Incubation Of Cell Cultures Research Articles

Muscarinic cholinoceptor-stimulated synthesis and degradation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate in the rat cerebellar granule cell.

A detailed analysis of the generation and subsequent metabolism of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3] following muscarinic cholinoceptor stimulation in primary cultures of rat cerebellar granule cells has been undertaken. Following incubation of cerebellar granule cell cultures with [3H]inositol for 48 h, labelling of the inositol phospholipid pool approached equilibrium. Significant basal labelling of inositol pentakisphosphate (InsP5) and inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP6), as well as inositol mono- to tetrakisphosphate, fractions was observed. Addition of carbachol (1 mM) caused an immediate increase in level of Ins(1,4,5)P3 (peak increase two-fold over basal by 60 s), which was well-maintained over the initial 300 s following agonist addition. In contrast, only a modest, more slowly developing, increase in inositol tetrakisphosphate accumulation was observed, whereas labelling of InsP5 and InsP6 was entirely unaffected by carbachol stimulation. Analysis of the products of Ins(1,4,5)P3 and inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate metabolism in broken cell preparations strongly suggested that Ins(1,4,5)P3 metabolism occurs predominantly via the inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase route, with metabolism via the Ins(1,4,5)P3 3-kinase being a relatively minor pathway. In view of the pattern of inositol (poly)phosphate metabolites observed on stimulation of the muscarinic receptor, it seems likely that, over the time course studied, the inositol polyphosphates are derived principally from phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, although some hydrolysis of phosphatidyl-inositol 4-phosphate cannot be excluded.

Regulation of heat-shock protein (hsp70) gene expression by hGH and IL2 in rat Nb2 lymphoma cells

A comparative study of hGH and IL2 post-signaling effects, as examined by RNA expression (Nb29) and protein levels of the heatshock protein hsp70, was performed in a hormone-dependent rat lymphoma cell line, Nb2-llC. Optimal doses of hGH or IL2 increased Nb29 expression in a dose-dependent manner. Addition of both mitogens to cell cultures affected Nb29 expression and mitogenesis synergystically, indicating a possible interaction between the post-receptoral mechanisms of these mitogens. Pretreatment of the cells with cholera toxin (CT) inhibited Nb29 expression, protein levels and mitogenesis of hGH- or IL2-induced cells up to 50%, indicating the involvement of Gs-proteins in the post-signaling processes of both hGH and IL2. Incubation of cell cultures with low concentrations of pertussis toxin (IAP) (0.01 ng/ml) markedly increased Nb29 expression in hGH but not in IL2-induced cells, suggesting specific involvement of the Gi-protein in post-signaling processes of hGH-induced cells. Addition of the PKC activator 12- O-tetra-decanoyl phorbol ester (TPA) to control cell cultures markedly increased the expression of Nb29 RNA levels but not mitogenesis, indicating that induction of these proteins in the cells is not sufficient for cell proliferation. Furthermore, incubation of hGH- or IL2-induced cells with the potent PKC inhibitor staurosporin (ST) decreased the levels of Nb29 in both hGH- and IL2-induced cells, although the effect of the mitogens differed significantly in their inhibition slopes. These results indicate that activation of PKC is one of the signaling pathways differentially involved in hGH and IL2 stimulation of cells. A model for post-receptoral processes is therefore proposed in which hGH and IL2 counteract in more than one signaling pathway, leading to the final stimulation and mitogenesis of Nb2 cells.

Glucocorticosteroids Up-Regulate Human Elastin Gene Promoter Activity in Transgenic Mice

Recent characterization of the human elastin gene identified three putative glucocorticoid responsive elements (GRE) within the 5'-flanking DNA. To test the functionality of these cis-elements, transgenic mice that express a human elastin promoter-reporter gene (CAT) construct in a tissue-specific manner were injected with triamcinolone acetonide (TMC) or dexamethasone (DEX), two glucocorticosteroids in clinical use. Subcutaneous injection of these glucocorticoids resulted in a marked, up to 28-fold, enhancement of the CAT activity in the skin at the site of injection. Similarly, intraperitoneal injection of DEX resulted in significant increases in the elastin promoter activity in various internal organs. Furthermore, incubation of skin fibroblast and aortic smooth muscle cell cultures established from the transgenic animals with TMC (10 ng/ml) resulted in marked increases in the elastin promoter activity. These studies demonstrate that glucocorticosteroids act as powerful up-regulators of human elastin promoter activity in transgenic mice.

An in vitro pharmacological model of vascular smooth muscle

In order to develop an in vitro model of vascular tissue for pharmacological studies, segments of porcine coronary arteries were incubated in culture media under sterile conditions in cell culture incubator at 37°C with 95% O 2 + 5% CO 2. After 3 days of incubation, changes in isometric tension were measured in vascular rings and compared with the fresh tissue. KCl (10–75 mM) and prostaglandin F 2α (1–20 μM) produced a similar concentration-dependent contraction in the incubated and fresh arteries. The concentration-dependent relaxation curves produced by 2-chloroadenosine (10 −8 to 10 −4 M) and isoproterenol (10 −8 to 10 −5 M) were unaltered in the incubated tissue versus fresh. Similarly, the relaxation responses to forskolin and sodium nitroprusside (10 −8 to 10 −5 M) were unaffected in the incubated arteries. The relaxations produced by substance P (10 −12 to 10 −8 M) and bradykinin (10 −7 M)—the endothelium-dependent agents—were also unaltered in the incubated rings versus fresh. Therefore, we conclude that after the incubation of porcine coronary artery for 3 days, the contraction/relaxation responses to various agonists acting through different mechanisms were unaltered in porcine coronary artery. This in vitro model of vascular smooth muscle provides a potential for pharmacological and toxicological studies.

A New Device for Endothelial Cell Seeding of a Small‐Caliber Vascular Prosthesis

A device permitting homogeneous endothelial cell seeding of a small-caliber arterial prosthesis has been developed. The prosthesis is maintained firmly attached to a rotative scaffolding device. This device is activated by an electrical motor at constant and adjustable speed. The whole system is maintained at 37 degrees C in a cell culture incubator. The 4 mm internal diameter polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) prosthesis was coated with biological glue and seeded with human saphenous vein endothelial cells obtained by mechanical detachment. Cell seeding density was 2.10(4) cells/cm2 (Group A, n = 6) or 10(5) cells/cm2 (Group B, n = 6). Rotation speed was 8 revolutions per hour (rph) during 90 min. Analysis of the homogeneity of cell seeding was permitted by cell counts on five different segments of the prosthesis. Each longitudinal segment was analyzed at three different subsegments of the circumference. The average adhesion was 43 +/- 4% in Group A and 38% +/- in Group B of seeded cells. No difference could be observed between the different segments and subsegments. In the two groups, cells were spread, and in Group B, a complete endothelial cell layer was obtained on the graft surface. This study permits validation of the device to allow homogeneous cell seeding in an arterial prosthesis.

Gp120 of HIV-1 induces apoptosis in rat cortical cell cultures: prevention by memantine

After incubation of rat cortical cell cultures with the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) coat protein gp120 for 12 h, cells showed fragmentation of DNA at internucleosomal linkers, the characteristic feature of apoptosis. In a quantitative approach, it was determined that the percentage of DNA fragmentation increased from 7%, in the absence of gp120, to 62% following incubation with 24 ng/ml of gp120. Simultaneously, the percentage of viable cells decreased from 94% to 33%. Memantine (1-amino-3,5-dimethyladamantane), a drug currently used in the therapy of spacticity and Parkinson's diseases as well as the NMDA antagonist MK-801 both prevented the effects of gp120 at micromolar concentrations. In human cultured astrocytes, gp120 was ineffective with respect to DNA fragmentation and cell toxicity. From these data, we conclude that the gp120-induced apoptosis may contribute to the neurological complications frequently associated with the immunodeficiency syndrome. The cytoprotective effect of memantine in cortical cell cultures may qualify the drug for the treatment of AIDS-related dementia.

Biochemical studies on the age-related toxicity of galactosamine in primary rat hepatocyte cultures

Galactosamine (GalN) induces liver injury by depletion of uracil nucleotides. The objectives of this study were to investigate the age-related hepatotoxicity of GalN and to find out the mechanism(s) governing this toxicity in primary rat hepatocyte cultures. Hepatocyte cultures were established from foetal (day 20 of gestation), neonatal (3-day), adult (5-month) and aged (30-month) rat livers, and were exposed to 5 m m-GalN 24 hr after seeding. UDP-glucose (UDP-Glc), UDP-galactose (UDP-Gal) and glycogen were measured as indicators of disturbances in uracil nucleotides at 1, 12, 24, 48 and 60 hr after the addition of GalN. Additionally, UDP-glucosamine (UDP-GlcN) and UDP-galactosamine (UDP-GalN) were measured as uracil-trapping metabolites of GalN. Furthermore, the uptake of [ 3H]GalN by hepatocyte cultures of different ages also was determined after incubation of cell cultures with radioactive GalN. UDP-Glc, UDP-Gal and glycogen were decreased significantly at 24, 48 and 60 hr after treatment of adult hepatocyte monolayers. Although the concentrations of UDP metabolites of glucose, galactose and glycogen were decreased in aged liver cells, the decreases were considerably smaller than those in the adult cells. Measurement of the same biochemicals in foetal and neonatal cells did not reveal any significant decrease in their concentrations. The uracil-trapping metabolites, UDP-GlcN and UDP-GalN, were detected at significant concentrations in adult hepatocytes. Although these metabolites were detected in cells of other ages, their levels were significantly lower than in the adult cells. Even though the uptake of [ 3H]GalN by the cells reached a maximum at 30 min in all four ages, it was significantly higher in adult cells followed by aged, foetal and neonatal hepatocytes. A significantly lower uracil trapping by GalN metabolites in foetal and neonatal hepatocytes might be mitigated by further metabolism to non-toxic metabolites by foetal and neonatal cells. This could also be a direct result of much lower GalN uptake by these cells. These studies suggest that the age difference in GalN toxicity demonstrable in vitro may be related to the rate of GalN uptake and further metabolism of uracil-trapping metabolites such as UDP-GlcN and UDP-GalN.

Temperature sensitivity of herpes simplex virus type 1 is a tissue-dependent phenomenon.

The temperature sensitivity of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) was assessed in primary cultures of mouse central nervous system (MNS) cells and mouse embryo cells (MEC). Infectious yields were determined and the ultrastructural morphogenesis of HSV-1 particles was compared following incubation at 37 or 40.5 degrees C. Yields of infectious virus were significantly reduced for both types of cell cultures following incubation at 40.5 degrees C. However, the effect of supraoptimal temperature (40.5 degrees C) on HSV-1 replication in MEC was significantly greater than the effect of supraoptimal temperature on virus replication in MNS cells. With respect to viral morphogenesis, no significant differences were found in either the quantity or the appearance (empty versus electron opaque core) of intranuclear particles present per infected nucleus, regardless of cell type or incubation temperature. However, complete virus particles (enveloped capsids with dense cores) were never observed in MEC at 40.5 degrees C, either intracytoplasmically or extracellularly. In contrast, complete virus particles were observed in MNS cell cultures at 40.5 degrees C, albeit in reduced numbers. At the permissive temperature (37 degrees C), complete intracytoplasmic and/or extracellular virus particles were associated with every infected cell in the MNS cell or MEC cultures. Thus an interactional effect on HSV-1 replication was found between cell culture type and incubation temperature.

Increased Matrix Gene Expression by Glucose in Rat Neural Connective Tissue Cells in Culture

The effects of different glucose concentrations on the expression of extracellular matrix genes were examined in primary cell cultures initiated from sciatic nerves of nondiabetic Sprague-Dawley rats. The cells were incubated in medium containing 5.5, 15, or 25 mM D-glucose, and the expression of type I and IV collagens, laminin, and fibronectin genes was examined at mRNA steady-state levels by Northern hybridizations. Incubation of cell cultures, consisting of Schwann cells, perineurial cells, and fibroblasts, in high glucose concentrations (15 or 25 mM D-glucose) resulted in elevation of pro-alpha 1(IV), pro-alpha 2(IV), and pro-alpha 1(I) collagen chain and fibronectin mRNAs after only 3 days of incubation, whereas laminin B2 chain mRNA levels appeared unaltered. These observations suggest that hyperglycemia may partially contribute to basement membrane thickening in peripheral nerves of diabetic individuals by increasing the expression of genes coding for basement membrane components, e.g., type IV collagen.

Aspergillus fumigatus contamination of lymphokine-activated killer cells infused into cancer patients

Lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells, prepared by incubating autologous lymphocytes in cell culture medium with interleukin-2, selectively lyse tumor cells and are effective immunotherapy of some cancers. During a 3-month period, two patients at our center were infused with LAK cells subsequently found to have been contaminated by Aspergillus fumigatus. Each case was investigated by obtaining environmental cultures and assessing aseptic practices during LAK cell preparation. Investigation of the first case demonstrated a malfunction of the laminar air flow hood, under which interleukin-2 and the patient's lymphocytes had been added to cell culture medium, and showed heavy A. fumigatus contamination of the hood, adjacent countertop, and cell culture incubator. Despite repair of the laminar air flow hood and cleaning of the laboratory, a second case occurred, and cultures at that time implicated the humidified cell culture incubators as the source of A. fumigatus. Following incubator sterilization and removal of the humidification apparatus from the incubators, weekly environmental cultures in the LAK cell laboratory were negative, and none of the LAK cell cultures from the 20 patients treated during the ensuing 15 months grew A. fumigatus. Our findings show that growth of fungi in humidified incubators, which previously has caused contamination problems in tissue culture and clinical microbiology laboratories, can result in patient infections when humidified incubators are used to prepare cells for reinfusion.

Thrombin decreases glycosaminoglycans content of endothelial cells in culture

The effect of thrombin on the metabolism of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) in cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells was investigated. Incubation of confluent endothelial cell cultures with thrombin at 1.0 NIH U/ml for 8 h and above caused a significant decrease in the accumulation of [ 35S]sulfate-labeled GAG ( 35S-GAG) in the cell layer. After a 24 h incubation, thrombin at 0.5 U/ml and above decreased the accumulation of 35S-GAG in hoth cell layer and medium. The percentage of 35S-GAG released into the medium during the last 3 h of 24 h incubation was significantly increased by thrombin. In thrombin-treated cell layer, both heparan sulfate and the other GAG was significantly decreased at the same degree. The incorporation of both [ 3H]thymidine and [ 14C]leucine was significantly increased by thrombin. Gabexate mesilate, a serine protease inhibitor, suppressed the thrombin inhibition. From these results, it was suggested that thrombin decreased 35S-GAG in the endothelial cell layer without a nonspecific damage of the cells through mainly an inhibition of GAG production and additionally a stimulation of GAG release.

Forskolin and methotrexate induce an intermediate trophoblast phenotype in cultured human choriocarcinoma cells

The human placenta and its associated membranes are vital to the maintenance, nutrition, and protection of the developing fetus. During placental development some cytotrophoblasts give rise to the chorionic membrane whereas others fuse to form a differentiated syncytium of cells that are responsible for placental protein and steroid hormone production. The mechanisms involved in the differentiation of the trophoblasts are unknown; however, an intermediate stage with a characteristic phenotype has been documented in vivo. We have observed that chemically dissimilar xenobiotic agents induced BeWo choriocarcinoma cells to change their usual cytotrophoblastic phenotype and acquire morphologic and functional characteristics typical of intermediate trophoblast. Incubation of BeWo cell cultures in the presence of 1 mumol/L methotrexate for 48 hours stimulated human chorionic gonadotropin secretion (2.3-fold) and aromatase activity (4.9-fold). Morphologic findings associated with these hormonal changes, including increased nuclear size and cytoplasmic expansion, were also observed. With the use of a computer-interfaced image analyzer, planimetric morphometry of the nuclear area of the cells revealed a 1.8-fold increase after incubation with methotrexate. The effect of forskolin, a direct activator of adenylyl cyclase, was also evaluated by means of this model of cytotrophoblast differentiation. The addition of 10 mumol/L forskolin to BeWo cultures also resulted in dramatic changes in trophoblast cell phenotype. Increases in human chorionic gonadotropin synthesis (7.3-fold), aromatase activity (13.5-fold), and nuclear area (3.0-fold) were induced over those of untreated cells. In addition, increases in [3H]thymidine incorporation (1.7-fold) were afforded by both treatments. These results suggest that biochemical and cytologic changes associated with human trophoblast differentiation can be induced in vitro via activation of the adenylyl cyclase pathway by forskolin and through unknown and apparently independent signals by methotrexate.

Synthesis and secretion of an atriopeptin-like protein in rat kidney cell culture.

The synthesis and secretion of an atriopeptin(AP)-like prohormone (AP126ir) has been demonstrated in rat neonatal renal cell cultures. AP126ir could be detected in the cellular extract and the medium from cultured kidney cells of neonatal and adult rats using an enzyme immunoassay specific for cardiac AP prohormone. On reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, the AP obtained from the extract and the medium comigrated with cardiac AP prohormone. Incubation of the renal AP in the medium with thrombin resulted in the generation of a single low molecular mass peak which migrated with the cardiac carboxy-terminal 28-amino acid AP. Neonatal kidney cells pulsed with [35S]methionine secreted radiolabeled AP126ir, which was detected by immunoprecipitation and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis chromatography. Incubation of neonatal kidney cell cultures with the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide resulted in a significant decrease in both the cellular and media AP. No decrease in cellular and media AP was detected when neonatal atrial cultures were treated with cycloheximide. These data demonstrate the de novo synthesis of an AP prohormone-like protein in neonatal rat kidney cultures. Furthermore, unlike the atria, kidney cells appear to secrete AP solely by constitutive means. In primary adult rat kidney cultures, most of AP126ir was detected in the cortical tubule fraction demonstrating that these cells secrete AP126ir in the adult rat kidney. We hypothesize that the renal AP may be important as an autocrine or paracrine regulator of renal function.

The Rat Glucagon Gene Is Regulated by a Protein Kinase A-Dependent Pathway in Pancreatic Islet Cells*

A cAMP response element (CRE) has been identified in the proximal 5'-flanking region of the rat glucagon gene, and activation of the cAMP-dependent pathway in fetal rat intestinal cells leads to an increase in the levels of glucagon mRNA transcripts. In contrast, the human glucagon gene does not contain a similar CRE, and the results of studies using immortalized rat and hamster islet cell lines have suggested that glucagon gene expression may not be regulated by cAMP. To reconcile these observations, we have studied the control of glucagon gene expression. Incubation of primary rat islet cell cultures with forskolin in the presence of low (0.5 g/liter) or high (2.0 g/L) glucose resulted in a 2- to 3-fold increase in the levels of glucagon mRNA transcripts. Forskolin also stimulated the secretion and synthesis of immunoreactive glucagon. The importance of the protein kinase-A-dependent pathway in the regulation of glucagon gene expression was also examined in hamster islet InR1-G9 cells. Cotransfection of a glucagon-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) fusion gene containing the glucagon CRE and a cDNA encoding the catalytic subunit of protein kinase-A resulted in stimulation of glucagon-CAT activity in hamster islet cells. Catalytic subunit cotransfection also activated somatostatin-CAT, but no activation of RSVCAT was detected. The results of these experiments suggest that the rat glucagon gene is regulated by a protein kinase-A-dependent pathway in the endocrine pancreas.

Comparison of 14C‐amino acid mixture and [35S]methionine labeling of cellular proteins from mouse fibroblast C3H10T1/2 cells by two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis

Total cellular proteins from mouse C3H10T1/2 fibroblasts were compared by two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis after radiolabeling with [35S]methionine (35S-Met) or 14C-amino acids (14C-AA). 35S-Met labeling of protein was three to four times greater than 14C-AA incorporation over a 24 h period. Automated comparative analysis of replicate fluorographs after 6, 12, and 24 h of labeling showed considerable homology between radiolabeling methods. More than 88% percent of 35S-Met and 14C-AA-labeled proteins were common at each time point. However, the total number of 35S-Met-labeled proteins dropped from 6 to 24 h while the number of 14C-AA-labeled proteins increased. Additionally, twenty-one proteins were uniquely labeled by 14C-AA that were not detectable by 35S-Met over the labeling period. Densitometric analysis showed that several 35S-Met and 14C-AA-labeled proteins exhibited time-related differences in radiolabel incorporation while most proteins remained relatively constant. Protein patterns of silver-stained gels from 6 to 24 h were highly registered and showed few qualitative differences. Proteins detected in radiolabeled gels were generally, but not always, found in silver-stained gels. Thus, 35S-Met appears better suited for short-term radiolabeling of cellular protein while more comprehensive labeling of protein occurs with 14C-AA during prolonged incubation of cell cultures under present experimental conditions.

Detection of cytomegalovirus directly in blood leucocytes and evaluation of a new CMV monoclonal antibody, AAC10

Immunoperoxidase staining of cytomegalovirus (CMV) immediate early antigen directly in leucocytes was evaluated on 91 blood samples obtained from kidney transplanted patients. A commercially available monoclonal antibody preparation, Clonab CMV was used. In addition, blood samples from 85 patients with a possible CMV disease were used for evaluation of a new CMV monoclonal antibody, AAC10, produced in our laboratory. The results were compared with conventional virus isolation. The agreement between the results of direct detection of CMV in leucocytes by Clonab CMV and virus isolation was 97% for blood samples from kidney transplanted patients. The corresponding figure for the whole material was 95% ( 168 176 ). A correlation was found between the number of CMV infected leucocytes and the amount of virus indirectly measured as time until appearance of CMV specific cytopathogenic effect. The new CMV monoclonal antibody AAC10 was found to be as efficient as Clonab CMV for detection of immediate early CMV antigen in leucocytes with a 100% agreement of results. Direct detection of CMV in leucocytes proved to be a valuable and sensitive method for rapid diagnosis of CMV viremia. A great advantage of this method is that no incubation in cell culture is needed.

