• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.90-92
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• 2010

Staining profiles and bacterial morphology were compared in Xanthomonas citri pv. citri by a transmission electron microscopy. Four types of negative staining regimes were employed depending on culture media and heavy metal stains. The bacterial cells grown on LB agar media often appeared clustered on the supporting film. Meanwhile, individual bacterial cells could be readily found on the preparations from LB broth media. Typical rod-shaped cells (ca. $1\;{\mu}m$ in length) and their flagella were observed in either 2% uranyl acetate (UA) or 2% neutralized potassium phosphotungstate (PTA) staining. The UA-stained bacteria often showed relatively intact cell morphology and rather positively stained cells with a thin electron-dense stain depth around bacteria. The PTA-stained bacteria were characterized by the wrinkled cell surface where the stain was entrapped in grooves. In addition, distinct electron-dense stain depth was evident around the PTA-stained preparations. Numerous fimbriae could be mostly observed from the PTA-stained preparations of the two culture media, but not from the UA-stained preparations.

• ALGAE
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.363-368
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• 2005

The brown alga Ascophyllum nodosum and its mutualistic, ascomycete symbiont, Mycophycias ascophylli, form a complex ‘rganism’or symbiotum. Here we show the interaction of the symbiotum to the abundant brown algal epiphyte, Elachista fucicola. Microscopy of field-collected plants shows morphological responses of A. nodosum to the common epiphyte E. fucicola. When E. fucicola attaches to A. nodosum a bundle of several to dozens of rhizoids penetrates into the host. On the surface of the host, the cells proliferate to form a donut-shaped ring, 100-200 μm in height that surrounds the thallus of E. fucicola. A pit forms in advance of the rhizoids and the cells of A. nodosum break down. This leaves the network of fungal hyphae partially intact and intermingling with the epiphyte rhizoids and its lowermost cells. After the pit is formed, the cells of A. nodosum bordering the infection chamber redifferentiate an epidermal layer. Neither the host nor its mutualistic fungus, M. ascophylli appears to recognize E. fucicola as an invader and to prevent the attachment and growth of this epiphyte. Based on the physical damage to the host caused by invading rhizoids, we conclude that the relationship of E. fucicola to A. nodosum is that of a parasite and its host.

• Animal cells and systems
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.405-409
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• 2009

When DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) were induced in mammalian cells, many DNA damage response proteins are accumulated at damage sites to form nuclear foci called IR-induced foci. Although the formation of foci has been shown to promote repair efficiency, the structural organization of chromatin in foci remains obscure. BAF53 is an actin-related protein which is required for maintenance of chromosome territory. In this study, we show that the formation of IR-induced foci by $\gamma$-H2AX and 53BP1 were reduced when BAF53 is depleted, while DSB- activated ATM pathway and the phosphorylation of H2AX remains intact after DNA damage in BAF53 knockdown cells. We also found that DSB repair efficiency was largely compromised in BAF53 knockdown cells. These results indicate that BAF53 is critical for formation of foci by $\gamma$-H2AX decorated chromatin at damage sites and the structural organization of chromatin in foci is an important factor to achieve the maximum efficiency of DNA repair.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제11권5호
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• pp.183-188
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• 2007

Using BHK cells with stable expression of cardiac $Na^+/Ca^{2+}$ exchanger(BHK-NCX1), reverse mode(i.e. $Ca^{2+}$ influx mode) of NCX1 current was recorded by whole-cell patch clamp. Repeated stimulation of reverse NCX1 produced a cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$-dependent long-term inactivation of the exchanger activity. The degrees of inactivation correlated with NCX1 densities of the cells and were attenuated by reduced $Ca^{2+}$ influx via the reverse exchanger. The inactivation of NCX1 was attenuated by(i) inhibition of $Ca^{2+}$ influx with reduced extracellular $Ca^{2+}$, (ii) treatment with NCX1 blocker($Na^{2+}$), and (iii) increase of cytoplasmic $Ca^{2+}$ buffer(EGTA). In BHK-NCX1 cells transiently expressing TRPV1 channels, $Ca^{2+}$ influx elicited by capsaicin produced a marked inactivation of NCX1. We suggest that cytoplasmic $Ca^{2+}$ has a dual effect on NCX1 activities, and that allosteric $Ca^{2+}$ activation of NCX1 can be opposed by the $Ca^{2+}$-dependent long-term inactivation in intact cells.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.19-23
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• 2000

