10-nm Filaments Research Articles

Cytochemical Demonstration of Actin Filaments in Myoepithelial Cells of the Human Parotid Gland

Ultrastructurally, myoepithelial cells were shown to contain numerous fine filaments in their cytoplasm and resembled smooth muscle cells. The myoepithelial cell of the salivary gland has been considered to play an important role in the secretion of saliva. The present study showed that all the thin filaments (actin filaments) in the myoepithelial cell of the human parotid gland bound heavy meromyosin (HMM) and formed characteristic arrowhead structures. These filaments ran in two opposite directions with the poles at different ends. On the other hand, there was no binding of HMM with thicker filaments (10-nm filaments), plasma membrane, nuclear membrane, collagen fibrils, basement membrane or other cytoplasmic organelles. The present results strongly suggest that myoepithelial cells possess a contractile function parallel to the long axis of the cell for supporting the secretion of saliva in the parotid gland.

Essential Iris Atrophy: A Clinical, Immunohistologic, and Electron Microscopic Study in an Enucleated Eye

A 29-year-old woman had unilateral essential iris atrophy, corneal endothelial changes, and absolute glaucoma. The enucleated eye was examined by routine light microscopy. Separate portions of unfixed fresh frozen cornea were sectioned and reacted with monoclonal antibodies against keratins, vimentin, and inflammatory cell markers. Stains for filamentous actin (factin) were performed using the 7-nitro-benz-2-oxa-1,3-diazolylphalIacid in (NBD phallacidin) probe. In addition, portions of cornea and iris were examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Immunocytochemical stains with anti-keratin antibodies showed reactivity only in the corneal epithelium of the patient and normal control. Immunoreactivity with anti-vimentin antibodies was observed in corneal endothelium and keratocytes of the patient and control, but was negative in the epithelium. Staining for f-actin appeared more pronounced in the corneal endothelium of the patient. Scanning electron microscopy of the corneal endothelium showed irregularity in cell size and shape and filopodial processes characteristic of migrating cells. Transmission electron microscopy disclosed abnormalities of Descemet's membrane and endothelium with a posterior collagenous layer. The corneal endothelium displayed normal junctional complexes without desmosomal junctions or increased microvillus projections. Increased 10-nm cytoplasmic filaments were noted consistent with the expression of vimentin. Occasional chronic inflammatory cells perturbed the corneal endothelium and were detected within the endothelial layer. Alterations in the endothelium and Descemet's membrane suggest the acquired nature of this disease.

Immunofluorescence localization of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae CDC12 gene product to the vicinity of the 10-nm filaments in the mother-bud neck.

Budding cells of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae possess a ring of 10-nm-diameter filaments, of unknown biochemical nature, that lies just inside the plasma membrane in the neck connecting the mother cell to its bud (B. Byers and L. Goetsch, J. Cell Biol. 69:717-721, 1976). Mutants defective in any of four genes (CDC3, CDC10, CDC11, and CDC12) lack these filaments and display a pleiotropic phenotype that involves abnormal bud growth and cell-wall deposition and an inability to complete cytokinesis. We fused the cloned CDC12 gene to the Escherichia coli lacZ and trpE genes and used the resulting fusion proteins to raise polyclonal antibodies specific for the CDC12 gene product. In immunofluorescence experiments with affinity-purified antibodies, the neck region of wild-type and mutant cells stained in patterns consistent with the hypothesis that the CDC12 gene product is a constituent of the ring of 10-nm filaments. Without careful affinity purification of the CDC12-specific antibodies, these staining patterns were completely obscured by the staining of residual cell wall components in the neck by antibodies present even in the "preimmune" sera of all rabbits tested.

