Distinct metamorphic evolution of alternating silica-saturated and silica-deficient microdomains within garnet in ultrahigh-temperature granulites: An example from Sri Lanka

Here we report the occurrence of garnet porphyroblasts that have overgrown alternating silica-saturated and silica deficient microdomains via different mineral reactions. The samples were collected from ultrahigh-temperature(UHT) metapelites in the Highland Complex, Sri Lanka. In some of the metapelites, garnet crystals have cores formed via a dehydration reaction, which had taken place at silicasaturated microdomains and mantle to rim areas formed via a dehydration reaction at silica-deficient microdomains. In contrast, some other garnets in the same rock cores had formed via a dehydration reaction which occurred at silica-deficient microdomains while mantle to rim areas formed via a dehydration reaction at silica-saturated microdomains. Based on the textural observations, we conclude that the studied garnets have grown across different effective bulk compositional microdomains during the prograde evolution. These microdomains could represent heterogeneous compositional layers(paleobedding/laminations) in the precursor sediments or differentiated crenulation cleavages that existed during prograde metamorphism. UHT metamorphism associated with strong ductile deformation, metamorphic differentiation and crystallization of locally produced melt may have obliterated the evidence for such microdomains in the matrix. The lack of significant compositional zoning in garnet probably due to self-diffusion during UHT metamorphism had left mineral inclusions as the sole evidence for earlier microdomains with contrasting chemistry.

Spatiotemporal Dynamics of the BRI1 Receptor and its Regulation by Membrane Microdomains in Living Arabidopsis Cells

The major brassinosteroid （BR） receptor of Arabidopsis BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE1 （BRI1） plays fundamental roles in BR signaling, but the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of BR on BRI1 internalization and assembly state remain unclear. Here, we applied variable angle total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy and fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy to analyze the dynamics of GFP-tagged BRII. We found that, in response to BR, the degree of co-localization of BRI1-GFP with AtFIotl-mCherry increased, and especially BR stimulated the membrane microdomain-associated pathway of BRI1 internalization. We also verified these observations in endocytosis-defective chc2-1 mutants and the AtFIotl amiRNA 15-5 lines. Furthermore, examination of the phosphorylation status of bril-EMS-suppressor 1 and measurement of BR-responsive gene expression revealed that membrane microdomains affect BR signaling. These results suggest that BR promotes the partitioning of BRI1 into functional membrane microdomains to activate BR signaling.

Arabidopsis Blue Light Receptor Phototropin 1 Undergoes Blue Light-Induced Activation in Membrane Microdomains

Phototropin （phot）-mediated signaling initiated by blue light （BL） plays a critical role in optimizing photosyn- thetic light capture at the plasma membrane （PM） in plants. However, the mechanisms underlying the regu- lation of phot activity at the PM in response to BL remain largely unclear. In this study, by single-particle tracking and stepwise photobleaching analysis of photl-GFP proteins we demonstrated that in the dark photl proteins remain in an inactive state and mostly exist as monomers. Dimerization and the diffusion rate of photl-GFP increased in a dose-dependent manner in response to BL. In contrast, BL did not affect the lateral diffusion of kinase-inactive photlD806N-GFP but did enhance its dimerization, suggesting that photl dimerization is independent of phosphorylation. Forster resonance energy transfer-fluorescence life- time imaging microscopy analysis revealed that the interaction between photl-GFP and a marker of sterol- rich lipid environments, AtRem1.3-mCherry, was enhanced with increased time of BL treatment. However, this BL-dependent interaction was not obvious in plants co-expressing phot1D806N-GFP and AtRem1.3- mCherry, indicating that BL facilitates the translocation of functional photl-GFP into AtRem1.3-1abeled microdomains to activate phot-mediated signaling. Conversely, sterol depletion attenuated photl-GFP dynamics, dimerization, and phosphorylation. Taken together, these results indicate that membrane micro- domains act as organizing platforms essential for the proper function of activated photl at the PM.

