Swelling-activated cation-selective channels in A6 epithelia are permeable to large cations.
AuthorsLi J, De Smet P, Jans D, Simaels J, Van Driessche W
JournalAm J Physiol
PubMed ID9688589
'Effects of basolateral monovalent cation replacements (Na+ by Li+, K+, Cs+, methylammonium, and guanidinium) on permeability to 86Rb of volume-sensitive cation channels (VSCC) in the basolateral membrane and on regulatory volume decrease (RVD), elicited by a hyposmotic shock, were studied in A6 epithelia in the absence of apical Na+ uptake. ... More
Mechanism and dynamics of breakage of fluorescent microtubules.
AuthorsGuo H, Xu C, Liu C, Qu E, Yuan M, Li Z, Cheng B, Zhang D
JournalBiophys J
PubMed ID16387782
'The breakage of fluorescence-labeled microtubules under irradiation of excitation light is found in our experiments. Its mechanism is studied. The results indicate that free radicals are the main reason for the photosensitive breakage. Furthermore, the mechanical properties of the microtubules are probed with a dual-optical tweezers system. It is found ... More
Reversible self-assembly and directed assembly of DNA-linked micrometer-sized colloids.
AuthorsValignat MP, Theodoly O, Crocker JC, Russel WB, Chaikin PM
JournalProc Natl Acad Sci U S A
PubMed ID15758072
'We present a technique for the directed assembly and self-assembly of micrometer-scale structures based on the control of specific DNA linkages between colloidal particles. The use of DNA links combined with polymer brushes provides an effective way to regulate the range and magnitude of addressable forces between pairs (and further ... More
P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 supports rolling on E- and P-selectin in vivo.
'Selectin-dependent rolling is the earliest observable event in the recruitment of leukocytes to inflamed tissues. Several glycoproteins decorated with sialic acid, fucose, and/or sulfate have been shown to bind the selectins. The best-characterized selectin ligand is P-selectin glycoprotein-1 (PSGL-1) that supports P-selectin- dependent rolling in vitro and in vivo. In ... More
Hypotonicity activates a lanthanide-sensitive pathway for K+ release in A6 epithelia.
AuthorsDe Smet P, Li J, Van Driessche W
JournalAm J Physiol
PubMed ID9688850
The nature of the pathway for K+ release activated during regulatory volume decrease (RVD) in A6 epithelia was investigated by measuring cell thickness (Tc) as an index of cell volume and by probing K+ efflux with 86Rb as tracer for K+ (RRb). Cell swelling was induced by sudden reduction of ... More