Correlation between potassium and phosphorus content and their nonuniform distribution in Acanthamoeba castellanii

Osmotic gradients and transretinal water flow-a quantitative elemental microanalytical study of frozen hydrated chick eyes

Optical clarity and efficient phototransduction are necessary for optimal vision, however, how the associated processes of osmoregulation and continuous fluid drainage across the whole eye are achieved remains relatively unexplored. Hence, we have employed elemental microanalysis of planed surfaces of light-adapted bulk frozen-hydrated chick eyes to determine the unique intracellular elemental localization, compositions, and hydration states that contribute to maintaining osmotic gradients and water flow from the vitreous, across the retina, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), to choroid and sclera. As expected, the greatest difference in resultant osmotic concentration gradients, [calculated using the combined concentrations of sodium (Na) and potassium (K)] and tissue hydration [oxygen-defined water concentration], occurs in the outer retina and, in particular, in the RPE where the apical and basal membranes are characterized by numerous bioenergetically active, osmoregulating ion transport mechanisms, aquaporins, and chloride (Cl) channels. Our results also demonstrate that the high intracellular Na+ and K+ concentrations in the apical region of the RPE are partially derived from the melanosomes. The inclusion of the ubiquitous osmolyte taurine to the calculation of the osmotic gradients suggests a more gradual increase in the osmotic transport of water from the vitreous into the ganglion cell layer across the inner retina to the outer segments of the photoreceptor/apical RPE region where the water gradient increases rapidly towards the basal membrane. Thus transretinal water is likely to cross the apical membrane from the retina into the RPE cells down the Na+ and K+ derived osmotic concentration gradient and leave the RPE for the choroid across the basal membrane down the Cl- derived osmotic concentration gradient that is sustained by the well-described bioenergetically active RPE ion transporters and channels.

Electron probe microanalysis of cytoplasmic concentrations of elements in a single cell in culture and suspension

Electron probe microanalysis is a method for evaluation of concentrations of elements at the subcellular level, effective in studies of an individual cell in culture or suspension. Intracellular concentrations of cytoplasmic ions (K+, Na+, Cl-) most rapidly and markedly reacting to changes is an adequate criterion for evaluating the traumatism of manipulations used in cell technologies. Using electron probe microanalysis it will be possible to develop special procedures (for example, therapeutic cloning) for reprogramming or cryopreservation, when intactness of intracellular balance of element serves as the criterion of cell status.

Local accumulation of alpha-spectrin-related protein under plasma membrane during capping and phagocytosis in Acanthamoeba

During capping and phagocytosis the interaction between cluster cell surface receptors and the submembraneous actin-based skeleton may be mediated by spectrin-like proteins. To test this possibility we examined the localization of an alpha-spectrin immunoanalogue, that had been previously identified in whole extracts of Acanthamoeba, during capping of Con A receptors and during phagocytosis of Con A-coated yeast. During capping alpha-spectrin and filamentous actin co-migrated with the Con A receptors and accumulated in the region of cap formation, as demonstrated by double immunofluorescence studies. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed submembraneous location of alpha-spectrin in cells exposed to Con A, both at the time of initial cross-linking and during accumulation of alpha-spectrin in the region of the cap. Phagocytosis studies showed that alpha-spectrin and actin filaments were concentrated around phagocytic cups that enclosed ConA-coated yeast upon internalization. The proteins also surrounded nascent phagosomes present in the vicinity of the plasma membrane but were absent at the later time point of phagosome maturation. These data demonstrate a correlation between clustering of cell surface receptors and submembraneous localization of alpha-spectrin, suggesting an involvement of spectrin-like proteins in mediating the interaction of receptor clusters with the actin cytoskeleton.

X-ray microanalysis of chlorine and phosphorus content in biguanide-treated Acanthamoeba castellanii

Energy dispersive analysis of X-rays (EDAX) was used to study the effects of chlorhexidine diacetate (CHA) and polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) on Acanthamoeba castellanii. A high variation of elements occurred in untreated individual cells and only two elements, Cl (a biocide marker) and P, were investigated. X-ray dot mapping of untreated trophozoites and cysts revealed that Cl in cells was uniformly distributed throughout the cytoplasm, whereas P was less dense in the vacuoles. X-ray dots of Cl in biocide-treated trophozoites and cysts appeared denser and evenly distributed within the cells as the biguanide concentration increased. Quantitative analysis of either CHA or PHMB within the cells using Cl as an elemental marker was unsatisfactory because of the high Cl levels in untreated cells. The apparent increases of P in some experiments with treated cells might be associated with reduced permeability, protein coagulation or aggregation of phospholipids.