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Transferrin receptors on the surfaces of retinal pigment epithelial cells are associated with the cytoskeleton.

Retinal pigment epithelial cells, derived from human donor eyes, have been grown in culture as monolayers on membrane filters or plastic surfaces and shown to possess transferrin receptors with a monomeric molecular mass of 93,000. These receptors internalize 125I-labelled transferrin and recycle it to the surrounding medium in a similar manner to other cell types. Scatchard analyses show that there are about 100,000 high-affinity receptors on the surface of each cell and most of these receptors are associated with the cytoskeleton. In total cell extracts, there are additional low-affinity binding sites that do not appear to be strongly associated with the cytoskeleton. The apparent interaction of transferrin receptors with the cytoskeleton was confirmed in two ways: first, using 200 kV electron microscopy for stereo analyses, skeleton-associated transferrin receptors were detected by a monoclonal anti-receptor antibody and a colloidal gold-conjugated second antibody after Triton X-100 extraction of pigment epithelial cells grown directly on laminin-coated gold grids; and, second, when cell surface receptors were labelled with radioiodinated transferrin and then incubated for various periods of time, the labelled transferrin was observed to move from a Triton X-100-insoluble fraction (a putative cytoskeletal compartment) to a Triton-soluble compartment that was not associated with the cytoskeleton. Using either horseradish peroxidase or colloidal gold-labelled transferrin, it has been shown that basolateral and apical surface-located receptors participate in receptor-mediated endocytosis via clathrin-coated pits, endosomes and tubular structures. Initially, transferrin internalized from the apical surface is observed in small endosomes that often appear to be embedded in an apical layer of microfilaments. From these peripheral regions of the cells, the labelled receptors move to larger endosomes and multivesicular bodies deeper in the cytoplasm. These structures have no apparent association with cytoskeletal elements.

Cell Division↗

Evidence of cyclic GMP may regulate the association of myosin II heavy chain with the cytoskeleton by inhibiting its phosphorylation.

Previous studies have implicated cyclic GMP in the regulation of myosin II heavy chain (MHC) association with the cytoskeleton in Dictyostelium discoideum. Here we provide evidence that cyclic GMP may regulate MHC association with the cytoskeleton through MHC phosphorylation. Comparative data are presented of MHC phosphorylation in the wild-type strain NC4, the parental strain XP55 and streamer mutants NP368 and NP377. Using an anti-MHC monoclonal antibody to immunoprecipitate MHC from [32P]phosphate-labelled developing cells, we found that cyclic AMP stimulation of the wild-type strain NC4 and parental strain XP55 induced MHC phosphorylation in vivo. A peak of phosphorylation was observed at 30-40 s, followed by a gradual decrease to basal level at 160 s. In contrast, in both of the streamer mutants NP368 and NP377 (which have prolonged cyclic GMP accumulation and prolonged MHC association with the cytoskeleton), the phosphorylation of MHC was delayed and did not form a peak until 60-80 s after cyclic AMP stimulation. We also found that cytoskeletal MHC showed only minor phosphorylation, the majority of the phosphorylated MHC being found in the cytosol. We present a model to account for these results in which cyclic GMP regulates MHC association with the cytoskeleton by regulating the phosphorylation/dephosphorylation cycle of MHC in these cells.

Animals↗

Actin cytoskeleton of rabbit intestinal cells is a target for potent marine phycotoxins.

Biotoxins produced by harmful marine microalgae (phycotoxins) can be accumulated into seafood, representing a great risk for public health. Some of these phycotoxins are responsible for a variety of gastrointestinal disturbances; however, the relationship between their mechanism of action and toxicity in intestinal cells is still unknown. The actin cytoskeleton is an important and highly complicated structure in intestinal cells, and on that basis our aim has been to investigate the effect of representative phycotoxins on the enterocyte cytoskeleton. We have quantified for the first time the loss of enterocyte microfilament network induced by each toxin and recorded fluorescence images using a laser-scanning cytometer and confocal microscopy. Our data show that pectenotoxin-6, maitotoxin, palytoxin and ostreocin-D cause a significant reduction in the actin cytoskeleton. In addition, we found that the potency of maitotoxin, palytoxin and ostreocin-D to damage filamentous actin is related to Ca(2+) influx in enterocytes. Those results identify the cytoskeleton as an early target for the toxic effect of those toxins.

