Involvement of cellular caveolae in bacterial entry into mast cells

Caveolae are subcellular structures implicated in the import and transcytosis of macromolecules and in transmembrane signaling. To date, evidence for the existence of caveolae in hematopoietic cells has been ambiguous. Caveolae were detected in the microvilli and intracellular vesicles of cultured mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs). CD48, a receptor for FimH-expressing (type 1 fimbriated) Escherichia coli, was specifically localized to plasmalemmal caveolae in BMMCs. The involvement of caveolae in bacterial entry into BMMCs was indicated because caveolae-disrupting and -usurping agents specifically blocked E. coli entry, and markers of caveolae were actively recruited to sites of bacterial entry. The formation of bacteria-encapsulating caveolar chambers in BMMCs represents a distinct mechanism of microbial entry into phagocytes.     

Dishevelled 2 recruits beta-arrestin 2 to mediate Wnt5A-stimulated endocytosis of Frizzled 4

Wnt proteins, regulators of development in many organisms, bind to seven transmembrane-spanning (7TMS) receptors called frizzleds, thereby recruiting the cytoplasmic molecule dishevelled (Dvl) to the plasma membrane.Frizzled-mediated endocytosis of Wg (a Drosophila Wnt protein) and lysosomal degradation may regulate the formation of morphogen gradients. Endocytosis of Frizzled 4 (Fz4) in human embryonic kidney 293 cells was dependent on added Wnt5A protein and was accomplished by the multifunctional adaptor protein beta-arrestin 2 (betaarr2), which was recruited to Fz4 by binding to phosphorylated Dvl2. These findings provide a previously unrecognized mechanism for receptor recruitment of beta-arrestin and demonstrate that Dvl plays an important role in the endocytosis of frizzled, as well as in promoting signaling.     

A role for lipid shells in targeting proteins to caveolae,rafts, and other lipid domains

The surface membrane of cells is studded with morphologically distinct regions, or domains, like microvilli, cell-cell junctions, and coated pits. Each of these domains is specialized for a particular function, such as nutrient absorption, cell-cell communication, and endocytosis. Lipid domains, which include caveolae and rafts, are one of the least understood membrane domains. These domains are high in cholesterol and sphingolipids, have a light buoyant density, and function in both endocytosis and cell signaling. A major mystery, however, is how resident molecules are targeted to lipid domains. Here, we propose that the molecular address for proteins targeted to lipid domains is a lipid shell.     

Vesicle endocytosis requires dynamin-dependent GTP hydrolysis at a fast CNS synapse

Molecular dependence of vesicular endocytosis was investigated with capacitance measurements at the calyx of Held terminal in brainstem slices. Intraterminal loading of botulinum toxin E revealed that the rapid capacitance transient implicated as "kiss-and-run" was unrelated to transmitter release. The release-related capacitance change decayed with an endocytotic time constant of 10 to 25 seconds, depending on the magnitude of exocytosis. Presynaptic loading of the nonhydrolyzable guanosine 5'-triphosphate (GTP) analog GTPgS or dynamin-1 proline-rich domain peptide abolished endocytosis. These compounds had no immediate effect on exocytosis, but caused a use-dependent rundown of exocytosis. Thus, the guanosine triphosphatase dynamin-1 is indispensable for vesicle endocytosis at this fast central nervous system (CNS) synapse.     

Recruitment of HIV and its receptors to dendritic cell-T cell junctions

Monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MDDCs) can efficiently bind and transfer HIV infectivity without themselves becoming infected. Using live-cell microscopy, we found that HIV was recruited to sites of cell contact in MDDCs. Analysis of conjugates between MDDCs and T cells revealed that, in the absence of antigen-specific signaling, the HIV receptors CD4, CCR5, and CXCR4 on the T cell were recruited to the interface while the MDDCs concentrated HIV to the same region. We propose that contact between dendritic cells and T cells facilitates transmission of HIV by locally concentrating virus, receptor, and coreceptor during the formation of an infectious synapse.     

