Generation of cell polarity in plants links endocytosis, auxin distribution and cell fate decisions

Dynamically polarized membrane proteins define different cell boundaries and have an important role in intercellular communication-a vital feature of multicellular development. Efflux carriers for the signalling molecule auxin from the PIN family are landmarks of cell polarity in plants and have a crucial involvement in auxin distribution-dependent development including embryo patterning, organogenesis and tropisms. Polar PIN localization determines the direction of intercellular auxin flow, yet the mechanisms generating PIN polarity remain unclear. Here we identify an endocytosis-dependent mechanism of PIN polarity generation and analyse its developmental implications. Real-time PIN tracking showed that after synthesis, PINs are initially delivered to the plasma membrane in a non-polar manner and their polarity is established by subsequent endocytic recycling. Interference with PIN endocytosis either by auxin or by manipulation of the Arabidopsis Rab5 GTPase pathway prevents PIN polarization. Failure of PIN polarization transiently alters asymmetric auxin distribution during embryogenesis and increases the local auxin response in apical embryo regions. This results in ectopic expression of auxin pathway-associated root-forming master regulators in embryonic leaves and promotes homeotic transformation of leaves to roots. Our results indicate a two-step mechanism for the generation of PIN polar localization and the essential role of endocytosis in this process. It also highlights the link between endocytosis-dependent polarity of individual cells and auxin distribution-dependent cell fate establishment for multicellular patterning.     

Purple membrane resists cell adhesion

Bacteriorhodopsin is a well-known photoresponsive protein in the cell membrane of Halobacterium salinarum and exists in the patch called the purple membrane (PM). This letter reports, for the first time, its new function as a natural non-fouling substance for resisting cell adhesion. Mammalian cells such as murine preosteocytes MC3T3-E1 were seeded on the PM film. A significant resistance to cell adhesion on the film was found.     

Blebbing, free Ca2+ and mitochondrial membrane potential preceding cell death in hepatocytes

Cell surface 'blebbing' is an early consequence of hypoxic and toxic injury to cells. A rise in cytosolic free Ca2+ has been suggested as the stimulus for bleb formation and the final common pathway to irreversible cell injury. Here, using digitized low-light video microscopy, we examine blebbing, cytosolic free Ca2+, mitochondrial membrane potential and loss of cell viability in individual cultured hepatocytes. Unexpectedly, we found that after 'chemical hypoxia' with cyanide and iodoacetate, cytosolic free Ca2+ does not change during bleb formation or before loss of cellular viability. Cell death was precipitated by a sudden breakdown of the plasma membrane permeability barrier, possibly caused by rupture of a cell surface bleb.     

质子交换膜燃料电池膜电极的关键技术

 膜电极是多相物质传输和电化学反应场所,决定着燃料电池的性能、寿命及成本。本文分析膜电极当前技术现状与商业化目标,梳理膜电极分类及经过梯度化膜电极向有序化膜电极发展的技术脉络,介绍近年来超低Pt载量的第三代膜电极-有序化膜电极的新进展,比较各种有序化膜电极制备方法的优缺点。目前有序化膜电极在铂族元素总载量为0.118 mg/cm²下取得的最好性能为861 mW/cm²@0.692 V,0.137 g/kW,成本降至5美元/kW,Q/ΔT值从2013年的1.9下降到1.45。从降低Pt用量及简化燃料电池发电系统、降低系统成本的角度看,自增湿有序化膜电极是未来膜电极开发的重要方向。     

Enzymatic activity and chromatographic characteristics of the cell membrane immobilized on silica surface

A new cell membrane preparation. silica carrier cell membrane (CCM), has been presented, in which cell membrane was immobilized on silica which acted as carrier by the absorption. The surface characteristics of the silica CCM have been tested by a scanning electron microscope and surface energy spectrometer. Comparison has been made of the changeable rule of enzymatic activity of rabbit red cell membrane in three states: the silica CCM, the suspension and the precipitation cell membranes, with temperature and time. The result showed that the silica CCM still keeps the same enzymatic activity as the other two states of cell membranes. The interactions between calcium antagonists and rabbi red and cardiac muscle cell membranes, and the stereoscopic interactions between dihydropridines and rabbit cerebellar cell membrane have been investigated by the chromatographic system of the silica CCM as a stationary phase. From the foregoing results, the chromatographic parameters obtained from the system would be expected to indicate the special interaction and enantioselectivity between drugs and membrane receptorsin vivo.     