Immunofluorescence Localization of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae CDC12 Gene Product to the Vicinity of the 10-nm Filaments in the Mother-Bud Neck

Budding cells of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae possess a ring of 10-nm-diameter filaments, of unknown biochemical nature, that lies just inside the plasma membrane in the neck connecting the mother cell to its bud (B. Byers and L. Goetsch, J. Cell Biol. 69:717-721, 1976). Mutants defective in any of four genes (CDC3, CDC10, CDC11, and CDC12) lack these filaments and display a pleiotropic phenotype that involves abnormal bud growth and cell-wall deposition and an inability to complete cytokinesis. We fused the cloned CDC12 gene to the Escherichia coli lacZ and trpE genes and used the resulting fusion proteins to raise polyclonal antibodies specific for the CDC12 gene product. In immunofluorescence experiments with affinity-purified antibodies, the neck region of wild-type and mutant cells stained in patterns consistent with the hypothesis that the CDC12 gene product is a constituent of the ring of 10-nm filaments. Without careful affinity purification of the CDC12-specific antibodies, these staining patterns were completely obscured by the staining of residual cell wall components in the neck by antibodies present even in the "preimmune" sera of all rabbits tested.

Two distinct attachment sites for vimentin along the plasma membrane and the nuclear envelope in avian erythrocytes: a basis for a vectorial assembly of intermediate filaments.

In vitro binding studies with isolated bovine lens vimentin and avian erythrocyte membranes reveal the existence of two functionally distinct sets of intermediate filament attachment sites. One population of such receptors is located along the nuclear envelope and comprises polypeptides recognizing the carboxy-terminal tail domain of vimentin. Vimentin associates with these nuclear surface receptors in a cooperative manner and forms extensive 10-nm filaments in a concentration-dependent fashion. Conversely, the plasma membrane contains binding sites that interact in a noncooperative, saturable fashion with vimentin, recognizing its amino-terminal head domain. The functional dichotomy of the vimentin-binding sites under in vitro conditions may reflect a vectorial assembly process whereby 10-nm filaments, although structurally apolar, acquire polar features brought about by the differential attachment to specific receptors arranged along the plasma membrane and the nuclear envelope.

The cytoskeleton of isolated murine primitive erythrocytes.

Cytoskeletons of primitive erythrocytes have been isolated from the embryos of day 12 pregnant C57/Bl mice and examined by transmission electron microscopy, immunofluorescence microscopy, and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Microtubules are the most prominent cytoskeletal component. They are found either singly or organized into loose bundles just under the plasma membrane, but do not form classical marginal bands in most cells. Immunofluorescence with a polyclonal tubulin antiserum confirms this distribution and further reveals numerous mitotic figures among cells. Rhodamine-conjugated phalloidin and heavy meromyosin labeling reveal that actin is localized in the cortex of the primitive erythrocyte in the form of 6 nm filaments. Antibody directed against avian erythrocyte alpha spectrin demonstrates that spectrin is also found in the cortex. Occasional 10-nm intermediate filaments, observed in the primitive erythrocytes by electron microscopy, are believed to be of the vimentin class based on positive reaction of the cells with vimentin-specific antiserum. In addition, a band in erythrocyte cytoskeletons comigrates in SDS-polyacrylamide gels with vimentin isolated from mouse kidney. Spectrin and actin were also found to be associated with the membrane of primitive erythrocytes when membrane ghost preparations were analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Nylon Brush Macular Amyloidosis

Long-term use of a nylon brush for back scratching by a 53-year-old white woman was associated with the development of typical macular amyloidosis. EKH4 monoclonal antikeratin antibody, which recognizes 50-kd neutral and acidic keratin species, labeled this amyloid. Confirmation of amyloid substance in the lesion included positive staining with Dylon and thioflavin T; immunohistochemical reactions with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against elastic fiber microfibrils (NKH1 and anti-P component), immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM, and IgA), and complement (C3); and electron microscopic identification of 6- to 10-nm straight filaments. Type IV collagen staining demonstrated a breakage and/or thickening of the dermoepidermal basement membrane above the amyloid deposition in the papillary dermis. Electron microscopic findings confirmed this phenomenon.

Recognition of Alzheimer paired helical filaments by monoclonal neurofilament antibodies is due to crossreaction with tau protein.

Neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques are the principal pathological features of Alzheimer disease. Neurofibrillary tangles and the neurites of senile plaques contain paired helical filaments (PHF) that consist of two 10-nm filaments twisted into a double helix. The precursor proteins of PHF are not fully known. To identify these precursors, numerous immunochemical studies have been carried out during the past decade. Two apparently conflicting results have been reported. (i) Some, but not all, monoclonal antibodies to neurofilaments stained neurofibrillary tangles. (ii) Polyclonal antibodies prepared to PHF purified in NaDodSO4 because of their unusual insolubility did not recognize normal proteins, including neurofilaments, on electrophoretic transfer blots of human brain homogenates. These results have been confirmed in several laboratories, including by the use of electron microscopic labeling. Recently, we reported that polyclonal PHF antibodies include antibodies to tau proteins, a family of heat-stable microtubule-associated phosphoproteins, and that antibodies to tau stain Alzheimer neurofibrillary tangles. Those monoclonal neurofilament antibodies that recognize tangles are reported to be directed against phosphorylated epitopes. These facts prompted us to reexamine certain neurofilament monoclonal antibodies that stain neurofibrillary tangles. All monoclonal neurofilament antibodies that stain tangles that we examined, including those initially reported, reacted with tau proteins. Our results suggest that these antibodies react with phosphorylated tau proteins in PHF, not neurofilament proteins, highlighting the problem of using antibodies to phosphorylated protein epitopes in immunochemical studies. Independent evidence for the presence of neurofilament proteins in human paired helical filaments is now required.

Intermediate Filaments of Myofibroblasts: Immunochemical and Immunocytochemical Analyses

We generated a monoclonal anti-vimentin antibody, VIM-1, by mouse hybridoma technique, using an established myofibroblast line as a whole cell immunogen. The presence of vimentin polypeptides in the cultured myofibroblasts was confirmed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. By light microscopic immunocytochemistry, myofibroblasts in cultures as well as in frozen tissue sections showed a strong reaction with the anti-vimentin antibody, whereas these cells lacked either detectable desmin or cytokeratin. Our results support the fibroblastic origin of myofibroblasts. Immunoelectron microscopic study with ferritin-ABC technique demonstrated that VIM-1 reacted exclusively with 10-nm intermediate filaments, while other cellular structures revealed uniformly negative reaction against the antibody.

Composition of intermediate filament subunit proteins in embryonic, neonatal and postnatal porcine skeletal muscle.

The intermediate (10-nm) filament subunit proteins (desmin and vimentin) in samples obtained from embryonic, neonatal, and postnatal porcine skeletal muscle were examined by two-dimensional electrophoresis (isoelectric focusing/sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis). The skeletal muscle samples were taken from pig embryos at 45, 73 and 102 d of gestation; from neonatal pigs and from postnatal pigs at 1, 6 and 30 mo of age. Three fractions (namely, whole homogenized muscle, purified myofibrils and myofibrillar-protein-extracted residues) were prepared from each skeletal muscle sample for analysis. Vimentin was the major (approximately 75% vimentin: 25% desmin) 10-nm filament protein present in skeletal muscle samples obtained from the 45-d-old pig embryos. The relative proportion of vimentin decreased progressively during embryogenesis. At birth, the vimentin comprised approximately 15%, and desmin, 85%, of the 10-nm filament protein. The proportional amount of vimentin continued to decline postnatally, with the 10-nm filament protein of samples from the 30-mo-old animals consisting of less than approximately 5% vimentin and over 95% desmin. These results show a developmental stage-dependent pattern in the expression of vimentin and desmin intermediate filament subunit proteins in mammalian skeletal muscle. In the adult mammal, desmin is the significant 10-nm filament protein present.