Enhanced dendritic cell antigen capture via toll-like receptor-induced actin remodeling

Microbial products are sensed through Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and trigger a program of dendritic cell (DC) maturation that enables DCs to activate T cells. Although an accepted hallmark of this response is eventual down-regulation of DC endocytic capacity, we show that TLR ligands first acutely stimulate antigen macropinocytosis, leading to enhanced presentation on class I and class II major histocompatibility complex molecules. Simultaneously, actin-rich podosomes disappear, which suggests a coordinated redeployment of actin to fuel endocytosis. These reciprocal changes are transient and require p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation. Thus, the DC actin cytoskeleton can be rapidly mobilized in response to innate immune stimuli to enhance antigen capture and presentation.     

Assembly of clathrin-coated pits onto purified plasma membranes

During receptor-mediated endocytosis, coated pits invaginate to form coated vesicles, clathrin and associated proteins dissociate from the vesicle membrane, and these proteins form new coated pits at the cell surface. As a means of elucidating molecular mechanisms that govern the function of coated pits, the assembly phase of this cycle was reconstituted by incubating purified membranes that were treated to remove endogenous coated pits with cytoplasm extracted from cultured cells. The in vitro assembly of coated pits on these membranes satisfactorily mimics many features of coated pit formation in the intact cell. These studies indicate that: the membranes contain a limited number of coated pit assembly sites that bind clathrin with high affinity; the half-time for assembly is 5 minutes both at 4 degrees C and 37 degrees C; during assembly, proteins with molecular sizes of 180, 110, and 36 kilodaltons are recruited to the plasma membrane; and assembly is not dependent on adenosine triphosphate, but this nucleotide triggers a temperature-dependent loss of coated pits that are assembled in the absence of adenosine triphosphate.     

草莓种子实生苗的病毒分子检测

草莓易感染病毒,从而导致产量减少和品质下降。目前生产上主要采用茎尖组织培养脱毒的方法,并不能保证完全脱除病毒,还需要进行无病毒检测鉴定。因此,需进一步探索简便、高效、免检的脱毒体系。利用RT-PCR技术,以草莓肌动蛋白基因序列为内标,结合4种草莓病毒特异性扩增,验证了草莓种子实生苗不携带病毒。旨在助推种子繁殖型草莓品种的应用。     

Nebulin and N-WASP cooperate to cause IGF-1-induced sarcomeric actin filament formation

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) induces skeletal muscle maturation and enlargement (hypertrophy). These responses require protein synthesis and myofibril formation (myofibrillogenesis). However, the signaling mechanisms of myofibrillogenesis remain obscure. We found that IGF-1-induced phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-Akt signaling formed a complex of nebulin and N-WASP at the Z bands of myofibrils by interfering with glycogen synthase kinase-3β in mice. Although N-WASP is known to be an activator of the Arp2/3 complex to form branched actin filaments, the nebulin-N-WASP complex caused actin nucleation for unbranched actin filament formation from the Z bands without the Arp2/3 complex. Furthermore, N-WASP was required for IGF-1-induced muscle hypertrophy. These findings present the mechanisms of IGF-1-induced actin filament formation in myofibrillogenesis required for muscle maturation and hypertrophy and a mechanism of actin nucleation.     

脑心肌炎病毒感染Hela细胞的内吞途径

旨在探究脑心肌炎病毒(Encephalomyocarditis virus,EMCV)是否通过内吞途径以及通过何种内吞途径感染细胞,分别采用内吞途径抑制剂、网格蛋白抑制剂、巨胞饮途径抑制剂和肌动蛋白抑制剂作用于Hela细胞后接种EMCV,通过TCID_(50)、qRT-PCR和Western blot等方法检测病毒感染是否受影响。结果显示,内吞途径抑制剂和肌动蛋白抑制剂作用于Hela细胞后,TCID_(50)、qRT-PCR和Western blot等检测结果提示EMCV的感染受到抑制。表明EMCV可通过肌动蛋白参与的内吞途径感染Hela细胞。     

Requirement for coronin 1 in T lymphocyte trafficking and cellular homeostasis

The evolutionarily conserved actin-related protein (Arp2/3) complex is a key component of actin filament networks that is dynamically regulated by nucleation-promoting and inhibitory factors. Although much is known about actin assembly, the physiologic functions of inhibitory proteins are unclear. We generated coronin 1-/- mice and found that coronin 1 exerted an inhibitory effect on cellular steady-state F-actin formation via an Arp2/3-dependent mechanism. Whereas coronin 1 was required for chemokine-mediated migration, it was dispensable for T cell antigen receptor functions in T cells. Moreover, actin dynamics, through a mitochondrial pathway, was linked to lymphocyte homeostasis.     

