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Neurite extension in central neurons: a novel role for the receptor tyrosine kinases Ror1 and Ror2.

Neurite elongation and branching are key cellular events during brain development as they underlie the formation of a properly wired neuronal network. Here we report that the receptor tyrosine kinases Ror1 and Ror2 modulate the growth of neurites as well as their branching pattern in hippocampal neurons. Upon Ror1 or Ror2 suppression using antisense oligonucleotides or RNA interference (RNAi), neurons extended shorter and less branched minor processes when compared to those in control cells. In addition, Ror-depleted cells elongated longer, albeit less branched, axons than seen in control cells. Conversely, Ror overexpression both in non-neuronal cells and in hippocampal neurons resulted in the enhanced extension of short and highly branched processes. These phenotypes were accompanied by changes in the microtubule-associated proteins MAP1B and MAP2. Taken together, these results support a novel role for Ror receptors as modulators of neurite extension in central neurons.

Animals↗

Organization of crustacean neuropil. II. Distribution of synaptic contacts on identified motor neurons in lobster stomatogastric ganglion.

Identified neurons in the stomatogastric ganglion of the lobster were examined and reconstructed by serial section electron microscopy. Each motor neuron consists of a soma, a primary process leading directly from the soma to the motor axon which leaves the ganglion, and a group of secondary processes which branch from the primary process and ramify within the neuropil. Synapses are found only on small processes in the synaptic neuropil, never on the primary processes or on larger secondary processes in the coarse neuropil. Nearly every secondary process of every neuron examined makes both pre- and postsynaptic contacts. Hence these neurons are not polarized into distinct pre- and postsynaptic regions but have both input and output distributed over each of the secondary processes in the neuropil. The conncetion between a specific pair of neurons is also distributed over several branches of both the pre- and the postsynaptic neurons. The restriction of synapses to the more distal portions of the secondary processes suggests that no single contact or localized group of contacts can exert an overrriding influence on the neuron by virtue of an especially advantageous position. The close proximity of input and output on most secondary processes suggests that synaptic input may be capable of directly influencing output without the intervention of action potentials. The distribution of specific synapses over several branches of both pre- and postsynaptic neurons suggests that each neuron functions as a whole without differentiation into specialized branches.

Animals↗

Dynamics of the actin-binding protein drebrin in motile cells and definition of a juxtanuclear drebrin-enriched zone.

The actin-binding protein (ABP) drebrin, isoform E2, is involved in remodelling of the actin cytoskeleton and in formation of cell processes, but its role in cell migration has not yet been investigated. Therefore, we have studied the organization of drebrin in motile cultured cells such as murine B16F1 melanoma and human SV80 fibroblast cells, using live cell confocal microscopy. In cells overexpressing DNA constructs encoding drebrin linked to EGFP, numerous long, branched cell processes were formed which slowly retracted and extended, whereas forward movement was halted. In contrast, stably transfected B16F1 cells containing drebrin-EGFP at physiological levels displayed lamellipodia and were able to migrate on laminin. Surprisingly, in such cells, drebrin was absent from anterior lamellipodia but was enriched in a specific juxtanuclear zone, the "drebrin-enriched zone" (DZ), and in the tail. In leading edges of SV80 cells, characterized by pronounced actin microspikes, drebrin was specifically enriched along posterior portions of the microspikes, together with tropomyosin. Drebrin knock-down by small interfering RNAs did not impair movements of SV80 cells. Our results confirm the role of drebrin E2 in the formation of branching processes and further indicate that during cell migration, the protein contributes to retraction of the cell body and the tail but not to lamellipodia formation. In particular, the novel, sizable juxtanuclear DZ structure will have to be characterized in future experiments with respect to its molecular assembly and cell biological functions.

Actins↗

Spontaneous mutation in mice provides new insight into the genetic mechanisms that pattern the seminal vesicles and prostate gland.

The seminal vesicles and prostate gland are anatomically adjacent male sex-accessory glands. Although they arise from different embryonic precursor structures and express distinct sets of secretory proteins, these organs share common features in their developmental biology. A key shared developmental feature is the elaboration of complex secretory epithelia with tremendous surface area from simple precursor structures with juxtaposed epithelial and mesenchymal cells. In this study, new insight into the nature of the biological processes that underlie glandular morphogenesis is achieved by analyzing the phenotypes present in mice that harbor a spontaneous mutation, seminal vesicle shape (svs), previously identified for causing altered seminal vesicle morphology in adults. An examination of seminal vesicle development in svs mice provides the first evidence that the concurrent processes of epithelial branching and epithelial infolding are distinct processes under separate genetic control. It also provides the first direct evidence that the thickness and topology of the smooth muscle layer in the seminal vesicles are determined by interaction with the glandular epithelium during the branching process. In addition, the seminal vesicle phenotype in svs mice is shown to phenocopy the morphologic form present in certain other mammals such as the guinea pig, raising the possibility that the svs mutation is the sort of variant that arises during evolution. By also including an investigation of the prostate gland, this study also identifies previously unrecognized phenotypes in svs prostates, including increased gland size and dramatically reduced levels of branching morphogenesis. Finally, this study advances the goal of identifying the svs gene by mapping the svs mutation relative to known molecular markers and testing Fgfr2 as a candidate gene. The finding that the svs mutation maps to a genomic region syntenic to a region frequently deleted in human prostate tumors, together with the prostatic phenotype present in svs mice, further raises the interesting possibility that the svs mutation will identify a candidate prostate tumor suppressor gene.