肾气丸对衰老大鼠心肌、肝脏细胞凋亡及线粒体膜电位的影响

目的：观察肾气丸对D-半乳糖（D-gal）致衰老模型大鼠心肌、肝脏细胞凋亡及线粒体膜电位的影响.方法：Wistar大鼠随机分为4组,每组10只：正常组,模型组,肾气丸低、高剂量组.制备D-gal大鼠衰老模型,采用流式细胞技术观察心肌、肝脏细胞凋亡及线粒体膜电位变化,ELISA法测定心肌、肝脏组织超氧化物歧化酶（Superoxide Dismutase,SOD）、丙二醛（Malomdialdehvde,MDA）含量变化.结果：与模型组比较,肾气丸组大鼠心肌、肝脏细胞凋亡率明显下降（P ＜0.05或P＜0.01）,线粒体膜电位明显升高（P＜0.05或P＜0.01）;心肌、肝脏组织SOD含量均明显升高（P＜0.05或P＜0.01）,MDA含量明显下降（P＜0.05或P＜0.01）.结论：肾气丸可阻断衰老大鼠心肌、肝脏细胞线粒体膜电位的下降,抑制细胞凋亡,其作用机理与肾气丸提高心肌、肝脏组织抗氧化功能有关.     

人红细胞膜固定相在抗人胸腺细胞免疫球蛋白生产中的应用

为了建立一种兔抗人胸腺细胞免疫球蛋白生产中抗红细胞杂抗体的去除方法,收集人红细胞,裂解收集红细胞膜,以硅胶为载体,将人红细胞膜固定在其表面制备成红细胞膜固定相,用人红细胞膜固定相吸附兔抗人胸腺细胞免疫球蛋白中抗红细胞杂抗体并测定其使用效率。结果表明,用人红细胞膜固定相吸附杂抗体,兔抗人胸腺细胞免疫球蛋白总收率从2979mg／L提高至3607mg／L,进行t检验,P〈0．01,具显著性差异,并且人红细胞膜固定相重复使用15次保持81．8％的活性,具有良好的应用前景。     

Establishment of the model of vascular endothelial cell membrane chromatography and its preliminary application

A model of vascular endothelial cell membrane chromatography was established by using an ECV304 cell membrane stationary phase (ECV304 CMSP) prepared by immobilizing the ECV304 cell membrane onto the surface of silica carrier. The surface and chromatographic characteristics of ECV304 CMSP were studied. The active component from Caulophyllum robustum was screened by using the model of vascular endothelial cell membrane chromatography. The interaction between the active component and membrane receptor was determined by using a replace experiments. The effect of the active component was tested by using tube formation of ECV304 cell. The results indicated that the model of ECV304 cell membrane chromatograph (ECV304 CMC) can stimulate the interaction between drug and receptor in vitro and the retention characteristics of taspine as active component was similar to that of model molecule in the model of ECV304 CMC. And therefore, taspine acted on VEGFR2 and inhibited the tube formation of ECV304 cell induced by VEGF. This model can be used to screen definite active component as a screening model.     

Regulated portals of entry into the cell

The plasma membrane is the interface between cells and their harsh environment. Uptake of nutrients and all communication among cells and between cells and their environment occurs through this interface. 'Endocytosis' encompasses several diverse mechanisms by which cells internalize macromolecules and particles into transport vesicles derived from the plasma membrane. It controls entry into the cell and has a crucial role in development, the immune response, neurotransmission, intercellular communication, signal transduction, and cellular and organismal homeostasis. As the complexity of molecular interactions governing endocytosis are revealed, it has become increasingly clear that it is tightly coordinated and coupled with overall cell physiology and thus, must be viewed in a broader context than simple vesicular trafficking.     

Hormonal regulation of peptide receptors and target cell responses.

Regulation of plasma membrane receptors for peptide hormones by the prevailing ligand concentration often causes altered target cell function. Receptor number is determined by hormone-induced changes in membrane conformation, irreversible ligand binding, and processing of ligand-receptor complexes during hormone action.     

Finite element models and molecular dynamic simulations for studying the response of mast cell under mechanical activation

In micropipette aspiration experiment, increasing mechanical stress applied to cell membrane induced degranulation of mast cell as well as a current that could be inhibited by an inhibitor, which is specific for the transient receptor potential vanilloid （TRPVs） channels. To determine the sensitivity of TRPVs to membrane strain and tension, and to gain new insights into the activation mechanism of TRPVs, finite element models of mast cell and molecular dynamic simulations of human aquaporin-1 are presented. During the finite element simulations, the cell membrane sustained to micropipette aspiration was simulated, and the strain distribution along membrane thickness direction was obtained. Besides, combining the finite element models of osteoblast aspirated into micro- pipette and other compared models, we examined the relationship between cell mechanical stimulations and mechanical attributes and presented a new perspective to determine the cell equivalent elastic modulus. Consid- ering the indetermination of TRPV crystal structure, human aquaporin-1, one kind of the channel membrane proteins, substituting for TRPV, has been studied with molecular dynamic （MD） simulations, under different external lateral tensions which have been obtained in mast cell finite ele- ment simulations, to investigate the mechanical stimulation effects on the membrane channels. The simulations show that human aquaporin-1 undergoes significant conforma- tional change and expands in accordance with lateraltension, which not only confirms the tendency of the pre- vious electrophysiological experiments but also leads us to a better understanding of TRPVs. The multi-scale study combining finite element simulation and MD simulation is a significant breakthrough in the field of mechanical mechanism in cell system.     

