Association of Phosphatidylinositol Kinase, Phosphatidylinositol Monophosphate Kinase, and Diacylglycerol Kinase with the Cytoskeleton and F-Actin Fractions of Carrot (Daucus carota L.) Cells Grown in Suspension Culture : Response to Cell Wall-Degrading Enzymes

Phosphatidylinositol kinase (PI), phosphatidylinositol monophosphate (PIP) kinase, and diacylglycerol (DAG) kinase activities were detected in the cytoskeletal fraction isolated from microsomes and plasma membranes of carrot (Daucus carota L.) cells grown in suspension culture. The lipid kinase activities were associated with the actin filament fraction (F-actin fraction) isolated from the cytoskeleton. The PI and PIP kinase activity in the F-actin fraction significantly increased after cells were treated with Driselase, a mixture of cell wall-degrading enzymes; however, the DAG kinase activity in the F-actin fraction was unaffected by the Driselase treatment. These data indicate that at least one form of PI, PIP, and DAG kinase preferentially associates with actin filaments and/or actin binding proteins and that cytoskeletal-associated PI and PIP kinase activities can change in response to external stimulation.

Oxygen-dependent reperfusion injury in the isolated rat lung

To further define the relationship between oxygen dependence of lung injury during ischemia and ischemia-reperfusion, we used the isolated, perfused, and ventilated rat lung model, so that oxygenation and perfusion could be separated. During ischemia, lungs were ventilated with various oxygen concentrations and then ventilated with 95% oxygen during the 60-min reperfusion period. Other lungs were ventilated with 0% oxygen (nitrogen) during ischemia, and the reperfusion phase oxygen concentration was varied. Tissue and perfusate lipid peroxidation products (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and conjugated dienes), dry-to-wet weight ratio, and lactate dehydrogenase were measured as indexes of lung damage. In addition, electron microscopy of some lungs was performed. Results demonstrate an oxygen dependence of lipid peroxidation in both the ischemic and reperfusion phases, but lipid peroxidation is severalfold greater in the reperfusion than in the ischemic phase. Products of lipid peroxidation closely correlate with indexes of lung injury (dry-to-wet weight ratio, lactate dehydrogenase, and electron microscopy).

Electrolyte induced vesiculation of MA782 mice mammary adenocarcinoma ascites cells

MA782 ascites cells were found to vesiculate when incubated in electrolyte solutions and release giant plasma membrane vesicles with diameters ranging from 5 microns to 15 microns. The vesicles, generated from the plasma membrane and free of cellular organelles, as visualized by microscopy and marker-enzyme analysis, could be proposed as a useful model membrane system.

Solution conformation of d-CTCGAGCTCGAG by two-dimensional NMR: conformational heterogeneity at XhoI cleavage site

Nonexchangeable proton resonances in the 500-MHz NMR spectrum of d-CTCGAGCTCGAG have been assigned by using two-dimensional correlated spectroscopy (COSY) and nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy (NOESY). 1H-1H coupling constants (J) in the deoxyribose rings have been measured by analyzing intensity and multiplet patterns in the phase-sensitive omega 1-scaled COSY spectra. A modification of the J-resolved technique, called amplitude-modulated J-resolved spectroscopy, has been described and used to increase the accuracy of J measurements. Absorption mode omega 1-scaled NOESY spectra at mixing times in the range 50-200 ms have been analyzed to monitor spin diffusion. A 50-ms spectrum has been used to estimate several interproton distances. The coupling constant and distance data have been used to arrive at sequence-specific sugar geometries and glycosidic torsion angles. The backbone structure has been refined by model building using the FRODO program, employing the sugar geometries and glycosidic torsion angles discussed above. The molecule shows interesting sequence-dependent variations in the structure. The cleavage site of the restriction enzyme XhoI exhibits unique differences in the sugar geometry and backbone torsion angles.