Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “CELL STRUCTURE”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources

Correlations between epidermal cell structure and endogenous hormone titers during the fifth larval instar of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta.

Epidermal cell morphology and cuticle production in Manduca sexta are directly influenced by both ecdysterone and juvenile hormone. Up to day 6 of the last larval instar, post-molt endocuticle is continuously deposited even though cells undergo a partial and temporary separation from the overlying cuticle at the time when a small ecdysteroid peak is detected (approximately day 3.5). At about days 6--7 when another, larger ecdysteroid peak is present, apolysis occurs accompanied by the appearance of edcysial droplets. Following apolysis, layers of pupal cuticle are deposited. Increased quantities of rough endoplasmic reticulum characterize the epidermis at times of peak endocuticle deposition (day 3, larval cuticle; day 9, pupal cuticle). Dense pigment inclusions are found in epidermis from the day of ecdysis to the last larval instar until they are eliminated 5 days later. These dense bodies migrate from cell apex to base in the absence of juvenile hormone (or in the presence of a negligible amount of juvenile hormone) and probably contain insecticyanin.

Animals↗

Isolation of a receptor tyrosine kinase (DTK) from embryonic stem cells: structure, genetic mapping and analysis of expression.

Analysis of receptor tyrosine kinases expressed during mouse embryonic stem cell differentiation resulted in the cloning of a receptor designated developmental tyrosine kinase (DTK). The 850 amino acid mature receptor protein comprises an extracellular domain with two immunoglobulin-like motifs and two fibronectin type III modules, a 25 amino acid transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic region with a catalytic kinase domain. In embryonic stem cells growing in the presence of leukemia inhibitory factor DTK is abundantly expressed and this level of expression is maintained in differentiating embryonic stem cells and cystic embryoid bodies. In mid-gestational embryos (E14.5), DTK RNA is expressed in many tissues including brain, eye, thymus, lung, heart, gut, liver, testis and limbs. In contrast, expression of DTK in adult mice becomes restricted to brain, portions of the gastrointestinal tract, bladder, testis and ovary. There is enrichment of transcripts encoding DTK in purified fetal liver hematopoietic stem cells, when compared with unfractionated fetal liver. The DTK gene maps to mouse chromosome 2, band F.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Lipid profiling reveals arachidonate deficiency in RAW264.7 cells: Structural and functional implications.

Glycerophospholipids containing arachidonic acid (20:4) serve as the precursors for an array of biologically active lipid mediators, most of which are produced by macrophages. We have applied mass spectrometry-based lipid profiling technology to evaluate the glycerophospholipid structure and composition of two macrophage populations, resident peritoneal macrophages and RAW264.7 cells, with regard to their potential for 20:4-based lipid mediator biosynthesis. Fatty acid analysis indicated that RAW264.7 cells were deficient in 20:4 (10 +/- 1 mol %) compared to peritoneal macrophages (26 +/- 1 mol %). Mass spectrometry of total glycerophospholipids demonstrated a marked difference in the distribution of lipid species, including reduced levels of 20:4-containing lipids, in RAW264.7 cells compared to peritoneal macrophages. Enrichment of RAW264.7 cells with 20:4 increased the fatty acid to 20 +/- 1 mol %. However, the distribution of the incorporated 20:4 remained different from that of peritoneal macrophages. RAW264.7 cells pretreated with granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor followed by lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma mobilized similar quantities of 20:4 and produced similar amounts of prostaglandins as peritoneal macrophages treated with LPS alone. LPS treatment resulted in detectable changes in specific 20:4-containing glycerophospholipids in peritoneal cells, but not in RAW264.7 cells. 20:4-enriched RAW264.7 cells lost 88% of the incorporated fatty acid during the LPS incubation without additional prostaglandin synthesis. These results illustrate that large differences in glycerophospholipid composition may exist, even in closely related cell populations, and demonstrate the importance of interpreting the potential for lipid-mediator biosynthesis in the context of overall glycerophospholipid composition.

Animals↗

Role of non-histones in chromosome structure. Cell cycle variations in protein synthesis.