Acrylamides↗

The cytoskeleton as a barrier to exocytosis in secretory cells.

Chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla synthesize, store and secrete catecholamines. These cells contain numerous electron-dense secretory granules which discharge their contents into the extracellular space by exocytosis. The subplasmalemmal area of the chromaffin cell is characterized by the presence of a highly organized cytoskeletal network. F-Actin seems to be exclusively localized in this area and together with specific actin-binding proteins forms a dense viscoelastic gel; fodrin, vinculin and caldesmon, three actin cross-linking proteins, and gelsolin, an actin-severing protein, are found in this subplasmalemmal region. Since fodrin-, caldesmon- and alpha-actinin-binding sites exist on secretory granule membranes, actin filaments can also link secretory granules. Chromaffin granules can be entrapped in this subplasmalemmal lattice and thus the cytoskeleton acts as a barrier preventing exocytosis. When cells are stimulated, molecular rearrangements of the subplasmalemmal cytoskeleton take place: F-actin depolymerizes and fodrin reorganizes into patches. In addition, introduction of monospecific antifodrin immunoglobulins into digitonin-permeabilized cells blocks exocytosis, demonstrating the crucial role of this actin-binding protein. In bacterial toxin-permeabilized chromaffin cells, experiments using actin-perturbing agents such as cytochalasin D and DNAase I suggest that exocytosis is in part controlled by the cytoskeleton. The intracellular signal governing the cytoskeletal reorganization (associated with exocytosis) is calcium. Calcium inhibits some and activates other actin-binding proteins and consequently causes dissolution of the subplasmalemmal cytoskeleton. This dissolution of cytoskeletal filaments should result in granule detachment and permit granules free access to exocytotic sites on the plasma membrane.

Animals↗

Actin cytoskeleton and small heat shock proteins: how do they interact?

Actin and small heat shock proteins (sHsps) are ubiquitous and multifaceted proteins that exist in 2 reversible forms, monomers and multimers, ie, the microfilament of the cytoskeleton and oligomers of the sHsps, generally, supposed to be in a spherical and hollow form. Two situations are described in the literature, where the properties of actin are modulated by sHsps; the actin polymerization is inhibited in vitro by some sHsps acting as capping proteins, and the actin cytoskeleton is protected by some sHsps against the disruption induced by various stressful conditions. We propose that a direct actin-sHsp interaction occurs to inhibit actin polymerization and to participate in the in vivo regulation of actin filament dynamics. Protection of the actin cytoskeleton would result from an F-actin-sHsp interaction in which microfilaments would be coated by small oligomers of phosphorylated sHsps. Both proteins share common structural motives suggesting direct binding sites, but they remain to be demonstrated. Some sHsps would behave with the actin cytoskeleton as actin-binding proteins capable of either capping a microfilament when present as a nonphosphorylated monomer or stabilizing and protecting the microfilament when organized in small, phosphorylated oligomers.

Actins↗

Studies on a possible relationship between alterations in the cytoskeleton and induction of heat shock protein synthesis in mammalian cells.

