Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “CYTOPLASM”

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 397 records · Page 22Linked to original sources

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in inflammatory bowel disease: do they recognize different subsets of a heterogeneous disease?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in a series of patients with inflammatory bowel disease, the discriminatory value of these antibodies in differentiating between ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, their antigen specificity and their correlation with epidemiological and clinical variables. METHODS: Serum anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies were evaluated by indirect immunofluorescence and immunoblotting using neutrophils isolated from peripheral blood and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) using proteinase 3 and myeloperoxidase as antigens. RESULTS: Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies were detected by immunofluorescence in 43 (39.8%) of 108 patients with ulcerative colitis, in 11 (11.9%) of 92 patients with Crohn's disease (P < 0.001) and 5 (6.8%) of 73 control patients. The predominant pattern was perinuclear staining around neutrophil nuclei (44 of 59, 75%); a homogeneous cytoplasmic staining was present in 15 (25%) of 59 sera, mainly among Crohn's disease and control patients. The ELISAs gave no positive results. Recognition of proteins of relative molecular masses 27,000 and 49,000 at immunoblotting was common to ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and control sera. The proteins of relative molecular masses 32,000 and 106,000 were recognized exclusively by 11% of anti-neutrophil-positive ulcerative colitis sera. No significant correlation was found between the presence of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies and the demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients. CONCLUSION: Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies are detectable in a large proportion of patients with ulcerative colitis, but their prevalence in a limited proportion of patients with Crohn's disease reduces their discriminatory capability. The persistence of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies after total colectomy and the absence of a correlation between the activity of the disease and the presence or titre of these antibodies support the hypothesis that anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies are not simply an epiphenomenon of colonic inflammation.

Adult↗

Human CD6 possesses a large, alternatively spliced cytoplasmic domain.

Human CD6 is a monomeric 105/130-kDa T cell surface glycoprotein that is involved in T cell activation. The apparent discrepancy between the size of the cytoplasmic domain in human (44 amino acids) and mouse (243 amino acids) CD6, led us to use reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction of human peripheral blood lymphocyte mRNA to isolate cDNA clones that include the carboxyl-terminal coding region of human CD6. The nucleotide sequence of the longest human cDNA clone, CD6-PB1, predicts a protein of 668 amino acids with a 244-amino acid cytoplasmic domain similar in size to and possessing 71.5% amino acid sequence identity with the cytoplasmic domain of mouse CD6. This previously unrecognized 244-amino acid cytoplasmic domain does not have significant homology to any other known protein (except mouse CD6), but does possess two proline-rich motifs containing the SH3 domain-binding consensus sequence, a serine-threonine-rich motif repeated three times, three protein kinase C phosphorylation-site motifs, and 10 casein kinase-2 phosphorylation-site motifs. These sequences are likely to play a role in the ability of CD6-specific monoclonal antibodies to stimulate T cell proliferation. Full-length CD6 cDNA containing this cytoplasmic domain sequence encodes a monomeric 105/130-kDa protein that can be immunoprecipitated from the surface of transfected cells and comigrates upon SDS-PAGE with wild-type CD6 immunoprecipitated from PBL. We also isolated two alternatively spliced forms of human CD6 cDNA lacking sequences encoding membrane-proximal regions of the cytoplasmic domain which maintain the same reading frame as CD6-PB1. The short cytoplasmic domain of the previously reported human CD6-15 cDNA clone results from a deletion of a 20-bp segment through use of an alternative 3' splice site, resulting in a frame shift and premature termination of translation relative to the clones we have isolated. These data demonstrate that human CD6 possesses a large cytoplasmic domain containing sequence motifs that are likely to be involved in signal transduction upon stimulation of T cells through CD6 ligation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The effect of cytoplasmic domain mutations on membrane anchoring and glycoprotein processing of herpes simplex virus type 1 glycoprotein C.

