Biol. Bull. Sign up for etocs!
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Takahashi, H.
Right arrow Articles by Yokosawa, H.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Takahashi, H.
Right arrow Articles by Yokosawa, H.

The Biological Bulletin, Vol 186, Issue 3 247-253, Copyright © 1994 by Marine Biological Laboratory

CELL BIOLOGY

Hemocyte Aggregation in the Solitary Ascidian Halocynthia roretzi: Plasma Factors, Magnesium Ion, and Met-Lys-Bradykinin Induce the Aggregation

H. Takahashi, K. Azumi and H. Yokosawa
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060, Japan

Hemocytes of the ascidian Halocynthia roretzi undergo aggregation in hemolymph that has been collected from the body through the tunic. To investigate the mechanisms involved, we first established two methods of measuring hemocyte aggregation. In one method, hemocyte aggregation was quantified by its reduction of light scattering intensity as measured with a fluorescence spectrophotometer. In the other method, the increase of transmittance accompanying aggregation was measured with an ELISA reader. We found that ascidian plasma, Mg2+, and Met-Lys-bradykinin can induce the hemocytes of H. roretzi to aggregate. The aggregation induced by any of these three substances was inhibited by EDTA, N-ethylmaleimide, and cytochalasin B. Lipopolysaccharide had little inducing effect. We also demonstrated that, when H. roretzi plasma was treated with trypsin, low molecular weight aggregation-inducing substances were produced. These results suggest that metal ions and peptide-like substances present in the hemolymph play essential roles in the progression of hemocyte aggregation of H. roretzi.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
J. D. Kulman, J. E. Harris, N. Nakazawa, M. Ogasawara, M. Satake, and E. W. Davie
Vitamin K-dependent proteins in Ciona intestinalis, a basal chordate lacking a blood coagulation cascade
PNAS, October 24, 2006; 103(43): 15794 - 15799.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Biol. Chem.Home page
H. Takahashi, G. Ishikawa, K. Ueki, K. Azumi, and H. Yokosawa
Cloning and Tyrosine Phosphorylation of a Novel Invertebrate Immunocyte Protein Containing Immunoreceptor Tyrosine-based Activation Motifs
J. Biol. Chem., December 19, 1997; 272(51): 32006 - 32010.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1994 by the Marine Biological Laboratory.