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  • 1
    ISSN: 1471-4159
    Source: Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract: Cathepsin E is a major nonlysosomal, intracellular aspartic proteinase that localizes in various cellular compartments such as the plasma membrane, endosome-like organelles, and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). To learn the segregation mechanisms of cathepsin E into its appropriate cellular destinations, the present studies were initiated to define the biosynthesis, processing, and intracellular localization as well as the site of proteolytic maturation of the enzyme in primary cultures of rat brain microglia. Immunohistochemical and immunoblot analyses revealed that cathepsin E was the most abundant in microglia among various brain cell types, where the enzyme existed predominantly as the mature enzyme. Immunoelectron microscopy studies showed the presence of the enzyme predominantly in the endosome-like vacuoles and partly in the vesicles located in the trans-Golgi area and the lumen of ER. In the primary cultured microglial cells labeled with [35S]methionine, 〉95% of labeled cathepsin E were represented by a 46-kDa polypeptide (reduced form) after a 30-min pulse. Most of it was proteolytically processed via a 44-kDa intermediate to a 42-kDa mature form within 4 h of chase. This processing was completely inhibited by bafilomycin A1, a specific inhibitor of vacuolar-type H+-ATPase. Brefeldin A, a blocker for the traffic of secretory proteins from the ER to the Golgi complex, also inhibited the processing of procathepsin E and enhanced its degradation. Procathepsin E, after pulse-labeling, showed complete susceptibility to endoglycosidase H, whereas the mature enzyme almost acquired resistance to endoglycosidases H as well as F. The present studies provide the first evidence that cathepsin E in microglia is first synthesized as the inactive precursor bearing high-mannose oligosaccharides and processed to the active mature enzyme with complex-type oligosaccharides via the intermediate form and that the final proteolytic maturation step occurs in endosome-like acidic compartments.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 2
    ISSN: 1460-9568
    Source: Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Myelination in the peripheral nervous system is considered to increase the phosphorylation level of neurofilament proteins in the axon, resulting in an increase in axonal calibre. To understand the relationship between myelination and neurofilament proteins in axons, we examined jimpy mutant mice with a point mutation in the proteolipid protein gene and dysmyelination in the central nervous system. The jimpy mice exhibited a characteristic similarity in neurofilament nature to the myelin-deficient mice in the peripheral nervous system reported previously. The following novel results were obtained in the jimpy mice: dysmyelinated axons, in which the amount of non-phosphorylated neurofilament-H was drastically increased without a significant reduction of the phosphorylated form, compared with the control myelinated axons, did not suffer any decrease in their diameters. Expression levels of all neurofilament subunit proteins and their mRNAs were enhanced in the central nervous system tissue. Because the above biochemical data were obtained from the cytoskeletal fraction, at least some of the increased neurofilament-H and -M proteins appeared to be coassembled into neurofilaments but remained non-phosphorylated. Axonal neurofilaments of the jimpy were, probably due to this abnormal stoichiometry and phosphorylation state in neurofilaments, more compact and random in alignment with less prominent cross-bridges than those of the control, providing possible evidence for disturbing the axonal transport of other organelles. These results suggest that myelination regulates both the expression and phosphorylation of neurofilament proteins, and is essential for the cytoplasmic organization of myelinated axons.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 3
    ISSN: 1460-9568
    Source: Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: We previously reported that myelin-associated oligodendrocytic basic protein (MOBP) was abundantly expressed in the central nervous system (CNS) myelin, and shared several characteristics with myelin basic protein (MBP). In particular, a cluster of positively charged amino acids was considered to facilitate compaction of the cytoplasmic face of the myelin sheath, as in the case of MBP. However, the contribution of MOBP in forming and maintaining the myelin sheath still remains unclear. Recent investigations showed that one isoform of MOBP was expressed in the embryo prior to myelination, and MOBP isoforms were colocalized with the microtubular network and nucleus in vitro. To explore the role of MOBP in vivo, we generated MOBP-deficient mice and analysed the CNS myelin. Surprisingly, the compact myelin was formed, however, the myelin from MOBP-deficient mice exposed to hexachlorophene, a known dysmyelinating agent, showed widening of the major dense lines. These results suggest that MOBP is not essential for myelin formation, but reinforces the apposition of the cytoplasmic faces of the myelin sheath. A striking phenotype of MOBP-deficient mice was the presence of the straight ‘condensed' radial component. This component has been described as a tight junction-like complex running radially and zig-zag through the CNS myelin sheath between inner and outer mesaxons. These results suggest that MOBP is essential for normal arrangement of the radial component.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 4
    ISSN: 1432-0568
    Keywords: Spinal ganglion ; Satellite cell ; Plasma membrane ; Orthogonal particle arrays ; Alkaline phosphatase