Heat shock-induced alterations in protein synthesis and the cytoskeleton of two mammalian cell types have been investigated. A hyperthermic treatment of 30 min at 43 degrees C causes an accumulation of heat shock proteins (HSPs). The apparent molecular weights of HSPs of Reuber H35 hepatoma cells and of N2A neuroblastoma cells are 28 000, 65 000, 68 000, 70 000, 84 000, 100 000 D and 68 000, 70 000, 84 000 and 100 000 D respectively. Hyperthermia induces the disruption of microfilaments in hepatoma cells. Microtubules and intermediate filaments (vimentin and cytokeratin) remain intact. In neuroblastoma cells microfilaments remain intact whereas microtubules become disorganized after heat shock. As a result vimentin is found as a perinuclear aggregate. These cells were still able to synthesize heat shock proteins after pretreatment with cytoskeleton disrupting drugs such as dihydroxycytochalasin B and colchicine. Therefore it is concluded that the alterations in the cytoskeleton observed after the heat treatment are unlikely to be the cause of heat shock protein synthesis. Our results suggest that these heat shock-induced alterations in the cytoskeleton can be considered as a part of the heat shock response.

Animals↗

Methods for the circumvention of problems associated with the study of the ocular lens plasma membrane-cytoskeleton complex.

Two alternative methods for the study of the lens cytoskeleton are described which serve to overcome some of the difficulties imparted by the unique biology of the lens. The first technique involves rapid freezing, thick sectioning, and selective extraction and/or fixation of the lens section. This approach offers several advantages: 1) enhanced visualization of the cytoskeleton, 2) avoidance of fixation gradients, 3) free access for immunocytochemical probes, 4) retention of tissue-wide spatial relationships, with a sharp increase in the resolution of regional analysis, and 5) the capacity for correlative morphological and biochemical comparisons. The second method involves the covalent immobilization of the plasma membrane-cytoskeleton complex (PMCC) to acrylamide beads. This approach permits: 1) avoidance of fixation in the immunocytochemical analysis of lens cytoskeleton and plasma membranes 2) rapid processing of multiple, small-quantity samples for immunocytochemistry/biochemical analysis 3) cleaner and more rapid analysis of cytoskeletal extraction conditions. Both approaches, while particularly suited to the study of the lens PMCC, may also be of value to the study of the PMCC of other tissues, particularly where preservation/analysis of regional relationships is essential.

Acrylamides↗

Ultrastructural localization of alpha A-crystallin to the bovine lens fiber cell cytoskeleton.

Monoclonal antibodies to the bovine alpha A-crystallin were developed and used to probe the relationship between alpha A-crystallin and the bovine lens fiber cell Plasma Membrane-Cytoskeleton Complex (PMCC). Superficial bovine lens cortex was washed by repeated homogenization/centrifugation to remove "soluble protein." The resulting Plasma Membrane-Cytoskeleton Complex was covalently immobilized to inert resin, and extensively buffer washed. SDS PAGE and immunoblot analysis of both the covalently immobilized PMCC and of the sequentially-generated subcellular fractions shows that most of the lens alpha crystallin is "soluble", and readily extracted with physiologic buffers. However, this data also shows that 1) Non-alpha crystallins are progressively and quantitatively extracted from the PMCC with buffer, 2) An irreducible level of non-covalently bound alpha crystallin is achieved which cannot be readily extracted from the PMCC, even with 2 M urea, 1% NP40 or 0.4M KCl. Electron microscope level immunocytochemistry was performed on both the covalently immobilized PMCC, as well as on buffer-extracted thick frozen sections, using monoclonal antibodies to the alpha A-crystallin. The results show a very heavy labelling of both intermediate filaments and beaded filaments, but little or no labelling of fiber cell membranes. The data presented argues that a subfraction of the total alpha A-crystallin is strongly associated with the fiber cell cytoskeleton complex, and constitutes a quantitatively major component of the lens cytoskeleton fraction.

Animals↗

Hepatocyte cytoskeleton during ischemia and reperfusion--influence of ANP-mediated p38 MAPK activation.