Arginylation of beta-actin regulates actin cytoskeleton and cell motility

Posttranslational arginylation is critical for mouse embryogenesis, cardiovascular development, and angiogenesis, but its molecular effects and the identity of proteins arginylated in vivo are unknown. We found that beta-actin was arginylated in vivo to regulate actin filament properties, beta-actin localization, and lamella formation in motile cells. Arginylation of beta-actin apparently represents a critical step in the actin N-terminal processing needed for actin functioning in vivo. Thus, posttranslational arginylation of a single protein target can regulate its intracellular function, inducing global changes on the cellular level, and may contribute to cardiovascular development and angiogenesis.     

Mechanical wounding induces the formation of extensive coated membranes in giant algal cells

Mechanically wounding giant cells of Boergesenia forbesii induces the formation of bristle-coated, plasma-membrane invaginations (coated pits) and coated vesicles, easily providing a plentiful source of coated membranes in a clean cellular system unencumbered by other tissues. Contractions evoked by wounding partition the cytoplasm into hundreds of spherical protoplasts with approximately 40 percent less total plasma-membrane surface area than the original cell. Ferritin labeling and the appearance of numerous large coated pits and vesicles at the peak period of contraction indicate that these organelles play a role in extensive endocytosis of the plasma membrane.     

Use of CD134 as a primary receptor by the feline immunodeficiency virus

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) induces a disease similar to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in cats, yet in contrast to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), CD4 is not the viral receptor. We identified a primary receptor for FIV as CD134 (OX40), a T cell activation antigen and costimulatory molecule. CD134 expression promotes viral binding and renders cells permissive for viral entry, productive infection, and syncytium formation. Infection is CXCR4-dependent, analogous to infection with X4 strains of HIV. Thus, despite the evolutionary divergence of the feline and human lentiviruses, both viruses use receptors that target the virus to a subset of cells that are pivotal to the acquired immune response.     

福建脱毒甘薯应用研究

对福建甘薯病毒种类、脱毒苗的增产机理、甘薯脱毒苗的抗病性是否变化等进行了研究 ,结果表明 :供试的 6个甘薯品种的田间带毒率为 1 0 0 % ,检测出的甘薯羽状斑驳病毒 (SPFMV)、甘薯潜隐病毒 (SPLV)、甘薯褪绿斑病毒 (SPCFV)中SPFMV是最主要的种类。脱毒甘薯的主茎长度、叶片数、茎分枝数、茎叶鲜重、叶面积系数均高于普通甘薯。生长势强、结薯较早、收获期大薯的数量和重量显著增加 ,是脱毒甘薯能显著增产的主要原因。脱毒“岩薯 5号”变异株对甘薯蔓割病、薯瘟病的抗性明显强于未脱毒的“岩薯 5号” ,经茎尖培养的甘薯脱毒苗 ,其抗病性存在变异的可能性     

Membrane-associated particles: increase at sites of pinocytosis demonstrated by freeze-etching

An increased number of membrane-associated particles has been demonstrated by freeze-etching in areas of pinocytosis in the intestinal smooth muscle cell. A peculiar distribution of the particles is described, which might be closely related to the formation of pinocytotic vesicles (caveolae).     

