Sachiko Takesue

Partial release of aminopeptidase N from larval midgut cell membranes of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, by phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C

1. The membrane anchor of aminopeptidase N associated with larval midgut cell membranes of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, was investigated by using phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PIPLC) and proteases. 2. Aminopeptidase N, which was virtually all localized in the brush border membrane, was solubilized by PIPLC but not by papain or trypsin. 3. Detergent-solubilized amphiphilic aminopeptidase N was converted into a hydrophilic form by PIPLC but not by papain. 4. Either of these effects of PIPLC on aminopeptidase N was maximally 40%. 5. These results suggest that in larval midgut cells of the silkworm, B. mori, at least 40% aminopeptidase N is anchored in the brush border membrane via glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol.

Immunological similarity between NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase of erythrocytes and liver microsomes.

In a number of animal species soluble NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase of erythrocytes was compared with membrane-bound NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase of liver microsomes by using an antibody to purified NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase from rat liver microsomes. The results obtained indicated clearly that they are immunologically very similar to each other. The data with erythrocyte ghosts suggested that cytochrome b5 and NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase are also present in the ghost.

Studies on the yolk granules of the silkworm,Bombyx mori L.: The morphology of diapause and non-diapause eggs during early developmental stages

SummaryThe morphological features during development of diapause and non-diapause eggs of the silkworm,Bombyx mori, were investigated by means of light and electron microscopy, with special reference to eggs up to 24 h after oviposition.The blastoderm and yolk cells began to be formed about 6 and 24 h after oviposition, respectively, in both the diapause and non-diapause eggs, indicating that the diapause and non-diapause eggs develop at similar rates at least until 24 h after oviposition.Specific changes in the distribution of yolk granules were observed during early development of the diapause egg. Its yolk granules gradually aggregated into clusters from the periphery toward the inside of the egg during the period of blastoderm formation. Aggregation of yolk granules was most noticeable about 12 h after oviposition and then they dispersed again before yolk cell formation. On the other hand, yolk granules of the non-diapause eggs remained dispersed during development.

Purification and characterization of α-glucosidase complex from the intestine of the frog, Rana japonica

The enzymes responsible for much of the isomaltase and maltase activities in the intestine of the frog, Rana japonica, were purified by detergent solubilization and affinity chromatography on Sephadex G-200 gel. The two activities paralleled each other during purification. The isomaltase, maltase and glucoamylase activities eluted in the same pattern on Sepharose 4B gel filtration as well as on Sephadex G-200 gel affinity chromatography. Anti-rabbit sucrase-isomaltase antibody inhibited the isomaltase activity but not the maltase or glucoamylase activity of the purified enzyme preparation, while the three activities were precipitated in parallel by the antibody. The isomaltase activity was more stable at 55 degrees C than the maltase and glucoamylase activities. On SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under nondissociating conditions the purified enzyme preparation showed only one major band of 330 kDa, while under dissociating conditions it showed two bands of 116 and 212 kDa. These results suggest that isomaltase (apparently with no or minor maltase activity) is due to a protein domain (or protein) different from one which is responsible for maltase and glucoamylase activities. This implies that isomaltase is associated with maltase/glucoamylase to form alpha-glucosidase complex in the brush border membrane of the frog intestine.

Immunocytochemical location of vitellin in the egg of the silkworm,Bombyx mori, during early developmental stages

SummaryVitellin was purified from eggs of the silkworm,Bombyx mori, by a new method in which vitellin was extracted from isolated yolk granules. The purified vitellin had a molecular weight of 540,000. An antibody against purified vitellin was prepared in rabbits. It reacted with the hemolymph vitellogenin as well as with purified vitellin, but not with other proteins in the hemolymph or in the extract from yolk granules. The anti-vitellin IgG was used to immunocytochemically locate vitellin in theBombyx non-diapause egg during early developmental stages. In the egg, just after oviposition, vitellin was located in internal yolk granules and in small yolk granules of the periplasm. During the early developmental stages studied, vitellin was not metabolized uniformly throughout the egg. The vitellin of the internal yolk granules located at the posterior-dorsal part and of the small peripheral yolk granules was utilized in 16 h and 2 days, respectively, after oviposition. A thin, very vitellin-poor layer was located between the periplasm and the vitellin-rich interior in the newly laid egg. it was always in close contact with the periphery where blastoderm and germ-band cells developed.

The cytochrome system of the early embryonic stages of the silkworm

Abstract The cytochrome system of the silkworm during early embryonic stages was studied by spectrophotometry. The results indicate that a complete mitochondrial electron transport system is present in the early embryonic stages. The concentrations of cytochrome b and c are considerably lower than that of cytochrome a . The presence of a new CO-binding pigment, which has absorption maxima at 574 to 572, 543 to 540, and 418 nm, was revealed by CO-reduced minus reduced difference spectrum in addition to the presence of cytochrome b 5 .

Scanning Electron microscopic Study on the Early Development of Silkworm Eggs (Bombyx mori L.)

Morphological changes of the surface of eggs of the silkworm Bombyx mori L. were studied during early developmental stages by scanning electron microscopy. The egg surface was covered with numerous microvilli at least until 4 h after oviposition. At 6 h the microvilli were replaced by ruffle‐like microprojections. This suggests that developmental changes of the surface structure may occur without direct influence of cleavage nuclei. Immediately before blastoderm cell formation, microvilli reappeared in the presumptive groove area. The ruffles seen on the apical portion of newly‐formed blastoderm cells gradually became flattened, while microvilli developed on the lateral side of the cells. The mode of blastoderm cell formation is different from the typical one seen in most species of insects.

Intestinal disaccharidases in the house musk shrew, Suncus murinus: occurrence of sucrase deficiency.

1. Disaccharidase activities of the small-intestinal brush border membrane were studied in six laboratory lines of the house musk shrew, Suncus murinus. 2. Sucrase activity was detected in all shrews of one line, but not in any shrew of three lines. In the other two lines it was found in some shrews, but not in the others. 3. Maltase, isomaltase, trehalase and lactase activities were found in all shrews of all the lines examined. 4. Sucrase was normally associated with isomaltase to form an enzyme complex. 5. Detergent-solubilized isomaltase, whether associated with sucrase or not, was inhibited by antibodies against rabbit sucrase-isomaltase to almost the same extent as the rabbit one, suggesting that isomaltase is not affected by a mutation(s) in sucrase.

Possible involvement of cytoskeletal organelles in blastoderm formation of the silkworm, Bombyx mori

Summary In this work we have studied the possibility that cytoskeletal systems are involved in energid migration and blastoderm formation of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. The results obtained suggest: (1) energid migration is mainly controlled by microtubules and perhaps secondarily by microfilaments, (2) morphological changes of microprojections covering the egg surface are regulated by microfilaments and (3) the changes of microprojections are independent of energid migration.

Microtubules During Blastoderm Formation in the Egg of the Silkworm, Bombyx mori L.

Microtubules in the silkworm egg, Bombyx mori, were observed by electron microscopy, in order to investigate the relationship between cytoskeletal organelles and the migration of energids, the cleavage nuclei accompanied by the associated cytoplasm, near the egg surface or during blastoderm formation. Numerous microtubules were observed in the associated cytoplasm of an energid even in the interphase of mitosis.