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Summary The plasmalemmal structure of satellite cells in the lumbar spinal ganglia of rat was examined by freeze-fracture and by a cytochemical method for the demonstration of alkaline phosphatase activity. Plasma membranes of satellite cells are the only ones in the ganglia to contain, in addition to globular intramembrane particles, orthogonal arrays of particles 6–7 nm in diameter. The arrays are most concentrated in the portions of the membranes contacting the basal lamina, or outer membranes; they decrease considerably in number in lateral membranes, and are rare in the membrane regions adjacent to the neuronal perikaryon, or inner membranes. Such gradual decrease in array density in satellite cells suggests regional differences of plasma membrane properties within the same cell. Alkaline phosphatase, which was chosen as a cytochemical marker for membrane activity because of its relation to transport function, localizes to inner and lateral membranes, and not to outer membranes of satellite cells. The absence of correlation between localization of orthogonal arrays and such enzymatic activity suggests that the membranes provided with many arrays possess some characteristics different from other membranes that may exclude transport activity. The possible significance of orthogonal arrays and their close association with the basal lamina are discussed.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 5
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Cell & tissue research 201 (1979), S. 207-225 
    ISSN: 1432-0878
    Keywords: Area postrema, rat ; Ependyma ; Basal secretion ; Cell junctions ; Blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Summary Ependymal cells and their junctional complexes in the area postrema of the rat were studied in detail by tracer experiments using horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and colloidal lanthanum and by freeze-etch techniques, in addition to routine electron microscopy. The ependyma of the area postrema is characterized as flattened cells possessing very few cilia, a moderate amount of microvilli, a well-developed Golgi apparatus and rough endoplasmic reticulum. Numerous vesicles or tubular formations with internal dense content were found to accumulate in the basal processes of ependymal cells; the basal process makes contact with the perivascular basal lamina. It is suggested that the dense material in the tubulovesicular formations is synthesized within the ependymal cell and discharged into the perivascular space. The apical junctions between adjacent ependymal cells display very close apposition, with a gap of 2–3 nm, but no fusion of adjacent plasma membranes; they thus represent a transitional form between the zonulae adhaerentes present in the ordinary mural ependyma and the zonulae occludentes in the choroidal epithelium. A direct intercommunication between the ventricular cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the blood vascular system indicates that a region exists lacking a blood-ventricular CSF barrier.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 6
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Cell & tissue research 206 (1980), S. 303-318 
    ISSN: 1432-0878
    Keywords: Area postrema, rat ; Ependyma ; Cyst ; Circumventricular organs ; Electron microscopy
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Summary Peculiar cells forming cysts were observed in the area postrema and sometimes also in the choroid plexus and the tela chorioidea near the area postrema, and were studied in detail by electron microscopy. The cytological features of the cyst cell and its junctional relationship to neighboring cells imply that cyst cells are derived from ependymal and choroid epithelial cells. The cyst cells usually contact directly the perivascular spaces of postremal, choroidal or pial capillaries, where the cytoplasm is often considerably attenuated. The cystic lumen is commonly filled with a flocculent material. The limiting membrane of the cystic lumen, which frequently bears cilia and microvilli, has the same thickness as the surface cell membrane. In many cases, the cyst is surrounded by the cytoplasm of a single cell. In some cases, however, two cells participate in the formation of the cyst, although one is only a slender process and joined by a zonula occludens with the main cyst cell. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) injected into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) space failed to enter the cystic lumen. A possible significance of the cyst in relation to the CSF and blood circulation was considered.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 7
    ISSN: 1432-0878
    Keywords: Rough endoplasmic reticulum ; Ribosomes ; Golgi apparatus ; Quick-freeze deep-etching ; Neurons ; Rat (Wistar)
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Summary Membrane-bounded organelles possessing cisternae, i.e., rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus, in immature rat central neurons were examined by quick-freeze and deep-etch techniques to see how their intracisternal structures are organized and how ribosomes are associated with the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum. Cisternae of endoplasmic reticulum, 60–100 nm wide, were bridged with randomly-distributed strands (trabecular strands, 12.5 nm in mean diameter). Luminal surfaces of cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum were decorated with various-sized globular particles, some as small as intramembrane particles, and others as large as granules formed by soluble proteins seen in the cytoplasm. A closer examination revealed much thinner strands (3.3. nm in mean diameter). Such thin strands were short, usually winding toward the luminal surface, and sometimes touching the luminal surface with one end. Ribosomes appeared to be embedded into the entire thickness of cross-fractured membranes of endoplasmic reticulum, that is, their internal portions appeared to be situated at almost the same level as the cisternal luminal surface. From the internal portion of ribosomes, single thin strands occasionally protruded into the lumen, suggesting that these thin strands were newly synthesized polypeptides. A horizontal separation within ribosomes appeared to occur at the same level as the hydrophobic middle of the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum. Interiors of the Golgi apparatus cisternae, which were much narrower than cisternae of endoplasmic reticulum, were similarly bridged with trabecular strands, but the Golgi trabecular strands were thinner and more frequent. Their cisternal lumina were also dotted with globular particles. No identifiable profiles corresponding to the thin strands in the endoplasmic reticulum were observed. Golgi cisternae showed a heterogeneous distribution of membrane granularity; the membrane in narrow cisternal space was granule-rich, while that in expanded space was granule-poor, suggesting a functional compartmentalization of the Golgi cisternae.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 8
