Calcium release from frog sarcoplasmic reticulum by an imidazolyl reagent

Summary Calcium is released from the isolated heavy sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) of frog skeletal muscle upon application of 0.1–1 mM diethylpyrocarbonate (DEP, an imidazolyl reagent). The Ca-ATPase activity of SR was suppressed by 20% in the presence of 1 mM DEP. More than 1 mM of free magnesium ion or 5 M ruthenium red eliminated the effect of DEP on calcium release but not on Ca-ATPase activity. A plausible site of DEP action is on the calcium channel.     

Bromocriptine-induced removal of endoplasmic membranes from prolactinoma cells

Summary Adenomatous prolactin cells lose 39% of their cytoplasm volume within 7 days after the beginning of bromocriptine treatment. A simultaneous reduction of the rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus occurs. Their membranes are removed by rapid transport along the secretory pathway to the cell surface and to lysosomal destruction.We thank Prof. E. del Pozo, Sandoz Ltd, Basle, for the generous gift of injectable bromocriptine, Prof. E.R. Weibel, Dept. of Anatomy, University of Bern, for his technical advice, Dr U. Helfenstein, Institute of Biostatistics, University of Zürich, for his help in the statistical evaluation of the results and the EMDO-Foundation, Zürich, for financial support.     

Non-host-selective fungal phytotoxins: Biochemical aspects of their mode of action

During the last decade increasing attention has been directed towards the biochemical mechanisms responsible for the biological activity of phytotoxins. Studies on the mode of action of some non-host-selective phytotoxins, some following on from previous observations, have demonstrated a very specific interaction with particular components of the cell machinery, and have suggested the possible use of these phytotoxins as tools for the investigation of important biochemical processes. This review article reports and discusses results of studies carried out in the 1980s with seven non-host-selective fungal toxins: brefeldin A, cercosporin,Cercospora beticola toxin, fusicoccin, ophiobolins, tentoxin, and zinniol. Each of these interferes with the life of the host by interacting with a different biochemical target.     

Functions of reticulons in plants: What we can learn from animals and yeasts

Reticulons (RTNs) are membrane-spanning proteins sharing a typical domain named reticulon homology domain (RHD). RTN genes have been identified in all eukaryotic organisms examined so far, and the corresponding proteins have been found predominantly associated to the endoplasmic reticulum membranes. In animal and yeast, in which knowledge of the protein family is more advanced, RTNs are involved in numerous cellular processes such as apoptosis, cell division and intracellular trafficking. Up to now, a little attention has been paid to their plant counterparts, i.e., RTNLBs. In this review, we summarize the data available for RTNLB proteins and, using the data obtained with animal and yeast models, several functions for RTNLBs in plant cells are proposed and discussed. Received 01 July 2008; received after revision 08 September 2008; accepted 30 September 2008     

内质网应激对小鼠脂肪组织的影响

为了探究内质网应激对小鼠白色脂肪组织的影响,通过腹腔注射衣霉素(tunicamycin, TM)诱导小鼠体内内质网应激,构建内质网应激小鼠模型,然后获取小鼠附睾处白色脂肪组织,并采用RT-PCR和Western blot检测白色脂肪组织中内质网应激相关因子的mRNA水平及蛋白表达情况,通过荧光显微镜观察白色脂肪组织细胞的变化,测定甘油三酯、游离脂肪酸含量及脂肪细胞因子和炎症因子分泌情况.结果表明：1.0 mg/kg TM处理72 h诱导小鼠内质网应激效果最佳;内质网应激可以导致白色脂肪组织比例减少,脂肪细胞直径减小,脂解反应增多,脂肪细胞因子分泌减少及炎症反应增多等.该研究结果说明内质网应激可以诱导小鼠脂肪组织中发生脂解,进而介导脂代谢紊乱.     

几种植物分生组织细胞高尔基体的超微结构

应用电镜观察石刁柏胚芽、水仙幼叶、根尖和甜菊愈伤组织等分生细胞高尔基体、液泡以及内质网和细胞壁之间的联系,在高尔基体的形成面,由内质网芽生的运输小泡,分布于高尔基潴泡周围,高尔基潴泡末端扩大发展形成高尔基液泡,在分生细胞的大小液泡,是由高尔基潴泡末端扩大形成的,这些液泡合并形成中央液泡.在细胞壁的形成过程中,高尔基小泡沿着细胞壁边缘转移,并且与质膜融合。     

烟草叶肉原生质体再生壁形成的电镜研究

电镜观察表明,新分离的烟草叶肉原生质体表面光滑,在质膜外没有纤维状物质,内质网和高尔基体几乎没有发育:培养1天后,线粒体明显增加,粗面内质网和高尔基体沿质膜发育,质膜变得粗糙;2天后,质膜发生折皱,高尔基囊泡向质膜外分泌它的内含物;6天后,质膜表面出现明显松散分布的再生壁。在培养基中附加200 ppm香豆素处理,在培养1天后,质膜仍然光滑,未出现内质网和高尔基体;2天后,质膜开始变粗糙,内质网开始发育。试验表明,质膜、内质网、高尔基体在原生质体再生壁形成中起重要作用,并讨论了它们的可能作用。香豆素可能是在一定时同内,通过抑制质膜的活动和内质网、高尔基体的发育而抑制壁的再生。     

Differential distribution of TASK-1, TASK-2 and TASK-3 immunoreactivities in the rat and human cerebellum

In this work, the distributions of some acid-sensitive two-pore-domain K⁺ channels (TASK-1, TASK-2 and TASK-3) were investigated in the rat and human cerebellum. Astrocytes situated in rat cerebellar tissue sections were positive for TASK-2 channels. Purkinje cells were strongly stained and granule cells and astrocytes were moderately positive for TASK-3. Astrocytes isolated from the hippocampus, cerebellum and cochlear nucleus expressed TASK channels in a primary tissue culture. Our results suggest that TASK channel expression may be significant in the endoplasmic reticulum of the astrocytes. The human cerebellum showed weak TASK-2 immunolabelling. The pia mater, astrocytes, Purkinje and granule cells demonstrated strong TASK-1 and TASK-3 positivities. The TASK-3 labelling was stronger in general, but it was particularly intense in the Purkinje cells and pia mater.Received 25 February 2004; received after revision 19 April 2004; accepted 28 April 2004     

Morphological differentiation of the growing oocyte ofCtenomys torquatus (Rodentia,Octodontidae)

Summary The ultrastructural changes observed during the growth phase of oocytes ofCtenomys torquatus (Rodentia, Octodontidae) are reported. Interest was particularly centered on the transformation and/or distribution of the components of the endoplasmic reticulum. According to the observations made it is suggested that the endoplasmic reticulum stores some kind of material which may support early stages of development.