As part of a study of the role of non-histone proteins in chromosome structure, the synthesis of non-histones associated with interphase chromatin was investigated. Synchronized suspension cultures of HeLa cells were pulse-labeled with [35S]methionine, and chromatin was prepared by mild micrococcal nuclease digestion. Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, in addition to one-dimensional electrophoresis, was used to resolve the patterns of incorporation of radioactive label. Significant variations in non-histone synthesis were seen during the cell cycle. A strong correlation was not found between DNA synthesis in mid-S phase and variations in non-histone synthesis. The non-histone proteins of purified metaphase chromosomes were also characterized by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and compared to the proteins of interphase chromatin. The pattern of non-histones is not identical with that of interphase chromatin, although a number of major species may be shared by interphase chromatin and metaphase chromosomes. The HeLa nuclear scaffold, the framework that maintains the overall morphology of the interphase nucleus, shows relatively few proteins on two-dimensional gels. The synthesis of nuclear scaffold proteins was quantitated by excising each of 19 proteins from two-dimensional gels and determining the incorporated radioactivity by scintillation counting. Substantial variations in protein synthesis were found, with several species showing changes of about 2-fold in the percentage of incorporation.

Cell Cycle↗

Rv1818c-encoded PE_PGRS protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is surface exposed and influences bacterial cell structure.

Identification of the novel PE multigene family was an unexpected finding of the genomic sequencing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Presently, the biological role of the PE and PE_PGRS proteins encoded by this unique family of mycobacterial genes remains unknown. In this report, a representative PE_PGRS gene (Rv1818c/PE_PGRS33) was selected to investigate the role of these proteins. Cell fractionation studies and fluorescence analysis of recombinant strains of Mycobacterium smegmatis and M. tuberculosis expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged proteins indicated that the Rv1818c gene product localized in the mycobacterial cell wall, mostly at the bacterial cell poles, where it is exposed to the extracellular milieu. Further analysis of this PE_PGRS protein showed that the PE domain is necessary for subcellular localization. In addition, the PGRS domain, but not PE, affects bacterial shape and colony morphology when Rv1818c is overexpressed in M. smegmatis and M. tuberculosis. Taken together, the results indicate that PE_PGRS and PE proteins can be associated with the mycobacterial cell wall and influence cellular structure as well as the formation of mycobacterial colonies. Regulated expression of PE genes could have implications for the survival and pathogenesis of mycobacteria within the human host and in other environmental niches.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

Monte Carlo simulation of diffusion and reaction in two-dimensional cell structures.

Diffusion and reaction processes control the dynamics of many different biological systems. For example, tissue respiration can be limited by the delivery of oxygen to the cells and to the mitochondria. In this case, oxygen is small and travels quickly compared with the mitochondria, which can be considered as immobile reactive traps in the cell cytoplasm. A Monte Carlo theoretical investigation quantifying the interplay of diffusion, reaction, and structure on the reaction rate constant is reported here for diffusible particles in two-dimensional, reactive traps. The placement of traps in overlapping, nonoverlapping, and clustered spatial arrangements can have a large effect on the rate constant when the process is diffusion limited. However, under reaction-limited conditions the structure has little effect on the rate constant. For the same trap fractions and reactivities, nonoverlapping traps have the highest rate constants, overlapping traps yield intermediate rate constants, and clustered traps have the lowest rate constants. An increase in the particle diffusivity in the traps can increase the rate constant by reducing the time required by the particles to reach reactive sites. Various diffusive, reactive, and structural conditions are evaluated here, exemplifying the versatility of the Monte Carlo technique.

Algorithms↗

Effects of antisecretory agents on parietal cell structure and H/K-ATPase levels in rabbit gastric mucosa in vivo.

