Cytokinesis in plant and animal cells: endosomes 'shut the door'.

For many years, cytokinesis in eukaryotic cells was considered to be a process that took a variety of forms. This is rather surprising in the face of an apparently conservative mitosis. Animal cytokinesis was described as a process based on an actomyosin-based contractile ring, assembling, and acting at the cell periphery.

GFP-FABD2 fusion construct allows in vivo visualization of the dynamic actin cytoskeleton in all cells of Arabidopsis seedlings.

In vivo visualization of filamentous actin in all cells of Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings is essential for understanding the numerous roles of the actin cytoskeleton in diverse processes of cell differentiation. A previously introduced reporter construct based on the actin-binding domain of mouse talin proved to be useful for unravelling some of these aspects in cell layers close to the organ surface. However, cells more deeply embedded, especially stelar cells active in polar transport of auxin, show either diffuse or no fluorescence at all due to the lack of expression of the fusion protein.

Plant synapses: actin-based domains for cell-to-cell communication.

For many years it has been known that plants perform rapid long-distance signalling using classical action potentials that have impacts on diverse processes in plants. Plants also synthesize numerous neuronal molecules and fulfill some criteria for intelligent behaviour. Analysis of recent breakthrough data from ecophysiology studies has revealed that plant roots can discriminate between 'self' and 'non-self'; in animals, this ability to discriminate is dependent on the activities of neuronal synapses.

Transforming growth factor-beta1 regulates the expression of the high-affinity receptor for IgE on CD34 stem cell-derived CD1a dendritic cells in vitro.

It has been reported that monocytes, Langerhans cells (LC) and other dendritic cells (DC) express the high-affinity receptor for IgE (FcepsilonRI) in patients with atopic diseases. These cells may be instrumental in the control of the immune response and the allergic inflammation. In this context, transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta1) has been highlighted as a key cytokine involved in the mechanisms aimed to orchestrate tolerance and has been suggested as a candidate gene in atopic diseases.

Superselective embolization of arterial bleeding as a late complication 3 months after nephron sparing surgery for renal cell carcinoma.

To our knowledge, this is the first case of an arterial bleeding as a late complication 3 months after nephron sparing surgery of renal cell cancer, presumably originating from an arteriocalyceal fistula. Superselective embolization of the feeding arterial branch was chosen for treatment of the hemorrhage and proved successful. The high efficacy of superselective embolization as a minimally invasive procedure in this and other cases of bleeding Vessels should be the preferred method instead of open surgery.

Circulating intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and E-selectin in urological malignancies.

Several studies suggest that cellular adhesion molecules (CAM) play a role in cancer progression and metastasis. To evaluate the role of these molecules as possible tumor markers in patients with urological malignancies, we examined the serum levels of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cellcular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and E-selectin in patients with renal cell-, bladder-, prostate- and testicular cancer. Serum levels of 237 patients with urological cancers, renal cell carcinoma (n = 47), bladder cancer (n = 81), prostate cancer (n = 87) and testicular cancer (n = 22) and a group of 41 patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) as well as a 42 healthy control persons were examined for CAMs by specific ELISA tests.

The sulfation pattern of chondroitin sulfate from articular cartilage explants in response to mechanical loading.

Chondrocytes within articular cartilage experience complete unloading between loading cycles thereby utilizing mechanical signals to regulate their own anabolic and catabolic activities. Structural alterations of proteoglycans (PGs) during aging and the development of osteoarthritis (OA) have been reported; whether these can be attributed to altered load or compression is largely unknown. We report here on experiments in which the effect of intermittent loading on the fine structure of newly synthesized chondroitin sulfate (CS) in bovine articular cartilage explants was examined.

Polar transport of auxin: carrier-mediated flux across the plasma membrane or neurotransmitter-like secretion?

Auxin (indole-3-acetic acid) has its name derived from the Greek word auxein, meaning 'to increase', and it drives plant growth and development. Auxin is a small molecule derived from the amino acid tryptophan and has both hormone- and morphogen-like properties. Although there is much still to be learned, recent progress has started to unveil how auxin is transported from cell-to-cell in a polar manner.

The architecture of polarized cell growth: the unique status of elongating plant cells.

Polarity is an inherent feature of almost all prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. In most eukaryotic cells, growth polarity is due to the assembly of actin-based growing domains at particular locations on the cell periphery. A contrasting scenario is that growth polarity results from the establishment of non-growing domains, which are actively maintained at opposite end-poles of the cell.