Structure of multinucleated smooth muscle cells of the ascidian Halocynthia roretzi

Cells isolated from ascidian smooth muscle were about 1.5–2 mm in length. Each contained 20–40 nucle in proportion to cell length. The cytoplasm was characterized by the presence of an enormous quantity of glycogen particles, tubular elements of sarcoplasmic reticulum coupled to the cell membrane, and conspicuous contractile elements. Thick and thin filaments had diameters of about 14–16 nm and 6–7 nm, respectively. The population density of the thick filaments was much higher (mean 270/μm2 filament area) than in vertebrate smooth muscles. The ratio of thick to thin filaments was about 1∶6. All the thick filaments were surrounded by a single row of 5–9 thin filaments forming a rosette, and cross-bridges with periodicities of 14.5 and 29 nm were found between them. The contractile apparatus consisted of numerous myofibrils which were arranged nearly along the cell axis and were separated from each other by a network of 10-nm filaments. The myofibrils further consisted of many irregularly arranged sarcomerelike structures, each of which was comprised of a small group of thick and thin filaments with attached dense bodies.

Platelet intermediate filaments: detection of a vimentinlike protein in human and bovine platelets.

Human and bovine platelets contain a 58,000-dalton vimentinlike protein that cross-reacts with antivimentin antibody. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blots indicate that this protein is present in whole platelet lysates and triton insoluble cytoskeletons. Transmission electron microscopy of platelets reveals an isotropic network of individual intermediate filaments distributed throughout the platelets. High salt, triton extracted, glutaraldehyde and tannic acid fixed platelets reveal 10-nm filaments that can be seen to form a peripheral ring, as well as an isotropic network in the body of the cells. Indirect immunofluorescence of resting and spread platelets demonstrates a circumferential staining pattern close to the cell membrane, with additional fibrillar staining throughout the platelets. Our data suggest that the 58,000-dalton vimentinlike protein may be associated with the microtubule coil and the plasma membrane, and may thus help to maintain the resting platelet's discoid shape.

Antibody to intermediate filaments of the cytoskleton in patients with Behçet's disease

Antibodies to 10-nm intermediate filaments (anti-IF) were determined in the sera of 30 patients with Behçet's disease (BD), in addition to C-reactive protein and C9, and a attempt has been made to determine whether the presence of anti-IF indicate disease activity. The vimentin type of anti-IF was found to be positive in 14 out of 30 patients with BD (47%), whereas it was positive in 35% of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis (20 cases), 16% of the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (19 cases) and in only 9% of the normal controls. The anti-IF were predominantly IgG class and the titers in BD were significantly higher than those in normal controls. Out of the 14 patients with anti-IF, 10 showed significantly increased levels of serum C9 and 8 showed increased levels of CRP activity. Only one patient showed increased C9, but was negative for anti-IF and CRP. The presence of anti-IF in the patients' sera was found to be a more sensitive indicator, though not specific, for the clinical assessment of disease activity.

Fine structure and immunofluorescent studies of the WISH cell line.

Morphological studies of the WISH cell line reveal an epithelioid cell type with some characteristics of both the original human amnion epithelium and a transformed state. WISH cells have a cytoplasm filled with microtubules; however, actin filament bundles are few, with actin localized at areas of cell contact and arranged diffusely through the cytoplasm, as viewed by indirect immunofluorescence. Fingerlike projections or short filopodia are observed connecting cells that grow in a closely apposed monolayer. Other surface features, as viewed by scanning electron microscopy, include microvilli and blebs. Transmission electron microscopy shows that WISH cultures consist of light or dark cells with organelles that include lipid droplets, abundant free ribosomes, tubular mitochondria, lysosomes, annulate lamellae, rough endoplasmic reticulum, 6-nm microfilaments, 10-nm intermediate filaments, and microtubules. Pleomorphic nuclei with multiple nucleoli and fibrillar nuclear bodies are common. Desmosomes and subsurface confronting cisternae connect cells. To our knowledge, these structural studies are the first to describe WISH and lead to subsequent investigation of the cell surface phenomenon of blebbing and surface charge in WISH and another human cell line.

Acidic and basic hair/nail ("hard") keratins: their colocalization in upper cortical and cuticle cells of the human hair follicle and their relationship to "soft" keratins.