Animals↗

The course, relations and distribution of the inferior alveolar nerve and its branches in the cat.

The course, relations and distribution of the inferior alveolar nerve and its branches in the cat are described. The nerves have been studied by dissection, histologically and by using electrophysiological techniques. Dissection revealed a basic pattern on which some individual variation was superimposed. The inferior alveolar nerve has three branches supplying the alveolar process (alveolar branches), one branch supplying the canine and incisor region (canine/incisor branch) and four mental branches (posterior, main and 2 anterior). Fibres supplying the teeth were found in all except the mental branches. Pulpal, periodontal and buccal gingival margin fibres from an individual tooth generally travelled together, but often in more than one branch. Branched axons supplying both tooth pulp and an area of mental skin were found. The axons branched at the point of separation of the appropriate mental nerve from the main trunk. A cutaneous midline overlap of 1-2 mm was found, but there was no transmedian innervation of tooth pulps.

Animals↗

Inner plexiform layer of jack mackerel retina: participation of amacrine and ganglion cells in its spatial organization.

In the jack mackerel retina (Trachurus mediterraneus ponticus) the inner plexiform layer demonstrates a very high degree of differentiation and contains not less than 25 sublayers. Investigation with Golgi method revealed many varieties of neurons, which are responsible for the structural organization of the inner plexiform layer. There are 8 types of bipolar cells, 24 types of amacrine cells and 7 types of ganglion cells with layered processes. The branching levels of the processes of these neurons were determined. Several varieties of neurons are described for the first time.

Animals↗

Tissue geometry determines sites of mammary branching morphogenesis in organotypic cultures.

The treelike structures of many organs, including the mammary gland, are generated by branching morphogenesis, a reiterative process of branch initiation and invasion from a preexisting epithelium. Using a micropatterning approach to control the initial three-dimensional structure of mouse mammary epithelial tubules in culture, combined with an algorithm to quantify the extent of branching, we found that the geometry of tubules dictates the position of branches. We predicted numerically and confirm experimentally that branches initiate at sites with a local minimum in the concentration of autocrine inhibitory morphogens, such as transforming growth factor-beta. These results reveal that tissue geometry can control organ morphogenesis by defining the local cellular microenvironment, a finding that has relevance to control of invasion and metastasis.

Algorithms↗

Physiology of myeloproliferation.

The current dogma about polycythemia vera (PV) is that one or more genetic mutations in a hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) cause abnormal proliferation and differentiation of the progeny of that stem cell. This model ignores two fundamental characteristics of biologic systems that must be considered if regulation is to be understood: first, at a molecular level, biochemical processes are intrinsically stochastic; and second, ontogeny and hematopoiesis are branching processes-with one cell dividing into two cells, and so on. Why is it important to add an understanding of the stochastic, branching nature of HSC function to a description of the genes and gene products only? Why not just say one understands the regulation of normal hematopoiesis, or PV, when all the genes and gene products actively transcribed have been identified? The answer is that within a branching, stochastic process, one mutation can cause more than one outcome (phenotype) in the future. There will be one or more related outcomes that will be highly likely and others that will be less likely. Although most patients will have similar phenotypes, some will differ, but not because they have different underlying mutations. Mathematics will probably play an increasingly important role in describing and analyzing the regulation that occurs as the genetic program of HSC is expressed within a clone over time. Semin Hematol 38(suppl 2):5-9.

Clone Cells↗

Synaptic and voltage-gated currents in interplexiform cells of the tiger salamander retina.