A novel recombinant baculovirus Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (ACNPV) producing the green fluorescent polyhedra was constructed and characterized. The recombinant virus was stably produced fluorescent polyhedra in the infected cells and the morphology of the polyhedra was nearly similar to that of wild-type AcNPV. For the production of the fluorescent polyhedral the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene was introduced under the control of polyhedrin gene promoter of AcNPV by translational fusion in the front and back of intact polyhedrin gene. The recombinant baculovirus was named as CXEP, As expected, the 93 kDa fusion protein was expressed in the CXEP-infected cells. Interestingly, however, the cells infected with CXEP also showed a 33 kDa protein band as cells infected with wild-type AcNPV. The results of Southern blot analysis and plaque assay suggested that two types of baculoviruses expressing the GFP fusion protein or only native polyhedrin were formed through homologous recombination between two polyhedrin genes in the same orientation. Thus, this system can be applied for the production of recombinant polyhedra with foreign gene product of diverse interest.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.133-137
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• 2009

Pluripotent embryonic stem (ES) cells isolated from inner cell mass (ICM) of blastocyst-stage embryos are capable of differentiating into various cell lineages and demonstrate germ-line transmission in experimentally produced chimeras. These cells have a great potential as tools for transgenic animal production, screening of newly-developed drugs, and cell therapy. Miniature pigs, selectively bred pigs for small size, offer several advantages over large breed pigs in biomedical research including human disease model and xenotransplantation. In the present study, factors affecting primary culture of somatic cell nuclear transfer blastocysts from miniature pigs for isolation of ES cells were investigated. Formation of primary colonies occurred only on STO cells in human ES medium. In contrast, no ICM outgrowth was observed on mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) in porcine ES medium. Plating intact blastocysts and isolated ICM resulted in comparable attachment on feeder layer and primary colony formation. After subculture of ES-like colonies, two putative ES cell lines were isolated. Colonies of putative ES cells morphologically resembled murine ES cells. These cells were maintained in culture up to three passages, but lost by spontaneous differentiation. The present study demonstrates factors involved in the early stage of nuclear transfer ES cell isolation in miniature pigs. However, long-term maintenance and characterization of nuclear transfer ES cells in miniature pigs are remained to be done in further studies.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제12권6호
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• pp.939-943
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• 1999

Three 28 day-old $Duroc{\times}Large$ $White{\times}Landrace$ litter mate gilts weighing an average of 6.5 kg were used to study the intestinal absorption of amino acids when provided in dipeptide form or in the form of a free amino acid mixture. The pigs were given one of three treatments. The control involved a duodenal infusion containing no amino-acids (phosphate buffer plus 5% sorbitol) while the remaining two treatments involved either a duodenal infusion containing a glycine-lysine dipeptide (1 g) or a mixture of the free amino acids glycine and lysine at the same concentration as in the dipeptide. Blood was drawn from a cannula inserted in the portal vein, at 5 to 20 minute intervals, for two hours following infusion. The concentration of intact dipeptide as well as free glycine and lysine in the portal blood was determined by high performance liquid chromatography. The intact dipeptide was never detected in the portal blood at any time after infusion. Lysine appeared in the portal blood more rapidly after infusion of dipeptide than after infusion of free lysine and the concentration of lysine in portal blood was higher in the pig infused with the dipeptide than after infusion of free lysine at almost all time points measured. The cumulative absorption of lysine and glycine from the intestine during the two hour period after infusion was greater in the pig infused with dipeptide than in the pig infused with free amino acids. The results suggest that although intact dipeptide did not reach he portal circulation, a special transport mechanism for absorption of dipeptide by intestinal cells appears to be present in pigs similar to that observed in other species.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.61-66
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• 2008

Cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP) is allosterically activated by cAMP and functions as a global transcription regulator in enteric bacteria. Structural information on CRP in the absence of cAMP (apo-CRP) is essential to fully understand its allosteric behavior. In this study we demonstrated interdomain interactions in apo-CRP, using a comparative thermodynamic approach to the intact protein and its isolated domains, which were prepared either by limited proteolysis or using recombinant DNA. Thermal denaturation of the intact apo-CRP, monitored by differential scanning calorimetry, revealed an apparently single cooperative transition with a slight asymmetry. Combined with circular dichroism and fluorescence analysis, the thermal denaturation of apo-CRP could be interpreted as a coupled process involving two individual transitions, each attributable to a structural domain. When isolated individually, both of the domains exhibited significantly altered thermal behavior, thus pointing to the existence of non-covalent interdomain interactions in the intact apo-CRP. These observations suggest that the allosteric conformational change of CRP upon binding to cAMP is achieved by perturbing or modifying pre-existing interdomain interactions. They also underline the effectiveness of a comparative approach using calorimetric and structural probes for studying the thermodynamics of a protein.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• 제37권6호
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• pp.605-614
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• 1993

To investigate the endothelial dependence of angiotensin II(A II)-induced responses in the systemic and pulmonary arterial system of acute renal hypertensive rats of 2-kidney, 1-ligation type (RHRs), A II-induced vasocontractile and pressor effects were evaluated in isolated arteries and in vivo, respectively. A II dose-dependently contracted intact thoracic aorta and pulmonary artery (E$_{max}$:40% at 10$^{-7}$M and 80% at 3$\times$10 $^{-8}$M, respectively) from normotensive rats(NRs), which was significantly increased by removal of endothelial cells or pretreatment with EDRF inhibitors. In NRs, A II increased mean systemic and pulmonary arterial pressure(33 and 5.6mmHg at 0.1 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg, respectively), the effect being significantly increased (P<0.01) by L-NAME(30mg/kg, i.v.). However, A II-induced contraction of intact thoracic aorta and pulmonary artery(E$_{max}$: 33% at 10$^{-7}$M and 93% at 3$\times$10$^{-8}$M, respectively) from RHRs were not changed after endothelial function was disrupted as above; similarly, pressor effects of A II on the systemic and pulmonary arterial pressure in RHRs did not altered by L-NAME. A II tachyphylactic responses for intact thoracic aorta from NRs and RHRs(65 and 87% at 10$^{-8}$M, respectively) were greater than those for pulmonary artery(19 and 19% at 10$^{-8}$M, respectively). Distruption of endothelial function significantly (P<0.01) depressed A II tachyphylaxis for thoracic aorta, but not for pulmonary artery. These results suggest that vascular reactivity to A II is not altered in RHRs, and it is greater for pulmonary arterial system than for systemic arterial system. A II reactivity is EDRF-dependent in both arterial systems of NRs, but EDRF-independent for RHRs. Finally, EDRF is one of the major factors underlying A II tachyphylaxis for thoracic aorta, but not for pulmonary artery.

• Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.57-61
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• 1997

We investigated changes in the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and SOD isoenzyme pattern in suspension cultures of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), which were compared with those of intact tomato plants. two grams (fr wt) of cells subcultured at 15-day intervals were inoculated into 50 mL MS medium containing l mg/L 2,4-D and 30 g/L sucrose in a 300 mL flask and maintained at $25^{\circ}C$ in the dark (100 rpm). The cell growth reached a maximum at 20 days after subculture (DAS), followed by a rapid decrease with further cultures. The cell colour changed from white to black from 23 DAS. The intracellular SOD activity (units/g cell dry wt) was significantly increased from 23 DAS and reached a maximum at 28 DAS (52,400 units), followed by a decrease with further cultures, whereas the extracellular SOD activity showed a maximum at 25 DAS (27,800 units/50 mL medium). The total SOD activity per flask showed a maximum at 25 DAS (35,700 units), in which the extracellular SOD activity occupied about 75%. The tomato cultured cells had four SOD isoenzymes and their patterns were well correlated with SOD activity without a qualitative change during the cell cultures. The intact tomato plants had an additional CuZnSOD isoenzyme, showing the different isoenzyme patterns from cultured cells.