巨噬细胞氧化低密度脂蛋白的细胞定位

目的 研究巨噬细胞氧化低密度脂蛋白的定位。方法 以培养的小鼠巨噬细胞为模型 ,与 10 0 μg/mL低密度脂蛋白共培养 ,将其交联后分离不同膜成分 ,通过膜上髓过氧化物酶和低密度脂蛋白含量测定 ,研究巨噬细胞氧化低密度脂蛋白的细胞定位。结果 在分离得到的不同膜成分中 ,5 %蔗糖密度梯度液部分髓过氧化物酶和低密度脂蛋白含量分别比 10 %部分高出 7.6 6 7和 2 1倍。结论 巨噬细胞对低密度脂蛋白的氧化发生在细胞膜上的“Microdomain”中。

Lipid-Protein Microinclusions in the Morphological Structures of Organelle Membranes Studied by Fluorescent Confocal Microscopy

Peculiar properties of morphological structures of organelle membranes were studied by fluorescent confocal microscopy. The list of objects in our experiments was represented by mitochondria, chloroplasts and vacuoles. During this study, identification of lipid microinclusions having the form of such lipid-protein structural microformations as lipid-protein microdomains, vesicles and membrane tubular structures (cytoplasmic transvacuolar strands and nanotubes) located in organelle membranes or bound up with them was conducted. Such membrane probes as laurdan, DPH, ANS and bis-ANS were used. Comparison of fluorescence intensity of these membrane probes was conducted. This investigation of the morphological properties of lipid-protein structural microformations was accompanied with analysis of 1) the phase state and 2) dynamics of microviscosity variations in the membrane elements of isolated plant cell organelles. Distributions of laurdan fluorescence generalized polarization (GP) values for the membrane on the whole and for the intensively fluorescing membrane segments were obtained. It was discovered that the microviscosity of intensively fluorescing membrane segments essentially differed from the microviscosity of the rest part of the membrane. In conclusion, some results of the study of peculiar properties of lipid-protein structural microformations related to the structure of organelle membranes and the discoveries made in this investigation are discussed.

PROPERTIES OF DILUTE SOLUTIONS OF HYDROPHOBICALLY MODIFIED POLY (4-VINYL PYRIDINE) (POLYSOAPS)

Hydrophobically modified poly(4-vinyl pyridines) by alkyl bromides are kinds of polysoap similar to the surfactant. Properties of dilute solutions were studied through the viscosity measurements in pure water and NaCl solutions. In aqueous solutions of polysoaps hydrophobic interaction can be attributed to aggregation of hydrophobic groups of the polysoap main chains. The hydrophobic groups of polysoap can aggregate to form hydrophobic microdomains (micelles) in aqueous solution. This is a compact conformation. The formation of such microdomains is a process of dynamic equilibrium.

Expression and Characterization of the Intracellular Part of Receptor Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase PTPRU

PTPRU is an MAM domain-containing receptor-like protein tyrosine phosphatase. Previous studies have demonstrated an important role of the enzyme in the maintenance of epithelial integrity and in the regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. To better understand the function of PTPRU, we cloned and expressed the intracellular portion of PTPRU as a GST fusion protein in E. coli cells. We purified the protein to homogeneity and used it to immunize mice for antibody production. The resultant antibody specifically recognized PTPRU over-expressed in the cell line. Western blot analyses demonstrated the partition of truncated forms of PTPRU containing the cadherin-like domain in the Triton X-100-insoluble fraction, and immunofluorescent cell staining revealed the localization of these proteins in punctate intracellular structures. Our data suggest that the cadherin-like domain of PTPRU has a major role in determining its intracellular localization.

TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OF SEGMENTED POLYURETHANES WITH RUTHENIUM TETROXIDE AS A STAINING AGENT

Microphase separation and lamellar structure of segmented polyether- and polyester-polyurethanes have been investigated by means of transmission electron microscopy with the ruthenium tetroxide staining technique. The results show that the RuO_4 staining technique is simpler and may give better image contrast than other staining methods for this polymer. Microphase separation and lamellar structure of segmented polyether-and polyester-polyurethanes were directly observed and discussed.

NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF DIELECTRIC RESPONSE IN RELAXOR FERROELECTRICS

The dielectric response of complex perovskite relaxor ferrolectrics Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3) O3 with respect to temperature and frequency was carefully measured. Using a normalized method of the 'universal' many-body theory, the relaxation process was analyzed around the temperature of dielectric absorption maximum. There is no structural phase transition near this temperature and the behavior is closely like that of a polar dipole medium. The functional relationship about frequency and temperature of dielectric pormittivity maximum was also fitted to discuss the dynamic behavior of polar microregion. It is confirmed that a new power exponential Arrhenius relation is better to characterize the relaxation behavior than the Vogel-Fulcher and Debye relations. Based on the polarization theory of polar dipoles, we analyzed the relaxation mechanism of ferroelectric microdomains of relaxor ferroelectrics, and get an ideal distribution function of relaxation time. Consequently, a simulated dielectric response dependence on temperature and frequencies can be expressed, which is well coincided with experiment results.

Control of Microdomain Orientation in Block Copolymer Thin Films by Electric Field for Proton Exchange Membrane

Owing to the recent push toward efficient energy storage/conversion devices, fuel cells have become a strong candidate for energy conversion equipments. On the other hand, block copolymer polyelectrolytes are interesting materials for proton exchange membranes in fuel cells. Thus a considerable attention has been paid to the development of block copolymer polyelectrolyte membranes. In this study, the microdomains in block copolymer polyelectrolytes were controlled by external electric fields to develop high performance membranes with improved proton conductivity. The microdomain alignments in sulfonated polystyrene-b-hydrogenated poly butadiene-b-polystyrene block copolymer electrolyte were monitored by cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy analysis. The proton conductivities of the block copolymer electrolyte membranes were measured before and after exposure to electric field. In addition, the morphological features of the block copolymer electrolyte were observed with small angle x-ray scattering and atomic force microscopy.

Coarse-grained simulations of branched bilayer membranes: effects of cholesterol-dependent phase separation on curvature-driven lipid sorting

Our recent coarse-grained (CG) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of membranes with a hemifused-ribbon (λ-shaped) geometry showed curvature-driven demixing leading to enrich ment in dioleoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) in a negatively-curved region (at C = –0.8 nm–1) of a DOPE/dipalmitoyl-phosphati-dylcholine (DPPC) membrane. Here we extend the analysis with respect to lipid composition and simulation time. Simulations of 12 – 20 μs effective time show that, compared with DOPE of the DOPE/DPPC system, a DPPC/dilinoleyl-PC [di(18:2)PC] membrane showed a similar degree of enrichment of di(18:2)PC in the curved region with C=–0.8 nm–1. For the latter mixture, even weak negative curvatures (C=–0.5 – 0.6 nm–1) caused significant degrees of di(18:2)PC enrichment. In agreement with recent studies of a planar bilayer, a ternary DPPC/ di(18:2)PC/cholesterol 0.42:0.28:0.3 mixture phase-separated into nanoscale raft-like liquid-ordered (Lo) and non-raft liquid-disordered (Ld) phases on a sub-microsecond time scale. The Lo domains were preferentially localized at planar portions, whereas the Ld domains were positioned mainly in curved regions of the membrane. Unlike binary dioleoylphosphatidylcho-line (DOPC)/cholesterol and DPPC/cholesterol mixtures, which showed only a slight enrich ment of cholesterol in the curved region, the ternary mixtures showed considerable migra tion of cholesterol and DPPC from the curved to the planar region. A pronounced degree of lipid segregation due to the preferential distribution of the Ld and Lo domains in the curved and planar regions, respectively, was observed even when the curvature of the fused monolayers (originally ‘cis’ leaflets) was weakened (C= –0.5 nm-1). Overall, the results are consistent with theoretical predictions based on spontaneous curvature of the constituent lipids and the difference in rigidity between the Ld and Lo domains, whereas lipid-lipid interactions, such as PE-PE or DPPC-cholesterol, as well as propensity for interleaflet colocalization (registration) of the Lo and Ld domains appear to significantly amplify curvature-induced lipid demixing in the λ system. Intriguingly, for the DPPC/ di(18:2)PC/cholesterol ternary mixtures, a Lo/Ld domain boundary often moved to the branched point of the membrane, suggesting enhanced flexibility at the domain boundary. We hypothesize that curvature-driven lipid sorting and energetically favored localization of domain boundaries at sharp bends in the membranes may collaborate to assist intracellular lipid sorting.