We have correlated the membrane properties and synaptic inputs of interplexiform cells (IPCs) with their morphology using whole-cell patch-clamp and Lucifer yellow staining in retinal slices. Three morphological types were identified: (a) a bistratified IPC with descending processes ramifying in both sublaminas a and b of the inner plexiform layer (IPL), and an ascending process that branched in the outer plexiform layer (OPL) and originated from the soma, (b) another bistratified IPC with descending processes ramifying in both sublaminas a and b, and an ascending process that branched in the OPL and originated directly from IPC processes in the IPL, and (c) a monostratified IPC with a descending process ramifying over large lateral extents within the most distal stratum of the IPL, and sending an ascending process to the OPL with little branching. Similar voltage-gated currents were measured in all three types including: (a) a transient inward sodium current, (b) an outward potassium current, and (c) an L-type calcium current. All cells generated multiple spikes with frequency increasing monotonically with the magnitude of injected current. The IPCs that send their descending processes into both sublaminas of the IPL (bistratified) receive excitatory synaptic inputs at both light ON and OFF that decay with a time constant of approximately 1.3 s. Slowly decaying excitation at both ON and OFF suggests that bistratified IPCs may spike continuously in the presence of a dynamic visual environment.

Animals↗

Epidermal growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor: effects on an overlapping population of neocortical neurons in vitro.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) have trophic effects on rat neocortical neurons in vitro. Concentration-response studies reveal that EGF maximally stimulates neuronal survival and process outgrowth at approximately 10 ng/ml, while the maximal effect of bFGF is seen at 10-30 ng/ml. Treatment with maximal concentrations of bFGF results in cultures containing a greater number of neurons with long processes, as well as greater branching of processes, than does treatment with EGF. When EGF and bFGF are added together to cultures the effects are not additive. In addition, bFGF is capable of supporting the survival of neurons previously treated with EGF. These findings indicate that EGF and bFGF affect a largely overlapping population of neocortical neurons, but that bFGF may be a more effective trophic agent for these cells.

Animals↗

Ki-67 and p53 immunoreactive stain and early colorectal neoplasms.

The aim of this work was to conduct a histopathological study of the different pathways of colorectal tumorigenesis by using Ki-67 and p53 immunoreactive stains. Between 1987 and 1993, 14,023 patients were investigated by colonoscopy at Akita Red Cross Hospital and several affiliated hospitals. Five hundred and sixty-five cases of early colorectal neoplasms identified in this population were used in the present study. Specimens were cut in half: one half was cut along the vertical axis, the other half along the horizontal axis to analyze the structure of glands which opened to the surface. They were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, Ki-67 and p53 immunoreactive stains. macroscopically, early colorectal neoplasms were classified into two types: protruding type and depressed type. The protruding type was mainly composed of branching glands. In contrast, the depressed type was almost completely composed of straight glands which opened to the surface. The Ki-67 positive ratio was almost equal. However, the p53 positive ratio was significantly different in the protruding type and the depressed type. The results suggest the existence of at least two pathways of colorectal tumorigenesis: one with the process of branching structure and one without the process of branching structure. Furthermore, there were clinical and immunohistochemical indications that the depressed type invades into deeper layers more rapidly than does the protruding type.

Adolescent↗

AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma cells secrete a neurotrophic growth factor(s).

Here we treat neuronal cells with AIDS-Kaposi's sarcoma cell conditioned medium (A-KSCM) in order to determine if AIDS-Kaposi's sarcoma (A-KS) cells secrete neurotrophic factors. PC12 and NG108-15 cells were differentiated and allowed to form neuronal processes. Under these conditions and in the presence of A-KSCM, PC12 cells exhibited more than a twofold increase in the number of branches per process and a 40% increase in the number of processes per cell. For NG108-15 cells, A-KSCM treatment resulted in a three-fold increase in the number of branches per process and nearly a twofold increase in the number of processes per cell. A-KS cells secrete at least seven known growth factors; however, when tested, none of these growth factors mimicked the effect of A-KSCM on neuronal cell processes. Therefore A-KS cells secrete a neurotrophic factor(s) which remains to be identified and may play a critical role in the progression of A-KS.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Autocellular coupling by gap junctions in cultured astrocytes: a new view on cellular autoregulation during process formation.

Neocortical astrocytes make two types of gap junctions, intercellular ones create a functional syncytium, while reflexive gap junctions mediate autocellular coupling and serve unknown functions (Rohlmann and Wolff, 1996). Here, the question is addressed whether solitary astrocytes in vitro express connexin43 (Cx43) and establish gap junctions in the absence of intercellular contacts. In all media conditions tested, immunocytochemistry visualized Cx43-expression and gap junctions irrespective of the presence or absence of intercellular contacts. Reflexive gap junctions were associated with mechanical junctions (adherent spots and fascia adherens) connecting surface membranes and cytoskelal components, respectively. Both were characteristically located along incompletely separated borders between developing processes and/or branches. In addition, Cx43-immunoreactivity was found on some non-junctional membranes: i) intracellular vesicle clusters sited to forming processes and at the basis of filopodia; ii) the surface membrane of filopodial subpopulations usually appearing in bunches. Results suggest changes in the resumptive role of Cx43 in cultivated astrocytes: 1) Cx43 is not confined to intercellular gap junctions, it may even selectively compose reflexive ones; 2) from intracellular stores (vesicle aggregates), Cx43 may be incorporated into the surface membrane of filopodia; 3) by contacting other parts of the same cell surface (or neighboring cells), filopodia and membrane patches carrying Cx43-half channels may be essential in initial steps of gap junction formation; 4) the distribution of reflexive gap junctions is compatible with the hypothesis that autocellular coupling serves reorganization of cytoskeleton during the formation of cell processes and branches; 5) in general, gap junctions may be important for coordinating the cytoskeleton across intercellular contacts and within cells with complex shape.