The predicted amino acid sequence of herpes simplex virus type 1 glycoprotein C (HSV-1 gC) shows that it has the features of a typical type 1 integral membrane protein: a cleavable N-terminal signal sequence, a glycosylated ectodomain, a single transmembrane domain, and a small, charged cytoplasmic domain. In an earlier investigation of the function of the gC cytoplasmic domain, it was shown that the gC synthesized by a gC mutant, dl2, which lacked the last three residues of the transmembrane domain and the entire cytoplasmic domain, was initially synthesized as a membrane bound glycoprotein, but was not stably anchored in the plasma membrane. In this study, we generated a panel of four HSV-1 gC mutants with novel cytoplasmic domains in order to further delineate the role of this domain in stable anchoring and to investigate the role of charged residues in this process. The cytoplasmic domain mutants produced significant quantities of a novel precursor (pgC-86K), approximately 6K smaller than the wild-type gC precursor. The quantity of pgC-86K correlated with the number of positive charges in the cytoplasmic domain. Although the nature of the novel form of the precursor is unclear, its correlation with cytoplasmic domain charge suggests that an important function of this domain is to influence gC processing. Significantly, restoration of the carboxy-terminal 3 amino acids of the gC transmembrane domain restored the wild-type anchoring phenotype to gC, indicating that the cytoplasmic domain is not required for membrane anchoring. Further characterization of dl2 gC confirmed that this glycoprotein is not released from the membrane by proteolysis. We suggest that the addition of three additional hydrophobic residues to the dl2 transmembrane domain increases its hydrophobicity enough to stabilize membrane anchoring of the glycoprotein.

Amidohydrolases↗

Free cytoplasmic messenger ribonucleoprotein complexes from rabbit reticulocytes.

Free cytoplasmic globin mRNA containing mRNP-particles were isolated from rabbit reticulocytes by zonal sucrose gradient centrifugation and their properties were compared with mRNP particles isolated in the same way from EDTA-dissociated reticulocyte polyribosomes. The average poly(A)-length of 9S mRNA from free cytoplasmic mRNP was 17-20 nucleotides being about two times shorter than the average poly(A)-length of polysomal 9S mRNA. The protein composition of the free cytoplasmic mRNP particles disclosed the absence of the 76,000 dalton protein which is associated with the 3'poly(A)-segment of polysomal globin mRNA. It was concluded that free cytoplasmic mRNP-particles from rabbit reticulocytes can be classified as "old" mRNP in a post-translational phase. Free cytoplasmic mRNPs were translated in heterologous cell-free systems as well as in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Addition of hemin stimulated the synthesis of alpha-globin in all systems, while the presence of the cap analogue m7G(5')p inhibited translation of free cytoplasmic mRNA completely. The latter finding suggested that free cytoplasmic mRNA has a 5' terminal "cap". Shortening of the poly(A)-segment with concomitant loss of the 76,000 dalton protein may lead to less efficient translation of free cytoplasmic mRNP.

Animals↗

Somatic nucleus remodelling in immature and mature Rassir oocyte cytoplasm.

Successful production of cloned animals derived from somatic cells has been achieved in sheep, cattle, goats, mice, pigs, rabbits, etc. But the efficiency of nuclear transfer is very low in all species. The present study was conducted to examine somatic nucleus remodelling and developmental ability in vitro of rabbit embryos by transferring somatic cells into enucleated germinal vesicle (GV), metaphase I (MI) or metaphase II (MII) oocytes. Microtubules were organized around condensed chromosomes after the nucleus had been transferred into any of the three types of cytoplasm. A bipolar spindle was formed in enucleated MII cytoplasm. Most of the nuclei failed to form a normal spindle within GV and MI cytoplasm. Some chromosomes scattered throughout the cytoplasm and some formed a monopolar spindle. Pseudopronucleus formation was observed in all three types of cytoplasm. Reconstructed embryos with MI and MII cytoplasm could develop to blastcysts. Nuclei in GV cytoplasm could develop only to the 4-cell stage. These results suggest that (1) GV material is important for nucleus remodelling after nuclear transfer, and (2) oocyte cytoplasm has the capacity to dedifferentiate somatic cells during oocyte maturation.

Animals↗

Coordinate turnover of nuclear and cytoplasmic histone messenger RNA following inhibition of DNA replication in HeLa S3 cells.

