Overstretching alveolar epithelial type II cells decreases surfactant secretion via actin polymerization and intracellular trafficking alteration.

Pulmonary surfactant is essential for maintaining proper lung function. Alveolar epithelial type II (AE2) cells secrete surfactants via lamellar bodies (LBs). In tidal loading during each breath, the physiological cyclic stretching of AE2 cells promotes surfactant secretion.

Spatiotemporal distribution of PTEN before directed cell migration in monolayers.

The intracellular distribution of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) is closely related to directed cell migration. In single cells, PTEN accumulates at the rear of the cell before and during directed migration; however, the spatiotemporal distribution of PTEN in confluent cell monolayers, particularly before directed migration, remains unclear. In this study, we wounded a cell in confluent fetal rat skin keratinocytes (FRSKs) and examined the dynamics of PTEN in the cells adjacent to the wounded cell.

Spatiotemporal distribution of PKCα, Cdc42, and Rac1 before directed cell migration.

Cdc42 is a key factor in directed cell migration and accumulates at the leading edge of migrating cells. However, what kind of proteins control Cdc42 and when is unclear. After mechanical wounding, protein kinase C α (PKCα), a conventional PKC isozyme, begins to accumulate at the edges of cells adjacent to the wounded cells (WCs).

A metabolic reaction-diffusion model for PKCα translocation via PIP2 hydrolysis in an endothelial cell.

Hydrolysis of the phospholipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) at the cell membrane induces the release of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) into the cytoplasm and diffusion of diacylglycerol (DAG) through the membrane, respectively. Release of IP3 subsequently increases Ca2+ levels in the cytoplasm, which results in activation of protein kinase C α (PKCα) by Ca2+ and DAG, and finally the translocation of PKCα from the cytoplasm to the membrane. In this study, we developed a metabolic reaction-diffusion framework to simulate PKCα translocation via PIP2 hydrolysis in an endothelial cell.

Mechanisms of endothelial cell coverage by pericytes: computational modelling of cell wrapping and experiments.

Pericytes (PCs) wrap around endothelial cells (ECs) and perform diverse functions in physiological and pathological processes. Although molecular interactions between ECs and PCs have been extensively studied, the morphological processes at the cellular level and their underlying mechanisms have remained elusive. In this study, using a simple cellular Potts model, we explored the mechanisms for EC wrapping by PCs.

Effect of Gamma Ray Irradiation on Friction Property of Poly(vinyl alcohol) Cast-Drying on Freeze-Thawed Hybrid Gel.

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) is a biocompatible polymer with low toxicity. It is possible to prepare physically cross-linked PVA gels having hydrogen bonds without using a cross-linking agent. The newly reported physically cross-linked PVA cast-drying (CD) on freeze-thawed (FT) hybrid gel has an excellent friction property, which is expected to be applied as a candidate material for artificial cartilage.

Increasing Elasticity through Changes in the Secondary Structure of Gelatin by Gelation in a Microsized Lipid Space.

Even though microgels are used in a wide variety of applications, determining their mechanical properties has been elusive because of the difficulties in analysis. In this study, we investigated the surface elasticity of a spherical microgel of gelatin prepared inside a lipid droplet by using micropipet aspiration. We found that gelation inside a microdroplet covered with lipid membranes increased Young's modulus toward a plateau value * along with a decrease in gel size.

Persistent random deformation model of cells crawling on a gel surface.

In general, cells move on a substrate through extension and contraction of the cell body. Though cell movement should be explained by taking into account the effect of such shape fluctuations, past approaches to formulate cell-crawling have not sufficiently quantified the relationship between cell movement (velocity and trajectory) and shape fluctuations based on experimental data regarding actual shaping dynamics. To clarify this relationship, we experimentally characterized cell-crawling in terms of shape fluctuations, especially extension and contraction, by using an elasticity-tunable gel substrate to modulate cell shape.

Swelling and mechanical properties of physically crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogels.

Physically crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) gels are versatile biomaterials due to their excellent biocompatibility. In the past decades, physically crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) and poly(vinyl alcohol)-based hydrogels have been extensively studied for biomedical applications. However, these materials have not yet been implemented due to their mechanical strength.

Evaluations of the selectivities of the diacylglycerol kinase inhibitors R59022 and R59949 among diacylglycerol kinase isozymes using a new non-radioactive assay method.

Ten mammalian diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) isozymes (α-κ) have been identified. Recent studies have revealed that DGK isozymes play pivotal roles in a wide variety of pathophysiological functions. Thus, it is important to be able to easily check DGK activity in each pathophysiological event.

[Determination of low-level pesticide residues in agricultural products by ion-trap GC/MS/MS].

The objective of this study was to elucidate the utility of ion-trap GC/MS/MS for the analysis of pesticides in extracted matrices from various agricultural products. Identification and quantitative analysis of pesticides in matrices were performed by quadrupole GC/MS and ion-trap GC/MS/MS. Chlorpyrifos was added to the matrix of spinach, soybean in the pod or corn, and aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, alpha-BHC, beta-BHC, gamma-BHC, delta-BHC, p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDE, o,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDT were added to each matrix of green tea, black tea or oolong tea.

Elimination of HX (X = Cl, Br) from haloalkenes on the Ru2Q2 (Q = S, Se) core complex.

Treatment of [[Ru(P(OCH3)3)2(CH3CN)3]2(mu-Q2)](CF3SO3)4 (1, Q = S; 2, Q = Se) with haloalkenes resulted in the formation of complexes carrying unsaturated C3Q2 five-membered or C4Q2 six-membered rings via elimination of HX (X = Cl, Br). The reactions of 1 and 2 with allyl bromide gave the corresponding addition products, [[Ru(P(OCH3)3)2(CH3CN)3]2(mu-QCH=CHCH2Q)](CF3SO3)4 (3, Q = S; 4, Q = Se), via elimination of HBr. The elimination process seems to be thermodynamically controlled and takes place at the final stage of the reaction.