AIM: To determine functional consequences of this activation, whereby we focused on a potential regulation of the hepatocyte cytoskeleton during ischemia and reperfusion. METHODS: For in vivo experiments, animals received ANP (5 microg/kg) intravenously. In a different experimental setting, isolated rat livers were perfused with KH-buffer+/-ANP (200 nmol/L) +/-SB203580 (2 micromol/L). Livers were then kept under ischemic conditions for 24 h, and either transplanted or reperfused. Actin, Hsp27, and phosphorylated Hsp27 were determined by Western blotting, p38 MAPK activity by in vitro phosphorylation assay. F-actin distribution was determined by confocal microscopy. RESULTS: We first confirmed that ANP preconditioning leads to an activation of p38 MAPK and observed alterations of the cytoskeleton in hepatocytes of ANP-preconditioned organs. ANP induced an increase of hepatic F-actin after ischemia, which could be prevented by the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 but had no effect on bile flow. After ischemia untreated livers showed a translocation of Hsp27 towards the cytoskeleton and an increase in total Hsp27, whereas ANP preconditioning prohibited translocation but caused an augmentation of Hsp27 phosphorylation. This effect is also mediated via p38 MAPK, since it was abrogated by the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580. CONCLUSION: This study reveals that ANP-mediated p38 MAPK activation leads to changes in hepatocyte cytoskeleton involving an elevation of phosphorylated Hsp27 and thereby for the first time shows functional consequences of ANP-induced hepatic p38 MAPK activation.

Animals↗

Role of the actin cytoskeleton in T cell absorption and internalization of ligands from APC.

A feature of T-APC interaction is that, via either TCR or CD28, T cells can absorb molecules from APC on to the cell surface and then internalize these molecules. Here, using both normal and TCR-transgenic T cells, we investigated the mechanism of T cell absorption of molecules from APC and the role of the cytoskeleton. The results show that although activated T cells could absorb APC molecules in the form of cell fragments, uptake of molecules by resting T cells required direct T-APC interaction. Based on studies with latrunculin B, surface absorption of molecules by resting T cells was crucially dependent upon the actin cytoskeleton for both CD28- and TCR-mediated absorption. Significantly, however, TCR-mediated absorption became strongly resistant to latrunculin B when the concentration of MHC-bound peptide on APC was raised to a high level, implying that the actin cytoskeleton is only important for absorption when the density of receptor/ligand interaction is low. By contrast, in all situations tested, the actin cytoskeleton played a decisive role in controlling T cell internalization of ligands from the cell surface.

Absorption↗

Tropomodulin and tropomyosin mediate lens cell actin cytoskeleton reorganization in vitro.

PURPOSE: To determine the role of the actin cytoskeleton regulatory proteins tropomyosin and tropomodulin (Tmod) in the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton during lens epithelial cell differentiation. METHODS: Primary cultures of chick lens epithelial cells were allowed to differentiate in vitro to form lentoid bodies. Localization of F-actin, Tmod, and tropomyosin were determined by immunofluorescent staining followed by confocal microscopy. Tropomyosin and Tmod isoform expression was determined by immunoprecipitation and western blot analysis. RESULTS: In undifferentiated epithelial cells F-actin was organized in polygonal arrays of stress fibers and was also associated with the adherens belt. In contrast, F-actin in differentiated cells was predominantly associated with membranes in a reticular or fibrillar pattern and was organized in curvilinear fibrils in the cytoplasm. Tmod was not detected in the undifferentiated epithelial cells but was expressed upon cell differentiation and assembled into F-actin and non-F-actin structures. Tmod isoforms expressed in the lens cell cultures were identical with those expressed in the embryonic chick lens fiber cells. Tropomyosin was associated with the polygonal arrays of stress fibers in the undifferentiated epithelial cells and was recruited to cortical F-actin at the cell periphery during differentiation. This occurred coincident with a shift in tropomyosin isoform expression. CONCLUSIONS: Expression and sequential assembly of low-molecular-weight tropomyosin and Tmod into the cortical actin cytoskeleton of differentiated lens cells may help to reorganize the actin cytoskeleton during morphogenetic differentiation. Moreover, lens epithelial cell differentiation may include the generation of novel Tmod-containing, non-F-actin cytoskeletal structures.

Actins↗

[Nitric oxide as a contrast modulator of basic elements of the cytoskeleton].