Emerging roles and therapeutic potentials of sphingolipids in pathophysiology:emphasis on fatty acyl heterogeneity

Sphingolipids not only exert structural roles in cellular membranes,but also act as signaling molecules in various physiological and pathological processes.A myriad of studies have shown that abnormal levels of sphingolipids and their metabolic enzymes are associated with a variety of human diseases.Moreover,blood sphingolipids can also be used as biomarkers for disease diagnosis.This review summarizes the biosynthesis,metabolism,and pathological roles of sphingolipids,with emphasis on the biosynthesis of ceramide,the precursor for the biosynthesis of complex sphingolipids with different fatty acyl chains.The possibility of using sphingolipids for disease prediction,diagnosis,and treatment is also discussed.Targeting endogenous ceramides and complex sphingolipids along with their specific fatty acyl chain to promote future drug development will also be discussed.

New insight into the oncogenic mechanism of the retroviral oncoprotein Tax

Human T cell leukemia virus type 1(HTLV-1),an etio-logical factor that causes adult T cell leukemia and lym-phoma(ATL),infects over 20 million people worldwide.About 1 million of HTLV-1-infected patients develop ATL,a highly aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma without an effective therapy.The pX region of the HTLV-1 viral genome encodes an oncogenic protein,Tax,which plays a central role in transforming CD4+ T lymphocytes by deregulating oncogenic signaling pathways and promoting cell cycle progression.Expression of Tax following viral entry is critical for promoting survival and proliferation of human T cells and is required for initiation of oncogenesis.Tax exhibits diverse functions in host cells,and this oncoprotein primarily targets IκB kinase complex in the cytoplasm,resulting in persistent activation of NF-κB and upregulation of its responsive gene expressions that are crucial for T cell survival and cell cycle progression.We here review recent advances for the pathological roles of Tax in modulating IκB kinase activity.We also discuss our recent observation that Tax connects the IκB kinase complex to autophagy pathways.Understanding Tax-mediated pathogenesis will provide insights into development of new therapeutics in controlling HTLV-1-associated diseases.

Proton production,regulation and pathophysiological roles in the mammalian brain

The recent demonstration of proton signaling in C. elegans muscle contraction suggests a novel mechanism for proton-based intercellular communication and has stimulated enthusiasm for exploring proton signaling in higher organ- isms. Emerging evidence indicates that protons are produced and regulated in localized space and time. Furthermore, identification of proton regulators and sensors in the brain leads to the speculation that proton production and regulation may be of major importance for both physiological and pathological functions ranging from nociception to learning and memory. Extracellular protons may play a role in signal transmission by not only acting on adjacent ceils hut also af- fecting the cell from which they were released. In this review, we summarize the upstream and downstream pathways of proton production and regulation in the mammalian brain, with special emphasis on the proton extruders and sensors that are critical in the homeostatic regulation of pH, and discuss their potential roles in proton signaling under normal and pathophysiological conditions.

Quantification of Membrane Protein Dynamics and Interactions in Plant Cells by Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy

Deciphering the dynamics of protein and lipid molecules on appropriate spatial and temporal scales may shed light on protein function and membrane organization. However, traditional bulk approaches cannot unambiguously quantify the extremely diverse mobility and interactions of proteins in living cells. Fluores- cence correlation spectroscopy （FCS） is a powerful technique to describe events that occur at the singlemolecule level and on the nanosecond to second timescales; therefore, FCS can provide data on the heterogeneous organization of membrane systems. FCS can also be combined with other microscopy techniques, such as super-resolution techniques. More importantly, FCS is minimally invasive, which makes it an ideal approach to detect the heterogeneous distribution and dynamics of key proteins during development. In this review, we give a brief introduction about the development of FCS and summarize the significant contributions of FCS in understanding the organization of plant cell membranes and the dy- namics and interactions of membrane proteins .We also discuss the potential applications of this technique in plant biology.