We have examined the metabolism of human H4 histone mRNA in the nucleus and cytoplasm of HeLa S3 cells following inhibition of DNA synthesis to address the extent to which histone mRNA stability in these cellular compartments is coupled to DNA replication. The nuclear and cytoplasmic levels of histone mRNAs encoded by the pF0108A human H4 histone gene were determined by S1 nuclease analysis using a 32P-labeled probe that could distinguish pF0108A transcripts from those of other members of the H4 histone multigene family. Hydroxyurea treatment resulted within 15 min in a 75% reduction in the level of histone H4 mRNA in the nucleus, which corresponds to the 85% decrease observed for H4 histone mRNA in the cytoplasm. The kinetics of nuclear and cytoplasmic H4 mRNA turnover following hydroxyurea treatment were also similar. Northern blot analysis using a 32P-labeled mitochondrial cytochrome b probe indicated that the association of cytoplasmic RNA with the nuclear fraction was less than 0.5%. Treatment of cells with a protein synthesis inhibitor resulted in a 1.3-fold increase in nuclear H4 histone mRNA levels and a 1.5-fold increase of H4 mRNA in the cytoplasm after 45 min. Together, these results indicate that nuclear and cytoplasmic H4 histone mRNAs respond similarly to metabolic perturbations that influence message stability and that mechanisms operative in the turnover of histone mRNAs in the nucleus and cytoplasm may be similar.

Cell Cycle↗

Cytoplasmic domain structures of Kir2.1 and Kir3.1 show sites for modulating gating and rectification.

N- and C-terminal cytoplasmic domains of inwardly rectifying K (Kir) channels control the ion-permeation pathway through diverse interactions with small molecules and protein ligands in the cytoplasm. Two new crystal structures of the cytoplasmic domains of Kir2.1 (Kir2.1(L)) and the G protein-sensitive Kir3.1 (Kir3.1(S)) channels in the absence of PIP(2) show the cytoplasmic ion-permeation pathways occluded by four cytoplasmic loops that form a girdle around the central pore (G-loop). Significant flexibility of the pore-facing G-loop of Kir2.1(L) and Kir3.1(S) suggests a possible role as a diffusion barrier between cytoplasmic and transmembrane pores. Consistent with this, mutations of the G-loop disrupted gating or inward rectification. Structural comparison shows a di-aspartate cluster on the distal end of the cytoplasmic pore of Kir2.1(L) that is important for modulating inward rectification. Taken together, these results suggest the cytoplasmic domains of Kir channels undergo structural changes to modulate gating and inward rectification.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The localization of bullous pemphigoid antigen 180 (BP180) in hemidesmosomes is mediated by its cytoplasmic domain and seems to be regulated by the beta4 integrin subunit.

Bullous pemphigoid antigen 180 (BP180) is a component of hemidesmosomes, i.e., cell-substrate adhesion complexes. To determine the function of specific sequences of BP180 to its incorporation in hemidesmosomes, we have transfected 804G cells with cDNA-constructs encoding wild-type and deletion mutant forms of human BP180. The results show that the cytoplasmic domain of BP180 contains sufficient information for the recruitment of the protein into hemidesmosomes because removal of the extracellular and transmembrane domains does not abolish targeting. Expression of chimeric proteins, which consist of the membrane targeting sequence of K-Ras fused to the cytoplasmic domain of BP180 with increasing internal deletions or lacking the NH2 terminus, indicates that the localization of BP180 in hemidesmosomes is mediated by a segment that spans 265 amino acids. This segment comprises two important regions located within the central part and at the NH2 terminus of the cytoplasmic domain of BP180. To investigate the effect of the alpha6beta4 integrin on the subcellular distribution of BP180, we have transfected COS-7 cells, which lack alpha6beta4 and BP180, with cDNAs for BP180 as well as for human alpha6A and beta4. We provide evidence that a mutant form of BP180 lacking the collagenous extracellular domain as well as a chimeric protein, which contains the entire cytoplasmic domain of BP180, are colocalized with alpha6beta4. In contrast, when cells were transfected with cDNAs for alpha6A and mutant forms of beta4, either lacking the cytoplasmic COOH-terminal half or carrying phenylalanine substitutions in the tyrosine activation motif of the cytoplasmic domain, the recombinant BP180 molecules were mostly not colocalized with alpha6beta4, but remained diffusely distributed at the cell surface. Moreover, in cells transfected with cDNAs for alpha6A and a beta4/beta1 chimera, in which the cytoplasmic domain of beta4 was replaced by that of the beta1 integrin subunit, BP180 was not colocalized with the alpha6beta4/beta1 chimera in focal adhesions, but remained again diffusely distributed. These results indicate that sequences within the cytoplasmic domain of beta4 determine the subcellular distribution of BP180.

Animals↗

Apoptotic cleavage of cytoplasmic dynein intermediate chain and p150(Glued) stops dynein-dependent membrane motility.

Cytoplasmic dynein is the major minus end-directed microtubule motor in animal cells, and associates with many of its cargoes in conjunction with the dynactin complex. Interaction between cytoplasmic dynein and dynactin is mediated by the binding of cytoplasmic dynein intermediate chains (CD-IC) to the dynactin subunit, p150(Glued). We have found that both CD-IC and p150(Glued) are cleaved by caspases during apoptosis in cultured mammalian cells and in Xenopus egg extracts. Xenopus CD-IC is rapidly cleaved at a conserved aspartic acid residue adjacent to its NH(2)-terminal p150(Glued) binding domain, resulting in loss of the otherwise intact cytoplasmic dynein complex from membranes. Cleavage of CD-IC and p150(Glued) in apoptotic Xenopus egg extracts causes the cessation of cytoplasmic dynein--driven endoplasmic reticulum movement. Motility of apoptotic membranes is restored by recruitment of intact cytoplasmic dynein and dynactin from control cytosol, or from apoptotic cytosol supplemented with purified cytoplasmic dynein--dynactin, demonstrating the dynamic nature of the association of cytoplasmic dynein and dynactin with their membrane cargo.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Immunocytochemical studies of quaking mice support a role for the myelin-associated glycoprotein in forming and maintaining the periaxonal space and periaxonal cytoplasmic collar of myelinating Schwann cells.

The myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) is an integral membrane glycoprotein that is located in the periaxonal membrane of myelin-forming Schwann cells. On the basis of this localization, it has been hypothesized that MAG plays a structural role in (a) forming and maintaining contact between myelinating Schwann cells and the axon (the 12-14-nm periaxonal space) and (b) maintaining the Schwann cell periaxonal cytoplasmic collar of myelinated fibers. To test this hypothesis, we have determined the immunocytochemical localization of MAG in the L4 ventral roots from 11-mo-old quaking mice. These roots display various stages in the association of remyelinating Schwann cells with axons, and abnormalities including loss of the Schwann cell periaxonal cytoplasmic collar and dilation of the periaxonal space of myelinated fibers. Therefore, this mutant provides distinct opportunities to observe the relationships between MAG and (a) the formation of the periaxonal space during remyelination and (b) the maintenance of the periaxonal space and Schwann cell periaxonal cytoplasmic collar in myelinated fibers. During association of remyelinating Schwann cells and axons, MAG was detected in Schwann cell adaxonal membranes that apposed the axolemma by 12-14 nm. Schwann cell plasma membranes separated from the axolemma by distances greater than 12-14 nm did not react with MAG antiserum. MAG was present in adaxonal Schwann cell membranes that apposed the axolemma by 12-14 nm but only partially surrounded the axon and, therefore, may be actively involved in the ensheathment of axons by remyelinating Schwann cells. To test the dual role of MAG in maintaining the periaxonal space and Schwann cell periaxonal cytoplasmic collar of myelinated fibers, we determined the immunocytochemical localization of MAG in myelinated quaking fibers that displayed pathological alterations of these structures. Where Schwann cell periaxonal membranes were not stained by MAG antiserum, the cytoplasmic side of the periaxonal membrane was "fused" with the cytoplasmic side of the inner compact myelin lamella and formed a major dense line. This loss of MAG and the Schwann cell periaxonal cytoplasmic collar usually resulted in enlargement of the 12-14-nm periaxonal space and ruffling of the apposing axolemma. In myelinated fibers, there was a strict correlation between the presence of MAG in the Schwann cell periaxonal membrane and (a) maintenance of the 12-14-nm periaxonal space, and (b) presence of the Schwann cell periaxonal cytoplasmic collar.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Cytoplasm-specific Effects of Helminthosporium maydis Race T Toxin on Survival of Corn Mesophyll Protoplasts.

High yields of mesophyll protoplasts were obtained from leaves of corn (Zea mays L., inbred W64A). Many protoplasts survived a week in the dark in a simple osmoticum. Culture filtrate from Helminthosporium maydis race T at dilutions of 1:10,000 to 1:20,000 destroyed protoplasts with Texas male-sterile (T) cytoplasm. Substantial damage to protoplasts with nonmale-sterile (N) cytoplasm occurred only at a 1:20 dilution. High concentrations of partially purified H. maydis race T (HMT) toxin (32.5-130 mug dry weight/ml) did not reduce survival of protoplasts with N cytoplasm or C or S male-sterile cytoplasms after 6 days of exposure. Protoplasts with T or TRf (fertility restored) cytoplasm collapsed within 1 to 3 days after treatment with 0.13 mug of HMT toxin/ml, which was one-fifth the level causing 50% inhibition of T cytoplasm seedling root growth. Protoplasts with T cytoplasm which were washed after 30 minutes or more of exposure to HMT toxin also collapsed within a few days. Cultured W64A T protoplasts and freshly isolated protoplasts from inbreds C103 and Mo17 with T cytoplasm were less sensitive to HMT toxin than freshly isolated W64A T protoplasts. Toxin-treated protoplasts survived longer in the light than in the dark. The sensitivity and specificity of the system described will facilitate physiological, ultrastructural, and genetic studies of toxin action.

Journal Article↗

Regulation of cytoplasmic and vacuolar volumes by plant cells in suspension culture.

Quantitative microscopical measurements have been made of the proportion of cell volume occupied by cytoplasm in a cell suspension culture derived from cotyledons of bush bean (cv. Contender). On a 7-day culture cycle, the content of cytoplasm varies from 25% at the time of transfer to 45% at the start of the phase of rapid cell division. If the culture is continued beyond 7 days, the vacuole volume reaches 90% of cell volume by day 12.Attempts to measure relative cytoplasmic volumes by compartmental analysis of nonelectrolyte efflux were unsuccessful. The proportion of cell volume occupied by cytoplasm is roughly correlated with protein content, but shows no correlation with cell size or with intracellular concentrations of K or Na. The most striking observation is that the growth of cytoplasmic volume for the culture as a whole appears to be constant throughout the culture cycle, despite changes in the rate of cell division, cell size, rate of increase in fresh or dry weight, amount of cytoplasm per cell, the cellular concentration or fluxes of Na or K, and the rate of vacuolation. It is suggested that cytoplasmic volume is under the control of its own regulatory mechanism, which operates to give a constant exponential increase in cytoplasmic volume independently of most other observed cellular properties.

Journal Article↗

Comparison of cytoplasmic and nuclear poly(A)-containing RNA sequences in Xenopus liver cells.

Poly(A)-containing RNAs from cytoplasm and nuclei of adult Xenopus liver cells are compared. After denaturation of the RNA by dimethysulfoxide the average molecule of nuclear poly(A)-containing RNA has a sedimentation value of 28 S whereas the cytoplasmic poly(A)-containing RNA sediments slightly ahead of 18 S. To compare the complexity of cytoplasmic and nuclear poly(A)-containing RNA, complementary DNA (cDNA) transcribed on either cytoplasmic or nuclear RNA is hybridized to the RNA used as a template. The hybridization kinetics suggest a higher complexity of the nuclear RNA compared to the cytoplasmic fraction. Direct evidence of a higher complexity of nuclear poly(A)-containing RNA is shown by the fact that 30% of the nuclear cDNA fails to hybridize with cytoplasmic poly(A)-containing RNA. An attempt to isolate a specific probe for this nucleus-restricted poly(A)-containing RNA reveals that more than 10(4) different nuclear RNA sequences adjacent to the poly(A) do not get into the cytoplasm. We conclude that a poly(A) on a nuclear RNA does not ensure the transport of the adjacent sequence to the cytoplasm.

Animals↗

Isolation and characterization of cytoplasmic membranes and chlorosomes from the green bacterium Chloroflexus aurantiacus.

A method was developed which allows the isolation and purification of cytoplasmic membranes and chlorosomes from cells of Chloroflexus aurantiacus grown under different light conditions. The dipolar ionic detergent Deriphat (0.08%) and a sodium iodide gradient centrifugation were used in isolating cytoplasmic membranes. Chlorosomes were prepared with 0.16% of the dipolar ionic detergent Miranol and purified by a sucrose gradient centrifugation. Cytoplasmic membrane fractions prepared from either high- (3,000 W m-2), medium-(200 W m-2) or low- (7 W m-2) light-grown cells had near infrared absorption bands at 866, 808, and 755 nm in a constant characteristic absorbance ratio of 6:3.8:1. In all cytoplasmic membrane preparations, the amount of bacteriochlorophyll a (Bchl a) per cytochrome, the amount of Bchl a per reaction center, and reaction center per milligram of cytoplasmic membrane protein was found to be constant. No Bchl c was present. Five respiratory enzyme activities have been measured in the cytoplasmic membrane fraction. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of denatured cytoplasmic membrane showed many bands, but a major polypeptide with an apparent molecular weight of 8,000. In contrast, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of purified chlorosomes did not contain the 8,000-molecular-weight band but revealed only three distinct protein bands with molecular weights of 15,000, 12,000, and 6,000. Isolated chlorosomes contained Bchl c and a small, yet constant, amount of Bchl a (absorbing at 790 nm) in a molar ratio of 25:1. The data indicated that the components of the photosynthetic apparatus in the cytoplasmic membrane of Chloroflexus aurantiacus remained constant and only the amount of antenna Bchl c varied with light conditions.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Mutants of the Rous sarcoma virus envelope glycoprotein that lack the transmembrane anchor and cytoplasmic domains: analysis of intracellular transport and assembly into virions.

The envelope glycoprotein complex of Rous sarcoma virus consists of a knoblike, receptor-binding gp85 polypeptide that is linked through disulfide bonds to a membrane-spanning gp37 spike. We used oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis to assess the role of the hydrophobic transmembrane region and hydrophilic cytoplasmic domain of gp37 in intracellular transport and assembly into virions. Early termination codons were introduced on either side of the hydrophobic transmembrane region, and the mutated env genes were expressed from the late promoter of simian virus 40. This resulted in the synthesis of glycoprotein complexes composed of a normal gp85 and a truncated gp37 molecule that lacked the cytoplasmic domain alone or both the cytoplasmic and transmembrane domains. The biosynthesis and intracellular transport of the truncated proteins were not significantly different from those of the wild-type glycoproteins, suggesting that any protein signals for biosynthesis and intracellular transport of this viral glycoprotein complex must reside in its extracellular domain. The glycoprotein complex lacking the cytoplasmic domain of gp37 is stably expressed on the cell surface in a manner similar to that of the wild type. In contrast, the complex lacking both the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains is secreted as a soluble molecule into the media. It can be concluded, therefore, that the transmembrane domain alone is essential for anchoring the RSV env complex in the cell membrane and that the cytoplasmic domain is not required for anchor function. Insertion of the mutated genes into an infectious proviral genome allowed us to assess the ability of the truncated gene products to be assembled into virions and to determine whether such virions were infectious. Viral genomes encoding the secreted glycoprotein were noninfectious, whereas those encoding a glycoprotein complex lacking only the cytoplasmic domain of gp37 were infectious. Virions produced from these mutant-infected cells contained normal levels of glycoprotein. The cytoplasmic tail of gp37 is thus not required for the assembly of envelope glycoproteins into virions. It is unlikely, therefore, that this region of gp37 interacts with viral core proteins during the selective incorporation of viral glycoproteins into the viral envelope.

Animals↗

Calcium exchange and ionized cytoplasmic calcium in resting and activated human monocytes.

We have performed a comprehensive study of calcium tracer flux, distribution, content, and ionized cytoplasmic calcium during monocyte activation. A model of monocyte calcium was developed from 45Ca uptake and exodus curves which indicated that cell calcium was partitioned between three compartments. The magnitude of the time constants for each pool lead us to propose cellular locations for these three compartments: a surface plasma membrane pool, a cytoplasmic pool, and an organelle pool. 45Ca uptake and exodus experiments were analyzed using a nonlinear least squares fit of compartmental exchange rates and sizes. The production of superoxide was used as a reflection of the state of activation of the monocytes treated with Concanavalin A (Con A). We found that Con A-treated monocytes have an increase in the calcium exchange rate with the cytoplasmic pool from 0.04 to 0.07/min (P less than 0.05), and an increase in the size of the cytoplasmic pool from 0.08 to 0.13 pmol/cell (P less than 0.05). There were no significant changes in the exchange rates or sizes associated with either of the other two compartments. The cytoplasmic ionized calcium was measured with the fluorescent probe, Quin 2, which indicated a resting level of 83 nM free calcium in unadhered monocytes. Con A stimulation caused a doubling of the cytoplasmic free calcium to 163 nM within 45 s. This increment in cytoplasmic free calcium preceded the onset of superoxide following Con A treatment. These studies indicate that Con A binding to the plasma membrane increases the monocyte plasma membrane permeability to calcium. External calcium enters the cell at an increased rate and contributes to both internally bound and free calcium. The magnitude of the increase in free calcium is proportional to the concentration of Con A and stimulates calcium extrusion via the calcium transport ATPase. Moreover, there is an increased concentration of ionized cytoplasmic calcium which has the potential to interact with other cellular regulators that modulate cell activation and superoxide production.

Biological Transport, Active↗

Association of beta-cytoplasmic actin with high concentrations of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) in normal and anti-AChR-treated primary rat muscle cultures.

Previous immunocytochemical studies in which an antibody specific for mammalian cytoplasmic actin was used showed that a high concentration of cytoplasmic actin exists at neuromuscular junctions of rat muscle fibers such that the distribution of actin corresponded exactly to that of the acetylcholine receptors. Although clusters of acetylcholine receptors also are present in noninnervated rat and chick muscle cells grown in vitro, neither the mechanism for the formation and maintenance of these clusters nor the relationship of these clusters to the high density of acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction in vivo are known. In the present study, a relationship between beta-cytoplasmic actin and acetylcholine receptors in vitro has been demonstrated immunocytochemically using an antibody specific for the beta-form of cytoplasmic actin. Networks of cytoplasmic actin-containing filaments were found in discrete regions of the myotube membrane that also contained high concentrations of acetylcholine receptors; such high concentrations of acetylcholine receptors have been described in regions of membrane-substrate contact. Moreover, when primary rat myotubes were exposed to human myasthenic serum, gross morphological changes, accompanied by an apparent rearrangement of the cytoplasmic actin-containing cytoskeleton, were produced. Although whether the distribution of cytoplasmic actin-containing structures was influenced by the organization of acetylcholine receptor or vice versa cannot be determined from these studies, these findings suggest that in primary rat muscle cells grown in vitro, acetylcholine receptors and beta-cytoplasmic actin-containing structures may be somehow connected.

Actins↗

Expression of alpha 7 integrin cytoplasmic domains during skeletal muscle development: alternate forms, conformational change, and homologies with serine/threonine kinases and tyrosine phosphatases.

We recently reported the cloning and sequencing of the alpha 7 integrin chain and its regulated expression during the development of skeletal muscle (Song et al. (1992) J. Cell Biol. 117, 643-657). The alpha 7 chain is expressed during the development of the myogenic lineage and on adult muscle fibers and this suggests that it participates in multiple and diverse functions at different times during muscle development. One interesting portion of this isoform is its cytoplasmic domain; comprised of 77 amino acids it is the largest in the alpha chains thus reported. In these experiments we begin to study the potential functions of the alpha 7 cytoplasmic domain by analyzing homologies between the rat and human sequences, by immunologic studies using an anti-cytoplasmic domain antiserum, and by identifying two alternate forms. In keeping with the nomenclature used to describe the alpha 3 and alpha 6 alternate cytoplasmic domains, we refer to the originally reported species as alpha 7B and the two additional forms as alpha 7A and alpha 7C. These three cytoplasmic domains likely arise as a consequence of alternate splicing. A splice site at the junctions of the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains is used to generate the alpha 3, alpha 6 and alpha 7 A and B forms. The alpha 7A form RNA contains an additional 113 nucleotides compared to the B form, and a common coding region in the A and B form RNAs is used in alternate reading frames. Part of the coding region of alpha 7B appears to be used as the 3'-untranslated region of the alpha 7A form. The alpha 7C mRNA is 595 nucleotides smaller than the alpha 7B RNA and part of the 3'-untranslated region of the alpha 7B isoform is used as coding sequence in alpha 7C. There is developmental specificity in expression of these alternate mRNAs: alpha 7A and alpha 7C transcripts are found upon terminal myogenic differentiation whereas alpha 7B is present earlier in replicating cells and diminishes upon differentiation. We suggest this selective expression of the alpha 7 cytoplasmic domains underlies the diversity in function of the alpha 7 beta 1 integrin at different stages of muscle development. Immunochemical analyses indicate that the alpha 7B cytoplasmic domain undergoes a change in conformation in response to binding laminin or upon crosslinking initiated with antibody reactive with the integrin extracellular domain. Crosslinking also promotes association of the integrin with the cell cytoskeleton.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Alternative Splicing↗