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Journal of neurocytology 13 (1984), S. 431-448 
    ISSN: 1573-7381
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Summary Astrocytic membranes contacting the basal lamina are found to be less affected by filipin than subjacent lateral membranes. An abrupt change in density of lesions induced by filipin creates a border between subpial and lateral membranes at the glia limitans. This means that orthogonal array-crowded membranes may contain relatively less cholesterol than other astrocytic membrane domains. Another possible explanation for filipin resistance is also considered in relation to aggregated intramembrane particles of orthogonal arrays and/or membrane-associated filamentous elements including the basal lamina. The polygonal particle junction between astrocytic processes located just below the subpial membrane is strongly resistant to the action of filipin. Both membrane-associated enzymes, i.e. alkaline phosphatase (AlkPase) and Na+,K+-ATPase are commonly detected only in perivascular astrocytic membranes, and not in subpial membranes, suggesting a regional differentiation in function of astrocytic membranes. There are variations in the reactive deposits particularly of those for Na+,K+-ATPase. It is apparent that the distribution polarity of orthogonal arrays is not connected with that of either AlkPase or Na+,K+-ATPase. Judging from the relative resistance to filipin, however, astrocytes throughout the C.N.S., having domains specialized with orthogonal arrays, may possess a unique stabilizing mechanism for their own membranes contacting the basal lamina.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 9
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Journal of neurocytology 13 (1984), S. 727-742 
    ISSN: 1573-7381
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Summary The structural machinery contributing to the blood-brain barrier in elasmobranchs has been examined mainly using freeze-fracture techniques. Capillary endothelial cells, which show local aggregations of pinocytotic vesicles and infrequent fenestrations, are connected by poorly developed tight junctions. Astrocytic processes investing the capillary are linked by well-developed tight junctions between lateral membranes immediately beneath the perivascular space. The tight junctions consist of continuous strands of multiple layers coursing circumferentially around the astrocytic processes parallel to one another as well as to the perivascular space. The presence of intramembrane particles (IMPs) within E-face grooves may result in discontinuities in IMP rows on the P-face. Thus, in compensation for the capillary endothelium, perivascular astrocytes constitute the morphological site of the blood-brain barrier in elasmobranchs. Continuous strands of tight junctions are also detected between astrocytic processes forming the glia limitans at the brain surface. These may act as a barrier between meningeal connective tissue and brain parenchyma. Astrocytic membranes have numerous IMPs of 8–9 run in diameter on their P-faces. These IMPs are uniformly distributed so that astrocytic membranes are easily distinguished from neuronal membranes even in the neuropil. Ependymal cells also have numerous IMPs in all their membrane domains. Orthogonal arrays are not detected in either astrocytic or ependymal plasma membranes.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 10
    ISSN: 1573-7381
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Summary The cytoskeletal system in rat subpial astrocytes and the relationship between astrocytic plasma membrane and basal lamina or cytoplasmic components were examined with a quick-freeze deep-etch technique, mainly using chemically fixed tissues. Attention was focused on the way intramembrane particles (IMPs), particularly orthogonal arrays, are organized in the membranes and related to extramembrane components. The basal lamina was composed of a sheet-like network of strands (4–9 nm thick), some, which we have called ‘trabecular’ strands, extending through the lamina lucida to touch the astrocytic membrane at irregular intervals. The trabecular strands usually formed a bulbous structure where they touched the membrane, but sometimes appeared to intrude directly into the external lipid layer. The orthogonal arrays did not extend to the outer true surface, and no special structure was detectable in association with them. Small spherical protrusions (7–9 nm in diameter), related to neither the trabecular strands nor the arrays, were observed in the outer surface. Judging from their size and distribution, these are probably tops of tall globular IMPs. In the inner or cytoplasmic true surface, protrusions were relatively numerous; some were large, 15–20 nm in diameter, while others were small (8–10 nm). Some of the small protrusions were identified as transmembrane components. Although protrusions were more conspicuous in the inner than in the outer surface, none of them provided images related or similar to the orthogonal arrays. Some protrusions in the inner surface were connected with thin (4–5 nm) or thick (∼ 10nm) filaments constituting the underlying network. The thin filaments were also anchored to the intermediate filaments which lay parallel with the astrocytic membranes. In the cytoplasm, the intermediate filaments were firmly packed to form bundles. Because the orthogonal arrays are probably embedded within the astrocytic membrane, they may not serve as a transmembrane channel but rather contribute to some stabilizing function for the membrane.
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