The effect of inhibition of acid secretion on parietal cell morphology and the concentration of H,K-ATPase alpha-subunit protein was determined by electron microscopy and western blotting. Omeprazole or famotidine alone or in combination were used. Control animals showed a morphological stimulation index (0 = resting, 1.0 = fully stimulated) of 0.60; omeprazole treatment (1 mg/kg, twice a day) resulted a stimulation index of 0.63, famotidine injection (20 mg/kg twice a day) an index of 0.11, famotidine infusion (0.2 mg/hr) for five days an index of 0.38, and the combination of omeprazole and famotidine injection twice a day gave an index of 0.02. No change in the frequency of degenerating or damaged parietal cells was observed in any of the groups. In control animals, the number of lysosomes was 0.9/cell, with famotidine 1.8 and with omeprazole 5.6/cell. H/K-ATPase levels fell by about 25% with omeprazole and rose by about 23% with famotidine.

Animals↗

Disruption of spermatogenesis and Sertoli cell structure and function by the indenopyridine CDB-4022 in rats.

The present studies were undertaken to determine the testicular cell type(s) affected by the antispermatogenic indenopyridine CDB-4022. At the oral threshold dose (2.5 mg/kg), CDB-4022 induced infertility in all males. CDB-4022 did not alter (P > 0.05) Leydig cell function as assessed by circulating testosterone, seminal vesicle, and ventral prostate weights or body weight gain compared to controls. Conversely, CDB-4022 reduced (P < 0.05) testicular weight, spermatid head counts, and percentage of seminiferous tubules undergoing spermatogenesis. In a second study, adult male rats received a maximally effective oral dose of CDB-4022 (12.5 mg/kg), dipentylphthalate (DPP; 2200 mg/kg; a Sertoli cell toxicant), or vehicle and were necropsied 3, 6, or 12 h after dosing to determine acute effects. Serum inhibin B levels were suppressed (P < 0.05) by 6 h after CDB-4022 or DPP treatment, but epididymal androgen-binding protein (ABP) levels were not altered (P > 0.05), compared to controls. CDB-4022 and DPP increased (P < 0.05) the percentage of tubules with apoptotic germ cells, particularly differentiating spermatogonia and spermatocytes, by 12 h after dosing. Microscopic examination of the testis indicated a greater degree of vacuolation in Sertoli cells and initial signs of apical germ cell sloughing/shedding by 3 or 12 h after CDB-4022 or DPP treatment, respectively. In a third study, prepubertal male rats were treated with vehicle, 12.5 mg/kg of CDB-4022, or 2200 mg/kg of DPP, and the efferent ducts of the right testis were ligated 23 h before necropsy. Seminiferous tubule fluid secretion (difference in weight of testes), serum inhibin B levels, and ABP levels in the unligated epididymis were reduced (P < 0.05) at 24 and 48 h after dosing in CDB-4022- and DPP-treated rats compared to controls. Collectively, these data suggest that CDB-4022 disrupts spermatogenesis by inducing apoptosis in early stage germ cells via a direct action on the Sertoli cell.

Androgen-Binding Protein↗

The influence of cholesterol and lipid metabolism on host cell structure and hepatitis C virus replication.

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) replicates on a membrane protein complex composed of viral proteins, replicating RNA, and altered cellular membranes. Small-molecule inhibitors of cellular lipid-cholesterol metabolism such as 25-hydroxycholesterol, cerulenin, lovastatin, and GGTI-286 all show a negative effect on HCV replication. Perturbation of host cell lipid and cholesterol metabolism can disrupt replication complexes by altering membranous structures where replication occurs. Changes in cholesterol and (or) lipid composition can have a general effect on membrane structure. Alternatively, metabolic changes can exert a more subtle influence over replication complexes by altering localization of host proteins through alterations in lipid anchoring. Here, we use Huh-7 cells harboring subgenomic HCV replicons to demonstrate that 25-hydroxycholesterol, cerulenin, lovastatin, and GGTI-286 do not disrupt the membranous web where replication occurs, whereas cholesterol-depleting agents such as beta-cyclodextrin do. Cellular imaging suggests that the HCV RNA can remain associated with subcellular compartments connected with replication complexes in the presence of metabolic inhibitors. Therefore, at least 2 different molecular mechanisms are possible for the inhibition of HCV replication through the modulation of cellular lipid and cholesterol metabolism.

Anticholesteremic Agents↗