小麦生理型雄性不育系微丝骨架和胼胝质的变化与其相关基因的表达分析

【目的】研究生理型雄性不育小麦花粉细胞内微丝和胼胝质的结构及其相关基因的表达,并揭示其与生理型雄性不育的关系,为进一步研究化学杂交剂SQ-1诱导小麦生理型雄性不育的机理提供一定的理论依据。【方法】以化学杂交剂SQ-1诱导的生理型雄性不育系ms(A)-西农1376及对应正常可育系(A)-西农1376为试材,用TRITC-phalloidin标记细胞内微丝,苯胺蓝标记胼胝质,qRT-PCR技术分别对肌动蛋白解聚因子TaADF（Actin depolymerizing factor）、类葡聚糖合成酶TaGSL（Glucan synthase-like）进行差异表达分析。【结果】(1)在减数分裂前期Ⅰ、中期Ⅰ、后期Ⅰ这三个时期,生理型雄性不育系花粉细胞的微丝结构与可育系没有显著差异：前期Ⅰ,微丝分布于整个细胞质中,细胞核区域也可见少量微丝环绕细胞核;中期Ⅰ,微丝分布在细胞质中,在形成纺锤体部位染色更深,形成纺锤体微丝,由细胞两极发出的纺锤体微丝伸向赤道板;后期Ⅰ,在向两极移动的染色体的中间部位染色较深,微丝分布较多。(2)在早末期Ⅰ,与可育系相比,不育系花粉细胞没有形成清晰且明显可见的中国灯笼状成膜体微丝结构,且在细胞中线部位亦没有清晰可见的微丝累积。(3)晚末期Ⅰ,可育系花粉细胞在形成细胞板的部位是线性的、平滑的,成膜体微丝消失,而不育系花粉细胞在形成细胞板的部位形成了很大的缝隙,同时,可育系胼胝质在细胞板处的沉积比较平滑,而不育系胼胝质在细胞板处的沉积较可育系相比缺乏,并且是褶皱的、有裂纹的。(4)四分体时期,可育系花粉可见围绕细胞核的辐射状微丝,不育系花粉细胞中微丝呈模糊状态,并且不育系中胼胝质染色的整体荧光强度较可育系减弱。利用实时荧光定量PCR技术分析肌动蛋白解聚因子TaADF和类葡聚糖合成酶TaGSL在减数分裂期的相对表达量,结果发现,不育系中TaADF的相对表达量是可育系的4.28倍,由于TaADF表达量上调,加剧了细胞内微丝解聚,微丝结构受到破坏,同时不育系中TaGSL表达量下降,只有可育系的0.83倍,胼胝质的沉积也受到影响。【结论】TaADF在不育系中上调表达,破坏了细胞内微丝的正常结构,使微丝不能正常行使其功能,进而可能导致花药发育中与育性相关的某些代谢通路等受到影响。与此同时,微丝结构的破坏导致细胞板形成出现异常也可能是引起胼胝质在细胞板处沉积受到影响的一个重要原因。因此,微丝和胼胝质的异常变化与化学杂交剂SQ-1诱导的生理型雄性不育密切相关。     

Actin network architecture can determine myosin motor activity

The organization of actin filaments into higher-ordered structures governs eukaryotic cell shape and movement. Global actin network size and architecture are maintained in a dynamic steady state through regulated assembly and disassembly. Here, we used experimentally defined actin structures in vitro to investigate how the activity of myosin motors depends on network architecture. Direct visualization of filaments revealed myosin-induced actin network deformation. During this reorganization, myosins selectively contracted and disassembled antiparallel actin structures, while parallel actin bundles remained unaffected. The local distribution of nucleation sites and the resulting orientation of actin filaments appeared to regulate the scalability of the contraction process. This "orientation selection" mechanism for selective contraction and disassembly suggests how the dynamics of the cellular actin cytoskeleton can be spatially controlled by actomyosin contractility.     

Mutant Sl alleles of mice affect susceptibility to Friend spleen focus-forming virus

Mice of genotypes S1/S1(d), S1/+, and S1(d)/+ (but not S1(T)/S1(T) or S1(T)/+) were resistant to spleen focucs-forming virus. The "environment" in which hemopoietic target cells for this virus develop was not conducive for infection or focus formation, or both, but the target cells were not altered directly. The same genes appear to regulate hemopoiesis and leukemogenic transformation.     

植物及大型真菌抽提物抗植物病毒活性的研究

对40科100多种野生植物、中草药及十几种大型真菌抽提物进行了抗植物病毒筛选的研究,发现有多种植物及大型真菌抽提液对烟草花叶病毒(TMV)或黄瓜花叶病毒(CMV)有钝化作用,其中藜科植物S.L抽提液对TMV及CMV兼有钝化作用和一定的治疗效果。对部分有参考价值的植物和大型真菌材料的抗病毒筛选结果进行了总结和分析。