Early it was shown that nitric oxide induced in the cerebellum neuronal net both degenerative and compensatory-adaptive changes: 1) bouton encapsulation of spines, and 2) spiral wraps formed by glial cell processes around synapses and boutons. All these morphological changes were produced with cytoskeleton involvement. In the present work we have found that a NO-generative compound enhanced the contrast of cytoskeleton elements which depended on the concentration of this compound. The best contrast was observed at 1 mM concentration. The reason of the contrast enhance may be due presumably to protein transition from a soluble to a membrane-bound state. Using the contrast enhance effect we carried out a comparative analysis of cytoskeleton elements (CE) composition. Results of the analysis showed the specificity of CE in different cell structures: bouton, spine, glial cell. The obtained data support our proposal about the leading role of cytoskeleton in compensatory-adaptive morphological changes in extremal conditions.

Animals↗

Cytoskeleton actin changes in IL-2 activated cells.

In the present study we analysed the changes in cytoskeleton actin in lymphoid cells following IL-2 activation and during cell interactions by means of light and electron microscopy, immunofluorescence and molecular analysis. By morphological analysis we observed a higher fluorescence in the activated cells than in the quiescent ones with no modifications in the cytoskeleton pattern comparing activated to resting cells. The results of molecular analysis indicate that, after IL-2 activation, there is a reorganisation of the actin component of the cell cytoskeleton accompanied by the differential expression of the corresponding genes. A future study will be extended to the analysis of others components of the cytoskeleton network.

Actins↗

Investigation on the rheological properties of hepatocellular carcinoma cells and their relevance to cytoskeleton structure.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relevance of the rheological properties, i.e., viscoelasticities and adhesion to basement membrane components coated surface, of both hepatocytes and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells to the cytoskeleton structure. METHODS: Micropipette aspiration technique was adopted to measure viscoelastic coefficients and adhesion forces to 2 microg/ml collagen IV/1.25 microg/ml laminin coated surface of the cells. Two kinds of cytoskeleton perturbing agents, colchicine and cytochalasin D, were used to treat both HCC cells and hepatocytes and the effects of these treatments on cell viscoelastic coefficients and cell adhesion forces were investigated. RESULTS: Upon treatment of cells with colchicine in a concentration range of 1 to 60 mg/L, the elastic coefficients, especially the first elastic coefficient K1, and adhesion forces of hepatocytes generally tended to increase or increased significantly while, in contrast, viscoelastic coefficients and adhesion forces of HCC cells decreased obviously. Upon treatment of cells with cytochalasin D in a concentration range of 0.25-5.00 mg/L, viscoelastic coefficients of both hepatocytes and HCC cells decreased uniformly, with a larger magnitude for the decrease in elastic coefficients and adhesion forces of HCC cells than for those of hepatocytes. Adhesion forces of hepatocytes and HCC cells onto collagen IV/laminin coated surface varied similarly as viscoelastic coefficients under the action of the cytoskeleton perturbing agents. A significant positive correlation existed between changes of HCC cell adhesion forces on collagen IV/laminin coated surfaces and those of cell elastic coefficients (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The effects of cochicine and cytochalasin D on rheological properties of HCC cells differed significantly either in ways or extents from those on rheological properties of hepatocytes. These results might reflect the difference in the state of cytoskeleton structure and function among these two kinds of cells.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗

Effect of retinoic acid on the actin cytoskeleton in HL-60 cells.

