Developmental morphology of the typical cordate gametophyte of a homosporous leptosporangiate fern, Lygodium japonicum (Lygodiaceae), focusing on the initial cell behavior of two distinct meristems.

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Understanding the origin and early evolution of vascular plants requires thorough consideration of the gametophyte generation of ferns and lycophytes. Unfortunately, information about this generation is quite limited. To reveal the origin and evolution of varied gametophyte shapes, we used comparative morphological studies of meristem behavior of gametophytes of Lygodium japonicum, which exhibit the typical cordate shape. METHODS: Microscopic images of epi-illuminated growing gametophytes cultured from spores were captured periodically using a metallurgical microscope equipped with a digital camera to analyze the cell lineage in the meristem. KEY RESULTS: Gametophytes form from two meristems: the apical-cell-based meristem and the multicellular meristem. The triangular apical cell produces six to eight derivatives from two lateral facets, then disappears. Subsequently, the multicellular meristem, with a row of several rectangular cells, forms in the notch. These rectangular cells divide asynchronously in the periclinal and anticlinal walls to produce cells to both lateral sides and downward. Usually two, and sometimes three, cells located at the center of the meristem divide at a slower pace in the periclinal and anticlinal planes than others at the periphery. The cells at the periphery are pushed away and become involved in the wing base. CONCLUSIONS: The triangular apical cell behaves as a permanent initial cell. In the multicellular meristem, however, two or three central cells behave as initial cells that are transient and regulated in a position-dependent manner. The organization and behavior of both meristems are shared with the ribbon-shaped gametophytes of Colysis.

Roles of protein kinase C, Ca2+, Pyk2, and c-Src in agonist activation of rat lacrimal gland p42/p44 MAPK.

PURPOSE: Although p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) negatively modulates protein secretion stimulated by cholinergic and alpha(1D)-adrenergic agonists, it does not play a role in epidermal growth factor (EGF)-stimulated protein secretion. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the roles that protein kinase C (PKC), intracellular Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](i)), and nonreceptor tyrosine kinases Pyk2 and Src play in the activation of agonist- and EGF-stimulated MAPK activation. METHODS: Lacrimal gland acini were isolated by collagenase digestion and incubated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) to activate PKC or ionomycin, a Ca(2+) ionophore. Acini were preincubated with the PKC inhibitors calphostin C or Ro-31-8220, EGTA to chelate Ca(2+), or the c-Src inhibitor PP1 before stimulation with the cholinergic agonist carbachol, the alpha(1D)-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine, or EGF. Activated MAPK, Pyk2, and c-Src amounts were measured by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: PMA and ionomycin significantly increased the activation of MAPK in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Inhibition of PKC partially inhibited carbachol-stimulated MAPK activation while completely inhibiting phenylephrine- and EGF-stimulated MAPK activation. Chelation of Ca(2+) also partially inhibited carbachol-stimulated MAPK with no effect on phenylephrine- and EGF-stimulated MAPK activation. