleus, a perinuclear region which included the Golgi apparatus (Golgi region), and the remaining cytoplasm were spatially resolved with the Cameca IMS-3f ion microscope in cryogenically prepared cells. In resting cells the nucleus contained about 0.60 mM, the Golgi region about 1.2 mM, and the remaining cytoplasm about 1.0 mM total calcium. Antigen stimulation of rat basophilic leukemia cells resulted in a significant loading of calcium in all three cellular compartments. Antigen stimulation in the absence of extracellular calcium resulted in a significant loss of total calcium from all three intracellular compartments. Influx and efflux of calcium were measured simultaneously in resting and stimulated cells by using stable 44Ca in the extracellular solution, and by imaging mass 40 to determine the native intracellular calcium (40Ca) and mass 44 to localize the 44Ca that entered the cell from extracellular solution. After a 10-min incubation, 0.240 fmol of the total calcium per cell had been replaced with 44Ca, which amounts to about 33% of the total cell calcium. If antigen was present during this incubation there was an additional loss of 0.229 fmol of 40Ca and an added gain of 0.476 fmol of 44Ca per cell, which corresponds to a net increase in total intracellular calcium of 0.247 fmol.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Disparate modulation of plasma membrane protein lateral mobility by various cell permeabilizing agents.

The mobility of a cell surface protein on cells osmotically swollen by treatment with several different cell permeabilizing agents retains specific restraints despite detachment of the plasma membrane from the cortical cytoskeleton. Fluorescence photobleaching recovery experiments indicate that the lateral diffusion constants of immunoglobulin E (IgE)-receptor complexes on the surface of rat basophilic leukemia cells increase 2-5x following permeabilization with streptolysin O or digitonin, with little change in their mobile fractions. Swelling by hypo-osmotic treatment in water enhances lateral diffusion of IgE-receptor complexes and raises the mobile fractions to near 100%. In contrast, swelling by treatment with filipin arrests lateral diffusion, although rotational mobility remains unhindered. Lateral mobility of a fluorescent lipid analogue remains unchanged under these conditions. Crosslinking by anti-IgE antibodies redistributes the IgE-receptor complexes into large patches on untreated cells and on cells swollen by permeabilization with streptolysin O or digitonin, but not on cells swollen by treatment with filipin. The results indicate a diversity of effects of the various permeabilizing agents on the mobility of membrane proteins. In particular, treatment with filipin appears to reorganize the plasma membrane into a network of fluid domains on a scale smaller than the bleaching spot size used (approximately 1.5 microns).

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Redistribution of plasma membrane proteins by electroosmosis elicits cytosolic calcium response in tumor mast cells.

Activation of mast cells and basophils by binding of ligands that crosslink and micro-aggregate cell surface receptors leads to a series of responses including a phosphoinositide cascade, elevation of intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i), morphological changes in the cell plasma membrane, and ultimately, exocytosis of granules containing histamine and other mediators of the allergic response. In rat basophilic leukemia (RBL) cells, a tumor mast cell line, stimulation by immunoglobulin E receptor crosslinking induces these responses. In order to determine whether redistribution or aggregation of cell surface proteins is sufficient to induce a response in these cells without extrinsic crosslinking, we have redistributed cell surface proteins by electroosmotic segregation and looked for second messenger [Ca2+]i responses. Video imaging of calcium ion activity using the fluorescent calcium sensitive dye fura-2 revealed the effects of receptor motion and aggregation induced by application of small (10 V/cm) electric fields. A synchronous, monotonic rise in [Ca2+]i generally occurs within a few minutes after a steady field has been applied, while the redistribution of surface proteins is still in progress. The oscillations in [Ca2+]i characteristic of antigen-stimulated cells are not seen, nor are any effects observed in weak alternating fields (0.02, 60 Hz). The observed rise in [Ca2+]i induced by static electric fields is attributed to perturbation of [Ca2+]i regulation by the large-scale redistribution of membrane constituents induced by surface electroosmosis.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Transduction of membrane tension by the ion channel alamethicin.

Mechanoelectrical transduction in biological cells is generally attributed to tension-sensitive ion channels, but their mechanisms and physiology remain controversial due to the elusiveness of the channel proteins and potential cytoskeletal interactions. Our discovery of membrane tension sensitivity in ion channels formed by the protein alamethicin reconstituted into pure lipid membranes has demonstrated two simple physical mechanisms of cytoskeleton-independent transduction. Single channel analysis has shown that membrane tension energizes mechanical work for changes of conductance state equal to tension times the associated increase in membrane area. Results show a approximately 40 A2 increase in pore area and transfer of an 80-A2 polypeptide into the membrane. Both mechanisms may be implicated in mechanical signal transduction by cells.

Alamethicin↗

PubMed1994

Lipid-glass adhesion in giga-sealed patch-clamped membranes.

Adhesion between patch-clamped lipid membranes and glass micropipettes is measured by high contrast video imaging of the mechanical response to the application of suction pressure across the patch. The free patch of membrane reversibly alters both its contact angle and radius of curvature on pressure changes. The assumption that an adhesive force between the membrane and the pipette can sustain normal tension up to a maximum Ta at the edge of the free patch accounts for the observed mechanical responses. When the normal component of the pressure-induced membrane tension exceeds Ta membrane at the contact point between the free patch and the lipid-glass interface is pulled away from the pipette wall, resulting in a decreased radius of curvature for the patch and an increased contact angle. Measurements of the membrane radius of curvature as a function of the suction pressure and pipette radius determine line adhesion tensions Ta which range from 0.5 to 4.0 dyn/cm. Similar behavior of patch-clamped cell membranes implies similar adhesion mechanics.

Adhesiveness↗

PubMed1994

Automated detection and tracking of individual and clustered cell surface low density lipoprotein receptor molecules.

We have developed a technique to detect, recognize, and track each individual low density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R) molecule and small receptor clusters on the surface of human skin fibroblasts. Molecular recognition and high precision (30 nm) simultaneous automatic tracking of all of the individual receptors in the cell surface population utilize quantitative time-lapse low light level digital video fluorescence microscopy analyzed by purpose-designed algorithms executed on an image processing work station. The LDL-Rs are labeled with the biologically active, fluorescent LDL derivative dil-LDL. Individual LDL-Rs and unresolved small clusters are identified by measuring the fluorescence power radiated by the sub-resolution fluorescent spots in the image; identification of single particles is ascertained by four independent techniques. An automated tracking routine was developed to track simultaneously, and without user intervention, a multitude of fluorescent particles through a sequence of hundreds of time-lapse image frames. The limitations on tracking precision were found to depend on the signal-to-noise ratio of the tracked particle image and mechanical drift of the microscope system. We describe the methods involved in (i) time-lapse acquisition of the low-light level images, (ii) simultaneous automated tracking of the fluorescent diffraction limited punctate images, (iii) localizing particles with high precision and limitations, and (iv) detecting and identifying single and clustered LDL-Rs. These methods are generally applicable and provide a powerful tool to visualize and measure dynamics and interactions of individual integral membrane proteins on living cell surfaces.

Algorithms↗

PubMed1994

Large-scale co-aggregation of fluorescent lipid probes with cell surface proteins.

Large scale aggregation of fluorescein-labeled immunoglobulin E (IgE) receptor complexes on the surface of RBL cells results in the co-aggregation of a large fraction of the lipophilic fluorescent probe 3,3'-dihexadecylindocarbocyanine (diI) that labels the plasma membranes much more uniformly in the absence of receptor aggregation. Most of the diI molecules that are localized in patches of aggregated receptors have lost their lateral mobility as determined by fluorescence photobleaching recovery. The diI outside of patches is mobile, and its mobility is similar to that in control cells without receptor aggregates. It is unlikely that the co-aggregation of diI with IgE receptors is due to specific interactions between these components, as two other lipophilic probes of different structures are also observed to redistribute with aggregated IgE receptors, and aggregation of two other cell surface antigens also results in the coredistribution of diI at the RBL cell surface. Quantitative analysis of CCD images of labeled cells reveals some differences in the spatial distributions of co-aggregated diI and IgE receptors. The results indicate that cross-linking of specific cell surface antigens causes a substantial change in the organization of the plasma membrane by redistributing pre-existing membrane domains or causing their formation.

Carbocyanines↗

PubMed1994

Two-photon molecular excitation provides intrinsic 3-dimensional resolution for laser-based microscopy and microphotochemistry.

With the development of sensitive and specific fluorescent indicators, modern laser scanning microscopies enable visualization and measurement of submicron, dynamic processes inside living cells and tissues. Here we describe the working principles of new, nonlinear laser microscopies based on two-photon molecular excitation. In these techniques, a pulsed laser produces peak photon densities high enough that when focused into an appropriate medium, excitation by photon energy combinations can occur. For example, two red photons interacting simultaneously with a fluorescent molecule can excite within it a UV electronic transition, one corresponding to twice the energy of each single photon. Because the amount of two-photon excitation depends on the square of the local illumination intensity, this process exhibits a unique localization to the diffraction-limited spot of the beam focus. Elsewhere along the beam, excitation of background and photodamage is virtually nonexistent. Focal point localization of two-photon excitation lends to all visualization, measurement, and photopharmacology studies an intrinsic, three-dimensional resolution. We describe some preliminary biological applications, specifically, imaging of vital DNA stains in developing cells and embryos, imaging of cellular metabolic activity from NADH autofluorescence, spatially resolved measurements of cytoplasmic calcium ion activity, and optically induced micropharmacology using caged bioeffector molecules.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

A confocal laser scanning microscope designed for indicators with ultraviolet excitation wavelengths.

In this paper we describe the modifications necessary to upgrade, at affordable cost, a commercially available confocal laser scanning microscope for use with ultraviolet (UV) excitation. The optical problems associated with these modifications are described in detail, and easy solutions to solve them are suggested. The optical resolution of the instrument was tested with fluorescent beads and was found to be close to diffraction limited. The light losses due to lateral chromatic aberration were assessed in a thick fluorescent specimen and were found to be comparable to those usually observed with visible light. For a more visual example of the resolution of this instrument, isolated ventricular heart muscle cells were loaded with the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator indo 1. This allowed us to visualize subcellular structural detail and to illustrate the optical sectioning capability of the UV confocal microscope when recording indo 1 emission. Dual-emission line scans were used to perform ratiometric time-resolved detection of Ca2+ transients in voltage-clamped heart muscle cells loaded with the salt form of indo 1. The system presented in this paper should significantly broaden the range of fluorescent indicators that can be used in confocal microscopy.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Endosomal accumulation of pH indicator dyes delivered as acetoxymethyl esters.

Intracellular distributions of the putative cytosolic pH indicator dyes BCECF [2',7'-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5(and 6)-carboxyfluorescein], C.SNARF [5(and 6)-carboxy-seminaphthorhodafluor-1], and C.SNARF-calcein have been examined in Neurospora crassa and in murine fibroblasts (NIH-3T3 cells) under conditions in which both kinds of cells produce visible microscopic vacuoles. All three dyes were administered in electroneutral forms, with the hydroxyl and carboxyl groups esterified (designated as -AM esters). As judged qualitatively from fluorescence levels, hydrolytic derivatives of the two heavily esterified dyes (BCECF-AM and C.SNARF-calcein-AM) accumulated in the vacuoles after exposures of approximately 15 min or more, while the simpler dye (C.SNARF-AM) and its derivatives were almost excluded from visible vacuoles. Fluorescence from this dye, alone among the three, also washed out of Neurospora rapidly upon removal of extracellular dye. There was no evidence for stable accumulation of any of the dyes in cytosol per se. For BCECF(-AM), comparison of the distribution of fluorescence with the size distribution of vacuoles in Neurospora strongly suggests that the dyes are also accumulated by endomembranal vesicles (EMVs) which lie below the limit of resolution in the light microscope, and the same inference can be drawn for the fibroblasts. Uptake of -AM dyes by EMVs, including frank vacuoles, probably results from the action of intravesicular esterases, following diffusional entry of lipophilic neutral molecules or partially de-esterified anions. Calculations of actual cytosolic pH values, or even changes of pH, based on intracellular fluorescence of these dyes, clearly depend upon quantitative knowledge of the subcellular dye distribution. Therefore, until the problem is reliably solved of how to visualize submicroscopic vesicles in living cells, the safest approach to the use of BCECF, C-SNARF and their congeners for cytosolic pH measurement would be to devise methods for coaxing uptake of the ionic forms of these dyes and to abandon use of the esterified forms.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Forward and reverse transduction at the limit of sensitivity studied by correlating electrical and mechanical fluctuations in frog saccular hair cells.

The spontaneous fluctuations of the intracellular voltage and the position of the sensory hairbundle were measured concurrently using intracellular microelectrodes and an optical differential micro interferometer. Magnitude and frequency distribution of the hair bundles' spontaneous motion suggest that it consists mostly of Brownian motion. The electrical noise, however, exceeds the value expected for thermal Johnson noise by several orders of magnitude, and its frequency distribution reflects the transduction tuning properties of the hair cells. Frequently, a strong correlation was observed between the fluctuations of the hair bundle position and the intracellular electrical noise. From the properties of the correlation and from experiments involving mechanical stimulation we conclude that in most cases mechano-electrical transduction of the bundles' Brownian motion causes this correlation. Small signal transduction sensitivities ranged from 18 to 500 microV/nm. Bundle motion that was observed in response to current injection in more than half of the cells suggests the existence of a fast reverse (electro-mechanical) transduction mechanism to be common in these cells. The sensitivities could be as high as 600 pm of bundle deflection per millivolt of membrane potential change. In a significant minority (4 in 44) of cells, all showing excess electrical noise, we found 'non-causal' components of the electro-mechanical correlation, and in two of those cells narrow-band bundle motion in excess of their thermal motion at frequencies coincident with peaks in the intracellular noise was observed.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Effects of protein concentration on IgE receptor mobility in rat basophilic leukemia cell plasma membranes.

The ability of variations of membrane protein concentrations to modulate the lateral diffusion rate of an exemplary membrane protein has been studied in healthy and osmotically shocked cultured cells of the rat basophilic leukemia cell line, 2H3 subclone. Cell surface protein was redistributed by the method of in situ electrophoresis; exposure to electric fields of 1.25-5 V/cm results in cathodal migration of the majority of the surface proteins on this cell type (Ryan, T. A., J. Myers, D. Holowka, B. Baird, and W. W. Webb. Science [Wash. DC]. 239:61-64). Even in these small fields, the steady-state distribution becomes "crowded" with more than an 80% protein occupancy of accessible membrane area at the cathodal end of these spheroidal cells, and the anodal end becomes significantly depleted. We have employed fringe pattern fluorescence photobleaching with CCD imaging detection to measure lateral diffusion coefficients of the liganded IgE receptor on both crowded and uncrowded regions of individual rat basophilic leukemia cells. We find no significant difference in lateral diffusion rates in these regions. Cells swollen by hypoosmotic stress exhibit faster diffusion overall, with the uncrowded regions having a significantly greater increase in diffusion coefficient than the crowded regions. These results are consistent with the partial or total release of cytoskeletal constraints to membrane protein diffusion induced by osmotic stress.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Mechanical response of frog saccular hair bundles to the aminoglycoside block of mechanoelectrical transduction.

1. Deflections of the mechanosensory hair bundles on frog saccular hair cells were measured interferometrically, with submillisecond temporal and submicrometer spatial resolution, and with subnanometer displacement sensitivity. 2. The direction of the initial bundle deflection (toward the taller stereocilia) in response to a sudden application of aminoglycoside antibiotics shows that the mechanosensory channels are blocked in their mechanically open state. 3. The magnitude of the initial deflection is consistent with published data on the gating swing as derived from the gating compliance. 4. A delayed relaxation and frequently a reversal of the initial deflection were observed and are attributed to the previously reported mechanical adaptation mechanism, which is at least partially controlled by the influx of Ca2+ through the transduction channels. 5. Increases of low-frequency spontaneous motion were found at intermediate blocker concentrations. They can be well accounted for by the fluctuating force exerted on the bundle by the random binding and unbinding of blocker molecules. 6. The mechanical response of the hair bundle to aminoglycosides may be related to their acute and specific ototoxicity.

Aminoglycosides↗

PubMed1991

Calcium sequestration in the Golgi apparatus of cultured mammalian cells revealed by laser scanning confocal microscopy and ion microscopy.

Co-localization of the elements calcium, potassium, sodium and magnesium with sequestering organelles has been achieved by application of two microscopy techniques on the same cell. Organelles were first localized by laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCFM) using fluorescent organelle stains. The same cells were then analyzed for elemental distribution with ion microscopy. This approach has identified a perinuclear region of prominent total calcium concentration with the Golgi apparatus. Live cells were fluorescently stained with C6-NBD-ceramide for labeling the Golgi apparatus prior to cryogenic preparation and freeze-drying, and imaged with LSCFM for Golgi localization; identical cells were then analyzed with ion microscopy to image subcellular distributions of total calcium, potassium, sodium and magnesium. In three cell lines, LLC-PK1 porcine kidney epithelial cells, Swiss 3T3 mouse fibroblast cells and L5 rat myoblast cells, the Golgi regions contained significantly higher total calcium concentrations than any other region of the cell (as measured at the spatial resolution of ion microscopy of about 0.5 micron). Intracellular potassium, sodium and magnesium were homogeneously distributed throughout the cell and did not show this pattern. Measurements of depletion of calcium by exposure to calcium-free medium showed that the Golgi apparatus was substantially more resistant to calcium depletion than all other regions of these cells, but sequestered Ca2+ could be released from the Golgi by exposing the cells to calcium ionophore A23187. The Golgi apparatus appears to sequester about 5% of the total cell calcium in LLC-PK1 cells, about 2.5% in 3T3 cells and L5 cells.

4-Chloro-7-nitrobenzofurazan↗