The cytoskeleton, in addition to its structural and kinetic functions, is also involved in modulating signal transfer in cell proliferation, differentiation and death. In some myeloid leukemic cell lines, the process of cell differentiation accompanied by apoptosis, can be induced by all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). In this report, we describe the morphological changes in actin cytoskeleton, taking place during apoptosis in cells of the human leukemic HL-60 cell line. By using fluorescent microscopy, the morphology of microfilaments and the proportion of apoptotic cells in the cell populations untreated or treated with 10(-6) M ATRA were detected. Interphase HL-60 cells showed aggregations of short, thick microfilament bundles in the region between the plasma membrane and the nucleus. In comparison with both interphase and mitotic cells, the cells with apoptotic nuclear fragmentation showed a different organisation of the actin cytoskeleton. The following types of F-actin structures were observed: (i) Cells with a high number of large dots/patches of F-actin under the plasma membrane. These dots might be localised only in the part of the cell or occurred under the whole plasma membrane. This arrangement was often associated with a diffuse signal for F-actin. (ii) Cells with 3D-network of F-actin fibres through the cytoplasm between remnants of the cell nucleus. This 3D-structure probably played an important active role in the process of apoptotic bodies formation. (iii) Cells without any detectable signal for F-actin or cells with only a very low F-actin signal. Both of these showed typical apoptotic collapse of chromatin. It is concluded that the actin cytoskeleton is a dynamic structure actively involved in the executive phase of the process of apoptosis. It is suggested that the rearrangement of the microfilament network and its subsequent degradation are necessary for the main morphological changes of apoptotic cells, i.e., plasma membrane blebbing and apoptotic bodies formation.

Actins↗

[The relationship between protein synthesis of Sindbis virus and host cytoskeletons].

In our experiments, protein synthesis of host cells were inhibited quickly at the early stage of infection by Sindbis virus. Polysome and mRNA of host cell fell off from cytoskeletons, whereas virus RNA bound up. We also found it was via 3'-terminal that virus RNA bound with cytoskeleton. After studying on the virus nonstructural proteins, we found the synthesis and processing of virus protein in vitro were far slowly than in vivo, and most of proteins were premature. So, the cytoskeletons may play an important role there. After treated with colchicine and cytochalasin B, the microtubule and microfilament were destroyed. However, the synthesis and processing of nonstructural proteins of Sindbis virus didn't change much, while the structural proteins were inhibited largely. These results showed the differences of dependence of the synthesis of the two kinds of proteins on cytoskeletons. Microtubule and microfilament may be more important to the synthesis of structural proteins than to that of the nonstructural proteins.

Actins↗

Cell cytoskeleton and tensegrity.

The role of tensegrity architecture of the cytoskeleton in the mechanical behavior of living cells is examined by computational studies. Plane and spatial tensegrity models of the cytoskeleton are considered as well as their non-tensegrity counterparts. Local buckling including deep postbuckling response of the compressed microtubules of the cytoskeleton is considered. The tensioned microfilaments cannot sustain compression. Large deformation of the whole model is accounted and fully nonlinear analysis is performed. It is shown that in the case of local buckling of the microtubules non-tensegrity models exhibit qualitatively the same linear stiffening as their tensegrity counterparts. This result raises the question of experimental validation of the local buckling of microtubules. If the microtubules of real cells are not straight, then tensegrity (in a narrow sense) is not a necessary attribute of the cytoskeleton architecture. If the microtubules are straight then tensegrity is more likely to be the cytoskeletal architecture.

Animals↗

Characterization of cytoskeleton mechanical properties and 3D-actin structure in twisted adherent epithelial cells.

Evaluation of the cytoskeleton mechanical properties requires specific micromanipulation techniques such as the magnetic twisting cytometry technique, in which microbeads are specifically linked to the cytoskeleton via transmembrane receptors. The aim of the study was to assess the structural relationship between the bead and the cytoskeleton structure. The spatial arrangement of the CSK network was therefore studied in fixed cells probed by beads and stained for F-actin by rhodamined phalloïdine. The spatial character of the actin CSK network, both in the bead neighborhood and at the cell scale, could then be studied for various degrees of fluorescent intensity from 3D-images of the actin structure, reconstructed from z-stack views obtained by confocal microscopy. Results show the feasibility of the staining/reconstruction technique which allows to reveal the three-dimensional organization of the cytoskeleton structure including an internal cytosolic structure with a high fluorescent F-actin intensity, and a sub-membranous cortical structure with a low fluorescent F-actin intensity.

Actins↗