Animals↗

Process formation of the renal glomerular podocyte: is there common molecular machinery for processes of podocytes and neurons?

The renal glomerular podocyte exhibits a highly arborized morphology. In comparison with the neuron, which is the best studied process-bearing cell, the podocyte major processes share many cell biological characteristics with neuronal dendrites. Both podocytes and neurons develop microtubule-based thick processes with branching morphology and both have thin actin-based projections (i.e. podocyte foot processes and dendritic spines). Formation of podocyte processes and neuronal dendrites depends on the assembly of microtubules. Because the assembly of microtubules is regulated by phosphorylation of microtubule-associated proteins, inhibition of protein phosphatases abolishes and inhibition of protein kinases promotes process formation. Podocytes and dendrites also share the machinery of intracellular traffic of membranous vesicles, as well as cytoskeletal elements, which is indispensable for the elongation of these processes. Furthermore, these two cell types share expression of various molecules working for signal transduction, transmembranous transport and intercellular contacts. Such common gene expression implies a similar transcriptional regulation in these cells. Concerning the formation of podocyte foot processes and dendritic branches, actin filaments are thought to play a central role in orchestrating the function of various molecules and the regulation of actin assembly is necessary to establish and maintain such sophisticated cellular architecture. The molecular mechanism of foot process formation seems to include Rho family small GTP-binding proteins, which are known to be responsible for the establishment of dendritic branching morphology.

Actins↗

Direct observation of RuvAB-catalyzed branch migration of single Holliday junctions.

Holliday junctions form during DNA repair and homologous recombination processes. These processes entail branch migration, whereby the length of two arms of a cruciform increases at the expense of the two others. Branch migration is carried out in prokaryotic cells by the RuvAB motor complex. We study RuvAB-catalyzed branch migration by following the motion of a small paramagnetic bead tethered to a surface by two opposing arms of a single cruciform. The bead, pulled under the action of magnetic tweezers, exerts tension on the cruciform, which in turn transmits the force to a single RuvAB complex bound at the crossover point. This setup provides a unique means of measuring several kinetic parameters of interest such as the translocation rate, the processivity, and the force on the substrate against which the RuvAB complex cannot effect translocation. RuvAB-catalyzed branch migration proceeds with a small, discrete number of rates, supporting the view that the monomers comprising the RuvB hexameric rings are not functionally homogeneous and that dimers or trimers constitute the active subunits. The most frequently encountered rate, 98 +/- 3 bp/sec, is approximately five times faster than previously estimated. The apparent processivity of branch migration between pauses of inactivity is approximately 7,000 bp. Branch migration persists against opposing forces up to 23 pN.

Bacterial Proteins↗

SPARC participates in the branching morphogenesis of developing fetal rat lung.

Adhesion of cells to components of the extracellular matrix has been shown to be critical in normal lung development, particularly during the pseudoglandular stage, when conducting airways are forming through a process of branching morphogenesis. Expression of factors that inhibit cellular adhesion might also modulate branching morphogenesis. SPARC is a secreted glycoprotein that exhibits antiadhesive effects on cultured cells and is widely expressed in embryonic tissues. In this report, we examine the distribution of SPARC in fetal rat lung during development and its effect on the process of branching morphogenesis. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization studies revealed that SPARC was present in the airway epithelial cells during the pseudoglandular stage of lung development, and in blood vessels and smooth muscle cells associated with airways during the canalicular and saccular stages of development. We used an in vitro model of rat lung branching morphogenesis to examine airway branching in the presence of: a) a neutralizing anti-SPARC antibody; or b) a synthetic peptide from a region of SPARC that, like the native protein, perturbs cell adhesion and diminishes the synthesis of fibronectin and thrombospondin 1. Lungs cultured in the presence of either reagent exhibited diminished branching and an abnormal morphology that was characterized in part by dilated airways. These findings implicate SPARC in the development of the airways.

Amino Acid Sequence↗