Although numerous hair proteins have been studied biochemically and many have been sequenced, relatively little is known about their in situ distribution and differential expression in the hair follicle. To study this problem, we have prepared several mouse monoclonal antibodies that recognize different classes of human hair proteins. Our AE14 antibody recognizes a group of 10-25K hair proteins which most likely corresponds to the high sulfur proteins, our AE12 and AE13 antibodies define a doublet of 44K/46K proteins which are relatively acidic and correspond to the type I low sulfur keratins, and our previously described AE3 antibody recognizes a triplet of 56K/59K/60K proteins which are relatively basic and correspond to the type II low sulfur keratins. Using these and other immunological probes, we demonstrate the following. The acidic 44K/46K and basic 56-60K hair keratins appear coordinately in upper corticle and cuticle cells. The 10-25K, AE14-reactive antigens are expressed only later in more matured corticle cells that are in the upper elongation zone, but these antigens are absent from cuticle cells. The 10-nm filaments of the inner root sheath cells fail to react with any of our monoclonal antibodies and are therefore immunologically distinguishable from the cortex and cuticle filaments. Nail plate contains 10-20% soft keratins in addition to large amounts of hair keratins; these soft keratins have been identified as the 50K/58K and 48K/56K keratin pairs. Taken together, these results suggest that the precursor cells of hair cortex and nail plate share a major pathway of epithelial differentiation, and that the acidic 44K/46K and basic 56-60K hard keratins represent a co-expressed keratin pair which can serve as a marker for hair/nail-type epithelial differentiation.

Neutron scatter and diffraction techniques applied to nucleosome and chromatin structure

Neutron scatter and diffraction techniques have made substantial contributions to our understanding of the structure of the nucleosome, the structure of the 10-nm filament, the "10-nm----30-nm" filament transition, and the structure of the "34-nm" supercoil or solenoid of nucleosomes. Neutron techniques are unique in their properties, which allows for the separation of the spatial arrangements of histones and DNA in nucleosomes and chromatin. They have equally powerful applications in structural studies of any complex two-component biological system. A major success for the application of neutron techniques was the first clear proof that DNA was located on the outside of the histone octamer in the core particle. A full analysis of the neutron-scatter data gave the parameters of Table 3 and the low-resolution structure of the core particle in solution shown in Fig. 6. Initial low-resolution X-ray diffraction studies of core particle crystals gave a model with a lower DNA pitch of 2.7 nm. Higher-resolution X-ray diffraction studies now give a structure with a DNA pitch of 3.0 nm and a hole of 0.8 nm along the axis of the DNA supercoil. The neutron-scatter solution structure and the X-ray crystal structure of the core particle are thus in full agreement within the resolution of the neutron-scatter techniques. The model for the chromatosome is largely based on the structural parameters of the DNA supercoil in the core particle, nuclease digestion results showing protection of a 168-bp DNA length by histone H1 and H1 peptide, and the conformational properties of H1. The path of the DNA outside the chromatosome is not known, and this information is crucial for our understanding of higher chromatin structure. The interactions of the flexible basic and N- and C-terminal regions of H1 within chromatin and how these interactions are modulated by H1 phosphorylation are not known. The N- and C-terminal regions of H1 represent a new type of protein behavior, i.e., extensive protein domains that are designed not to fold up into secondary and tertiary protein structures. This behavior is increasingly observed in DNA and chromatin binding proteins, and in the case of the high-mobility group proteins HMG 14 and 17, the entire polypeptide chain is a flexible random coil over a wide range of solution, ionic, and pH conditions. It follows that the native conformations are probably imposed on these flexible domains and molecules by their binding sites in chromatin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Culture of intramural cardiac ganglia of the newborn guinea-pig. II. Non-neuronal elements.

The present study describes the ultrastructure of non-neuronal cells and their interrelationships with intracardiac neurones present in cultures dissociated atria and interatrial septum from newborn guinea-pig. When compared with the in situ preparation, most of these features in culture were similar to those observed in situ, but some differences were also apparent. Both mature and immature Schwann cells were observed in culture, and as in situ, the latter were closely associated with intracardiac neurones, whilst the former were more widely separated. The ultrastructure of satellite cells was more variable in culture than in situ: three general types were distinguished on the basis of their 10-nm filament content. This variation could be due to conditions of culture. Interstitial cells were present in culture and closely resembled those described in situ, although there was less space between cultured interstitial cells and their associated cells. Many fibroblasts, some myoblasts and a few mast cells were also found in the culture preparations.

