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PubMed1999

Possible role of non-classical chromatophorotropins on the regulation of the crustacean erythrophore.

Two neuropeptides, the pigment dispersing hormone (PDH) and the pigment concentrating hormone (PCH), are well known to respectively promote centrifugal and centripetal granule translocation in the freshwater shrimp Macrobrachium potiuna erythrophores. Herein, we demonstrate for the first time the effects of crustacean non-classical chromatophorotropins on the pigment migration in M. potiuna erythrophores. Although proctolin, 20-hydroxyecdisone (20HE), and melatonin were ineffective, the crustacean cardioactive peptide (CCAP) was a full agonist, inducing pigment dispersion in a dose-dependent manner with EC(50) of 9.5. 10(-7) M. In addition, concentrations of CCAP lower than the minimal effective dose (10(-8) and 10(-7) M) decreased the PCH-induced aggregation, shifting rightward the dose-response curve (DRC) to PCH 2.2- and 29-fold, respectively. Surprisingly, melatonin (10(-7) and 10(-6) M) also shifted to the right 8.7- and 46.5-fold, respectively, the DRC to PCH. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that besides PCH and PDH, CCAP and melatonin also regulate the pigment migration within the crustacean erythrophore. J. Exp. Zool. 284:711-716, 1999.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Characterization of a novel filament system in goldfish xanthophores.

We report the presence of a novel filament system in goldfish xanthophores using a monoclonal antibody (A2) made against 40-70 kD proteins derived from cytoskeletal preparations. On Western blots, this antibody recognized a 45 kD protein in xanthophore cell extracts. In cells with dispersed pigment, immunofluorescence staining of xanthophores revealed a uniform distribution of A2-reactive filaments. In cells with aggregated pigment, these filaments assumed a distinctively radial orientation, such that filaments emanated from the central pigment mass (CPM). At the electron microscopic level, immunogold labeling identified a filament system with a diameter of 7 nm. Overall, the cellular distribution of A2-reactive filaments was distinctly different from that of the other known components of the cytoskeleton, such as intermediate filaments, actin filaments, and microtubules. A2-reactive filaments also appeared resistant to agents known to perturb the cytoskeleton such as cytochalasin B, which depolymerized the actin filaments. When xanthophores were treated with vinblastine, shown to depolymerize microtubules and induce the collapse of intermediate filaments (vimentin and keratin) in other cell types, no effect on the A2 filament distribution was observed. On the other hand, treatment with calyculin A, a phosphatase inhibitor, converted A2 filaments into a wavy bundles, the effect of which was completely reversible by the removal of the drug from culture medium. These novel properties of A2 filaments, together with their reorganization in response to pigment translocation suggest that A2 filaments might play a yet unidentified role in intracellular organelle transport in these cells.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗
PubMed1999

Polyglutamylation of atlantic cod tubulin: immunochemical localization and possible role in pigment granule transport.

In higher organisms, there is a large variety of tubulin isoforms, due to multiple tubulin genes and extensive post-translational modification. The properties of microtubules may be modulated by their tubulin isoform composition. Polyglutamylation is a post-translational modification that is thought to influence binding of both structural microtubule associated proteins (MAPs) and mechano-chemical motors to tubulin. The present study investigates the role of tubulin polyglutamylation in a vesicle transporting system, cod (Gadus morhua) melanophores. We did this by microinjecting an antibody against polyglutamylated tubulin into these cells. To put our results into perspective, and to be able to judge their universal application, we characterized cod tubulin polyglutamylation by Western blotting technique, and compared it to what is known from mammals. We found high levels of polyglutamylation in tissues and cell types whose functions are highly dependent on interactions between microtubules and motor proteins. Microinjection of the anti-polyglutamylation antibody GT335 into cultured melanophores interfered with pigment granule dispersion, while dynein-dependent aggregation was unaffected. Additional experiments showed that GT335-injected cells were able to aggregate pigment even when actin filaments were depolymerized, indicating that the maintained ability of pigment aggregation in these cells was indeed microtubule-based and did not depend upon actin filaments. The results indicate that dynein and the kinesin-like dispersing motor protein in cod melanophores bind to tubulin on slightly different sites, and perhaps depend differentially on polyglutamylation for their interaction with microtubules. The binding site of the dispersing motor may bind directly to the polyglutamate chain, or more closely than dynein.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Ascidian tyrosinase gene: its unique structure and expression in the developing brain.

Tadpole larvae of ascidians have two sensory pigment cells in the brain. One is the otolith cell that functions as a gravity receptor, the other pigment cell is part of a primitive photosensory structure termed the ocellus. These sensory cells, like vertebrate pigment cells, contain membrane-bounded melanin granules and are considered to reflect a crucial position in the evolutionary process of this cell type. To investigate the molecular changes accompanying the evolution of pigment cells, we have isolated from Halocynthia roretzi a gene encoding tyrosinase, a key enzyme in melanin biosynthesis. The cDNA has an open reading frame (ORF) of 596 amino acids, which is 36-39% identical in amino acid sequence to vertebrate tyrosinases. In addition, the sequence analysis of both cDNA and genomic clones reveals an unusual organization of the tyrosinase gene, an extraordinary 3' untranslated region of the transcripts with significant homology to the coding sequence, and a single short intron in the sequence encoding a cytoplasmic domain. Expression of the gene is detected first in two pigment precursor cells positioned in the neural plate of early neurulae, and later in two melanin-containing pigment cells within the brain of late tailbud embryos. Its expression pattern correlates well with the appearance of tyrosinase enzyme activity in the developing brain. These results provide the first description of pigment cell differentiation at the molecular level in the ascidian embryo, and also will contribute to a better understanding of the evolution of chordate pigment cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Role of M-line proteins in sarcomeric titin assembly during cardiac myofibrillogenesis.

A rat polyclonal anti-M-line protein antiserum and three mouse monoclonal anti-titin antibodies (E2, F3, and A12) were used to study the spatiotemporal relationship between M-line proteins and titin during myofibril assembly in cultured chicken cardiomyocytes by immunofluorescence microscopy. In day 2 cultures, M-line proteins and titin were detected as punctate staining in most cardiomyocytes, which possessed many nonstriated fibrils. At a late stage (day 3 cultures), M-line proteins were incorporated into dot-like structures along nonstriated fibrils, while titin staining was continuous on these structures. As development progressed, M-line proteins were registered in periodic pattern in the mid-A band. In cardiomyocytes from day 5 cultures, the titin bands were separated by an unstained region, and achieved their adult doublet pattern. Thus, the organization of titin in the sarcomere appears to occur later than that of M-line proteins in the M-line. Our morphological data indicate that the early registration of M-line proteins in primitive myofibrils may guide titin filament alignment via interaction between M-line proteins and titin. In order to investigate the role of M-line proteins in the assembly of titin filaments, anti-M-line protein or anti-titin antibodies were introduced into cultured cardiomyocytes by electroporation to functionally bind the respective proteins, and the profile of myofibril assembly was examined. Cardiomyocytes from day 2-3 cultures with incorporated anti-M-line protein antibodies became shrunk, and exhibited defective myofibrillar assembly, as shown by the failure of titin to assemble into a typical sarcomeric pattern. Incorporation of anti-titin antibody E2, which recognizes the M-line end domain of titin, resulted in the failure of M-line proteins organized into the M-line structure, as shown by random, sporadic staining with anti-M-line protein antibody. These studies confirm the essential role of M-line proteins in the organization of titin filaments in the sarcomere and that the interaction between titin and M-line proteins is crucial to the formation of the M-line structure.

Animals↗