Hydrogen peroxide-induced DNA damage in bovine lens epithelial cells

The present investigation was undertaken to determine the types and extent of DNA damage resulting from incubation of primary cultures of bovine lens epithelial cells with hydrogen peroxide. Significant numbers of DNA single-strand breaks were detected by alkaline elution after exposure to as little as 25 μM H 2O 2 for 5 min at 37°C. The extent of single-strand breakage was concentration dependent and linear from 25 to 200 μM H 2O 2. The observed single-strand breaks appear primarily due to the action of the hydroxyl radical via a Fenton reaction as both an iron chelator, 1,10-phenanthroline and OH · scavengers, including DMSO, KI and glycerol, significantly inhibited the DNA-damaging effect of H 2O 2. Diethyldithiocarbamate, an inhibitor of superoxide dismutase, further potentiated the DNA-damaging effects of H 2O 2, presumably by increasing the steady-state concentration of Fe 2+. DNA-protein cross-linking was not observed. In addition, significant levels of 5,6-saturated thymine residues or pyrimidine dimers were not detected after modification of the alkaline elution methodology to allow the use of either E. coli endonuclease III or bacteriophage T4 endonuclease V, respectively. No double-strand breaks were detected after incubation of epithelial cell cultures with H 2O 2 concentrations of up to 400 μM for 10 min and subsequent neutral filter elution. Since, in vivo, the lens epithelium contains populations of both quiescent and dividing cells, the degree of susceptibility to oxidative damage was also studied in actively growing and plateau-phase cultures. Reduced levels of single-strand breakage were observed when plateau-phase cultures were compared to actively growing cells. In contrast, essentially no differences in repair rates were noted at equitoxic doses of H 2O 2. The above results suggest that lens epithelial cells may be particularly sensitive to oxidative damage and thus are a good model system in which to study the effects of oxidative stress.

4871676 Cell culture incubator: Koji Yamada, Osaka, Japan assigned to Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd

4871676 Cell culture incubator: Koji Yamada, Osaka, Japan assigned to Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd

Posttranslational modifications of tubulin in cultured mouse brain neurons and astroglia

Posttranslational modifications of tubulin were analyzed in mouse brain neurons and glia developing in culture. Purified tubulin was resolved by isoelectric focusing. After 3 weeks of culture, neurons were shown to express a high degree of tubulin heterogeneity (8 alpha and 10 beta isoforms), similar to that found in the brain at the same developmental stage. Astroglial tubulin exhibits a less complex pattern consisting of 4 alpha and 4 beta isoforms. After incubation of neuronal and glial cells with 3H-acetate in the presence of cycloheximide, a major posttranslational label was found associated with alpha-tubulin and a minor one with beta-tubulin. The acetate-labeled isotubulins of neurons were resolved by isoelectric focusing into as many as 6 alpha and 7 beta isoforms, while those of astroglia were resolved into only 2 alpha and 2 beta isoforms. The same alpha isoforms were also shown to react with a monoclonal antibody recognizing selectively the acetylated form(s) of alpha-tubulin. Whether acetate-labeling of alpha-tubulin in these cells corresponds to the acetylation of Lys40, as reported for Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, is discussed according to very recent data obtained by protein sequence analysis. Tubulin phosphorylation was analyzed by incubation of cell cultures with 32PO4. No phosphorylation of alpha-tubulin isoforms was detected. A single beta-tubulin isoform (beta'2), expressed only in neurons, was found to be phosphorylated. This isoform is similar to that previously identified in differentiated mouse neuroblastoma cells.

Free and protein-conjugated polyamines in mouse epidermal cells. Effect of high calcium and retinoic acid.

We have investigated polyamine metabolism in primary cultures of mouse epidermal cells. These cells, which grow at low Ca2+ levels as a monolayer with characteristics of basal cells, terminally differentiate when the extracellular Ca2+ level is raised above 1 mM. The cellular levels of free polyamines were measured, and, after incubation of cell cultures with [3H]putrescine, the distribution of label in both acid-soluble and acid-insoluble cellular components was examined. Free polyamine levels were reduced in cells induced to differentiate. Treatment with retinoic acid, which prevents differentiation and causes increased proliferation, resulted in an increase in free putrescine. Upon adjustment of the calcium concentration to a level that induces differentiation, the enzyme transglutaminase was activated, and a concomitant increase in the level of both protein-bound mono- and bis-gamma-glutamyl derivatives of putrescine and spermidine was observed. Isolation of a material of apparent molecular weight about 6000 which contains only mono-gamma-glutamylpolyamines and the finding of both mono- and bis-gamma-glutamylpolyamines in the protein fraction containing cornified cell envelopes provided the basis for speculation on polyamines in envelope formation. Our data suggest that polyamines play a role during epidermal cell differentiation through transglutaminase-mediated post-translational modification.