'The growing pollen tube provides an excellent single cell model system in which to study the mechanisms determining growth regulation, polarity and periodic behaviour. Previously, using FM4-64, we identified periodic movements within the apical vesicle accumulation that were related to the period of oscillatory growth. This suggested a more complex ... More
Mmm2p, a mitochondrial outer membrane protein required for yeast mitochondrial shape and maintenance of mtDNA nucleoids.
AuthorsYoungman MJ, Hobbs AE, Burgess SM, Srinivasan M, Jensen RE
JournalJ Cell Biol
PubMed ID14981098
'The mitochondrial outer membrane protein, Mmm1p, is required for normal mitochondrial shape in yeast. To identify new morphology proteins, we isolated mutations incompatible with the mmm1-1 mutant. One of these mutants, mmm2-1, is defective in a novel outer membrane protein. Lack of Mmm2p causes a defect in mitochondrial shape and ... More
Fluorescent probes for living cells.
AuthorsJohnson I
JournalHistochem J
PubMed ID10188922
'The functional characteristics of fluorescent probes used for imaging and measuring dynamic processes in living cells are reviewed. Initial consideration is given to general design requirements for delivery, targeting, detectability and fluorescence readout, and current technologies for attaining them. Discussion then proceeds to the more application-specific properties of intracellular ion ... More
Mitochondria exert a negative feedback on the propagation of intracellular Ca2+ waves in rat cortical astrocytes.
AuthorsBoitier E, Rea R, Duchen MR
JournalJ Cell Biol
PubMed ID10330407
'We have used digital fluorescence imaging techniques to explore the interplay between mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake and physiological Ca2+ signaling in rat cortical astrocytes. A rise in cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]cyt), resulting from mobilization of ER Ca2+ stores was followed by a rise in mitochondrial Ca2+ ([Ca2+]m, monitored using rhod-2). Whereas [Ca2+]cyt ... More
The estrogen-related receptor alpha (ERRalpha) functions in PPARgamma coactivator 1alpha (PGC-1alpha)-induced mitochondrial biogenesis.
AuthorsSchreiber SN, Emter R, Hock MB, Knutti D, Cardenas J, Podvinec M, Oakeley EJ, Kralli A
JournalProc Natl Acad Sci U S A
PubMed ID15087503
'Estrogen-related receptor alpha (ERRalpha) is one of the first orphan nuclear receptors to be identified, yet its physiological functions are still unclear. We show here that ERRalpha is an effector of the transcriptional coactivator PGC-1alpha [peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) coactivator 1alpha], and that it regulates the expression of genes ... More
The use of confocal microscopy in the investigation of cell structure and function in the heart, vascular endothelium and smooth muscle cells.
AuthorsBkaily G, Pothier P, D'Orléans-Juste P, Simaan M, Jacques D, Jaalouk D, Belzile F, Hassan G, Boutin C, Haddad G, Neugebauer W
JournalMol Cell Biochem
PubMed ID9278244
In recent years, fluorescence microscopy imaging has become an important tool for studying cell structure and function. This non invasive technique permits characterization, localisation and qualitative quantification of free ions, messengers, pH, voltage and a pleiad of other molecules constituting living cells. In this paper, we present results using various ... More
On the mechanism underlying calcein-induced cytotoxicity.
AuthorsLiminga G, Jonsson B, Nygren P, Larsson R
JournalEur J Pharmacol
PubMed ID10594326
The cellular pharmacology of calcein acetoxymethyl ester (calcein/AM)-induced cytotoxicity was investigated in human tumor cell lines in order to identify tentative mechanisms of action. The activity profile in 10 cell lines with known mechanisms of resistance was compared with the activity profiles of standard drugs and experimental substances. The activity ... More
Staining of mitochondrial membranes with 10-nonyl acridine orange, MitoFluor Green, and MitoTracker Green is affected by mitochondrial membrane potential altering drugs.
AuthorsKeij JF, Bell-Prince C, Steinkamp JA
JournalCytometry
PubMed ID10685077
BACKGROUND: We set out to develop an assay for the simultaneous analysis of mitochondrial membrane potential and mass using the probes 10-nonyl acridine orange (NAO), MitoFluor Green (MFG), and MitoTracker Green (MTG) in HL60 cells. However, in experiments in which NAO and MFG were combined with orange emitting mitochondrial membrane ... More
Paclitaxel affects cytosolic calcium signals by opening the mitochondrial permeability transition pore.
AuthorsKidd JF, Pilkington MF, Schell MJ, Fogarty KE, Skepper JN, Taylor CW, Thorn P
JournalJ Biol Chem
PubMed ID11724773
We have characterized the effects of the antimitotic drug paclitaxel (Taxol(TM)) on the Ca(2+) signaling cascade of terminally differentiated mouse pancreatic acinar cells. Using single cell fluorescence techniques and whole-cell patch clamping to record cytosolic Ca(2+) and plasma membrane Ca(2+)-dependent Cl(-) currents, we find that paclitaxel abolishes cytosolic Ca(2+) oscillations ... More