Lysis

About: Lysis is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 6072 publications have been published within this topic receiving 216978 citations.

Rapid methods to extract DNA and RNA from Cryptococcus neoformans

Abstract: Extraction of nucleic acids from the pathogenic yeast Cryptococcus neoformans is normally hampered by a thick and resistant capsule, accounting for at least 70% of the whole cellular volume. This paper presents procedures based on mechanical cell breakage to extract DNA and RNA from C. neoformans and other capsulated species. The proposed system for DNA extraction involves capsule relaxation by means of a short urea treatment and bead beating. These two steps allow a consistent extraction even from strains resistant to other procedures. Yield and quality of DNA obtained with the proposed method were higher than those obtained with two earlier described methods. This protocol can be extended to every yeast species and particularly to those difficult to handle for the presence of a capsule. RNA purification is accomplished using an original lysing matrix and the FastPrep System (Bio101) after a preliminary bead beating treatment. Yields range around 1 mg RNA from 15 ml overnight culture (109 cells), RNA appears undegraded, making it suitable for molecular manipulations.

Active Transport of Calcium in Inverted Membrane Vesicles of Escherichia coli

Abstract: Accumulation of (45)Ca(++) was found to occur in membrane vesicles of E. coli prepared by lysis with a French pressure cell. The uptake occurs by active transport, requiring an energy source. Substrates of the electron transport chain, including D-lactate, reduced phenazine methosulfate, and NADH, stimulated accumulation, but this effect was blocked by the addition of cyanide. ATP could also stimulate accumulation, and this effect was blocked by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. Uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation inhibited the accumulation driven by either type of energy source. Accumulation of calcium is rapid, reaching the steady-state plateau within 1 min. Addition of phosphate to the assay buffer results in a prolongation of the reaction, allowing for the time-dependent accumulation of calcium for as long as 30 min. Vesicles prepared by lysis with a French pressure cell exhibit almost no ability to accumulate proline, while vesicles prepared by the method of Kaback transport proline but exhibit little energy-dependent transport of calcium. It is suggested that the accumulation of calcium in these vesicles, which are believed to be inverted, reflects a system that in vivo is responsible for the active extrusion of calcium from the cells.

Characterization of the cytotoxic effect of extracellular ATP in J774 mouse macrophages.

Abstract: Extracellular ATP (ATPo) is known to be cytotoxic to many cell types through a mechanism which is largely unknown. Very recently this nucleotide has been shown to cause cell death by apoptosis, probably by interacting with specific cell-surface receptors. In the present study we have investigated the mechanism of ATPo-dependent cytotoxicity in the macrophage-like mouse cell line J774. It has been previously reported that in this cell type ATPo activates trans-membrane Ca2+ and Na+ fluxes and a drastic increase in the plasma-membrane permeability to hydrophilic solutes smaller than 900 Da. These changes are followed by cell swelling and lysis. We show in the present study that, although this nucleotide triggers a rise in the cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration, neither cell swelling nor lysis is Ca(2+)-dependent. Furthermore, cell lysis is not dependent on Na+ influx, as it is not prevented by iso-osmotic replacement of extracellular Na+ with choline or N-methylglucamine. On the contrary, ATPo-dependent cytotoxicity, but not the ATPo-dependent increase in plasma-membrane permeability, is completely abrogated in sucrose medium. Under our experimental conditions ATPo does not cause DNA fragmentation in J774 cells. We conclude from these findings that ATPo does not cause apoptosis of J774 macrophages and promotes a Ca(2+)- and Na(+)-independent colloido-osmotic lysis.

Cytolysis by Ca-permeable transmembrane channels. Pore formation causes extensive DNA degradation and cell lysis.

Abstract: This study investigates the effect of the purified membrane pore formers, staphylococcal alpha-toxin and CTL perforin, on target cell lysis as measured by 51Cr release and on nuclear damage as measured by DNA degradation and 125IUdR release. Both pore formers cause dose-dependent cell lysis, which is accompanied by DNA release. The ratio of DNA/Cr release depends on the nature of target cell and shows the same pattern as the ratio of release of the two markers reported for CTL-mediated lysis of the same targets. DNA degradation is dependent on the presence of intracellular Ca in the target cell and is totally blocked if Ca is chelated by Quin 2 intracellularly and EGTA extracellularly. DNA degradation, in addition, is inhibited by the lysosomotropic agents NH4Cl, chloroquine, and monensin. rTNF doubles the degree of DNA degradation mediated by alpha-toxin in 3-h assays. We conclude that pore formers alone can mediate DNA degradation. In addition, they may promote the uptake of other factors and thereby accelerate their time course of action. DNA degradation by pore formers requires active target participation in a pathway that is dependent on intracellular Ca and lysosomes. These aspects of target lysis resemble CTL- and NK cell-mediated cytolysis.