Congenital myasthenic syndrome with episodic apnea in patients homozygous for a CHAT missense mutation.

Background: The syndrome of congenital myasthenia with episodic apnea (CMS-EA) was previously found to be due to mutations in the choline acetyltransferase gene (CHAT).

Objective: To identify the mutations underlying CMS-EA in a Turkish multiplex family.

Design: Direct sequencing of the CHAT gene.

Unraveling the mission of FcepsilonRI on antigen-presenting cells.

A decade ago, the discovery of the high-affinity receptor for IgE (FcepsilonRI) on epidermal Langerhans cells documented the end of the dogma that FcepsilonRI is only expressed on effector cells of anaphylaxis. Since then, the functional significance of this receptor on antigen-presenting cells (APCs) has been an area of intense research work. Scientists have focused on a better understanding of the molecular structure, regulation, and role of FcepsilonRI on APCs in the human immune system.

Short-term boron deprivation inhibits endocytosis of cell wall pectins in meristematic cells of maize and wheat root apices.

By using immunofluorescence microscopy, we observed rapidly altered distribution patterns of cell wall pectins in meristematic cells of maize (Zea mays) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) root apices. This response was shown for homogalacturonan pectins characterized by a low level (up to 40%) of methylesterification and for rhamnogalacturonan II pectins cross-linked by a borate diol diester. Under boron deprivation, abundance of these pectins rapidly increased in cell walls, whereas their internalization was inhibited, as evidenced by a reduced and even blocked accumulation of these cell wall pectins within brefeldin A-induced compartments.

Tandem pore domain K(+)-channel TASK-3 (KCNK9) and idiopathic absence epilepsies.

Recently, the gene coding for the tandem pore domain K(+)-channel TASK-3 (KCNK9) has been localized to the chromosomal region 8q24. Because mutations in ion channel genes have been recognized as an important factor in the etiology of abnormal neuronal excitability, TASK-3 is an interesting candidate gene for epilepsies linked to 8q24. We therefore performed a mutation analysis of the TASK-3 gene in 65 patients with childhood and juvenile absence epilepsy.

Motile plant cell body: a "bug" within a "cage".

Analysis of the cytoskeleton in morphogenetically active plant cells allows us to propose a unified concept for the structural organization of eukaryotic cells. Their cytoarchitecture is determined by two principal structural complexes: nucleus-microtubule-based cell bodies ("bugs") and plasma-membrane-F-actin-based cell periphery complexes ("cages"). There are dynamic interactions between each of these entities in response to extracellular and intracellular signals.

Numerical density of mu opioid receptor expressing neurons in the frontal cortex of drug related fatalities.

In animal and cell culture experiments, chronic morphine treatment has been followed by 'up'- as well as 'down-regulation' of the mu opioid receptor (mu OR) number. The present postmortem morphometric study of morphine-related fatalities of drug addicts (n=12, and 22-35 years old, with blood unconjugated morphine levels from 27.1 to 458 ng/ml, m.

Mutation analysis of the inwardly rectifying K(+) channels KCNJ6 (GIRK2) and KCNJ3 (GIRK1) in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.

Genetic factors play a major role in the etiology of idiopathic generalized epilepsy. However, in most syndromes, especially the common ones, multiple genetic factors seem to be involved. Mutations in K(+) channel genes have previously found to be associated with epilepsy both in humans and in mice.

Influence of the pulmonary circulation on adrenaline pharmacokinetics during cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

The influence of the pulmonary circulation on the pharmacokinetics and -dynamics of endogenously released, and intravenously injected (10 micrograms kg-1), and endobronchially (e.b.) administered (100 micrograms kg-1) adrenaline was investigated in an animal cardiopulmonary-resuscitation (CPR) model.

Impaired rectal sensation in idiopathic faecal incontinence.

In 15 patients suffering from idiopathic faecal incontinence and in 15 matched controls, manometric studies of anorectal pressure and studies of the rectoanal reflex and rectal sensitivity were carried out. Patients with idiopathic faecal incontinence had normal resting pressure but reduced squeeze and stress pressures; the anal sphincter relaxed before a sensation of rectal distension occurred. The conclusion is that both reduced voluntary muscle contraction and impairment of rectal sensation are conducive to soiling in idiopathic faecal incontinence.