直接甲醇燃料电池管状阴极的制备与性能

以管状金属钛网为支撑体,采用浸涂工艺在其外表面依次制备了气体扩散层、Pt/C催化层和Nafion 膜,制得管状阴极,并分析了影响电池性能的因素.研究结果表明,采用浆液浸涂工艺制备的阴极气体扩散层与催化层,均具有有利于气体传质和电化学反应的多孔结构.随着阴极催化剂载量的增加,单电池的性能也逐渐提高.当Pt载量为4.3 mg/cm2时,常温下以空气作为氧化剂,电池功率密度峰值约为12.3 mW/cm2,而同样的电池,在60 ℃下以氧气作为氧化剂,则可以达到40.0 mW/cm2,这表明温度和氧化剂种类与催化剂载量一样,是影响电池性能的重要因素.电池经约100 h工作时间后进行的等电压放电试验结果表明,该管状Ti基阴极的电化学稳定性优良.     

仙人掌多糖对荷瘤小鼠肿瘤细胞钙泵的影响

研究了食用仙人掌多糖、药用仙人掌多糖对S180小鼠肿瘤细胞膜Ca2 -ATPase的活性影响.结果表明,二者均能明显抑制荷瘤小鼠肿瘤细胞膜上Ca2 -ATPase的活性.仙人掌多糖的这一作用改变了荷瘤小鼠细胞膜的物质、能量平衡,推测其作用可能表现为促进肿瘤细胞的凋亡.     

Control of malarial invasion by phosphorylation of the host cell membrane cytoskeleton

It has been shown that the entry of the malaria parasite into the red blood cell requires the presence of ATP in the host cell cytoplasm. In red blood cell ghosts that contain no ATP the receptor on the extracellular surface remains in place and parasites will bind to the membrane, but will not enter. ATP is thus necessary for one of the steps in the invasion sequence that follows recognition and attachment. The process of entry appears to involve the active participation of the host cell membrane cytoskeleton. We have suggested that the function of the intracellular ATP may be to regulate phosphorylation of the cytoskeleton. We now present evidence that the activity of the membrane-associated cyclic AMP-independent kinase of the red blood cell is inseparable from invasion; the active substrate may be spectrin.     

Superresolution measurement on the minute fluctuation of cell membrane

A wide variety of the physical properties of cell membrane reflect life-cycle processes, including me- tabolism, respiration, photosynthesis, signal transduc- tion, transmembrane transport, and so on. So it is sig- nificant to investigate the elastic prop…     

2020年细胞力学热点回眸

 概述了2020年细胞力学研究的热点和进展，探讨了细胞膜表面张力、细胞粘附力、细胞弹性模量、细胞与纳米颗粒相对刚度等对细胞生物学行为的影响及其在疾病诊疗中的应用。     

质子交换膜燃料电池膜电极关键材料研究进展

膜电极是质子交换膜燃料电池(PEMFC)的关键技术部件,本文根据其构造综述了近几年国内外在膜材料、电极催化剂和气体扩散层方面的研究进展,包括Nafion改良膜、磺化聚芳烃（SPA/SPE）类膜、Pt改性催化剂、非贵金属催化剂以及气体扩散层。对各种材料进行了评价和比较,并指出今后应着眼于Nafion膜的简便改良方法、芳香烃聚合物共混膜的研制、含有Co、N等电极催化剂的研究以及具微孔层、表面较粗糙、疏水性较大的扩散层的研发。     

Non-uniform Ca2+ buffer distribution in a nerve cell body

In nerve cells, Ca2+ influx through voltage-dependent channels in the membrane causes a transient rise in the intracellular, free Ca2+ concentration. Such changes have been shown to be important for the release of transmitter at the axon terminal and for the control of the movement of ions through channels in the soma membrane. The transient behaviour of the rise in Ca2+ concentration can, in part, be explained by the presence of sequestering systems in the cell which tend to limit the magnitude and duration of changes in internal Ca2+ (refs 7--10). It is possible that systems involved in buffering changes in internal Ca2+ are not distributed uniformly throughout the cell. This is particularly likely in the cell body, where a significant portion of the cytoplasm is occupied by the nucleus, whose buffering capacity may differ from that of other cellular regions. We report here that in the soma of a molluscan pacemaker neurone, the machinery responsible for short-term buffering of Ca2+ ions is localized near the inner surface of the plasma membrane.     

纳米材料在植物细胞生物学研究中的应用

纳米材料已广泛应用于药物载体、生物传感器、成像技术以及基因治疗等研究,相对于动物细胞而言,纳米材料在植物细胞生物学中的应用相对滞后,目前主要集中在量子点探针标记技术和纳米基因载体介导外源基因遗传转化两方面。据此,笔者主要介绍了近年来的量子点合成及功能化等方面的进展,特别对于在植物细胞成像中应用进行了评述。另外还介绍了纳米基因载体的种类和特征,以及在植物完整细胞或原生质体中介导外源基因遗传转化等方面的研究进展。笔者认为已有的纳米材料存在粒径过大或自身的细胞毒性过大,限制了其在植物细胞生物学中的进一步应用,所以针对植物细胞自身特征,设计合成新型的纳米材料将是未来研究的焦点。