The role of keratin subfamilies and keratin pairs in the formation of human epidermal intermediate filaments.

The four major keratins of normal human epidermis (molecular mass 50, 56.5, 58, and 65-67 kD) can be subdivided on the basis of charge into two subfamilies (acidic 50-kD and 56.5-kD keratins vs. relatively basic 58-kD and 65-67-kD keratins) or subdivided on the basis of co-expression into two "pairs" (50-kD/58-kD keratin pair synthesized by basal cells vs. 56.5-kD/65-67-kD keratin pair expressed in suprabasal cells). Acidic and basic subfamilies were separated by ion exchange chromatography in 8.5 M urea and tested for their ability to reassemble into 10-nm filaments in vitro. The two keratins in either subfamily did not reassemble into 10-nm filaments unless combined with members of the other subfamily. While electron microscopy of acidic and basic keratins equilibrated in 4.5 M urea showed that keratins within each subfamily formed distinct oligomeric structures, possibly representing precursors in filament assembly, chemical cross-linking followed by gel analysis revealed dimers and larger oligomers only when subfamilies were combined. In addition, among the four major keratins, the acidic 50-kD and basic 58-kD keratins showed preferential association even in 8.5 M urea, enabling us to isolate a 50-kD/58-kD keratin complex by gel filtration. This isolated 50-kD/58-kD keratin pair readily formed 10-nm filaments in vitro. These results demonstrate that in tissues containing multiple keratins, two keratins are sufficient for filament assembly, but one keratin from each subfamily is required. More importantly, these data provide the first evidence for the structural significance of specific co-expressed acidic/basic keratin pairs in the formation of epithelial 10-nm filaments.

Microinjection of monoclonal antibodies to vimentin, desmin, and GFA in cells which contain more than one IF type

Microinjection of antibodies to vimentin into fibroblast cell lines causes intermediate filaments (IFs) to build perinuclear caps. We have extended these findings by microinjection of monoclonal antibodies specific for different IF types to non-epithelial cell lines of human origin, which co-express two different IF proteins. Thus GFA and vimentin IgGs have been microinjected in separate experiments into a glioma cell line, desmin and vimentin IgGs into RD cells, and vimentin IgGs into a cell line which co-expresses neurofilaments and vimentin. In all instances, microinjection of a single antibody causes the formation of perinuclear caps in which the two different IF proteins co-localize, suggesting that vimentin and the second IF type present in each cell line localize to the same 10-nm filaments. Immunoelectron microscopy using desmin and vimentin antibodies made in different species and appropriate second antibodies labelled with 5 and 20 nm gold particles confirm this result for RD cells. When Fab′ fragments of the vimentin IgGs are microinjected into different cell types, formation of perinuclear caps is observed in immunofluorescence microscopy. In RD cells immunoelectron microscopy shows that the Fab′ fragments induce caps which appear less dense than the caps seen after microinjection of IgGs.

The Cytoskeleton in Protists: Nature, Structure, and Functions

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the nature, structure, and functions of the cytoskeleton in protists. The term cytoskeleton is commonly used to mean those cell structures which are involved in either or both of two phenomena: (1) maintenance of cell shape—that is, preservation of morphological type, implying a degree of rigidity, or in deformable cells a measure of elasticity; and (2) active cell deformation, or active displacement of various cell organelles (cell locomotion, contractility, cytoplasmic currents, migration of chromosomes, vesicles, organites, or displacement of membrane receptors). The generally accepted structural elements of the cytoskeleton are actin microfilaments, myosin filaments, intermediate or 10-nm filaments, and microtubules. To these can be added elements often found in protists, such as periodic fibers, submembranar epiplasm, and other filaments which differ from the classical ones. Many protists possess a category of cytoskeletal filaments unknown in metazoans—namely, nonactin microfilaments, which may or may not be contractile, and which are equal in size, or smaller than actin microfilaments: these elements are specific to protists, at present.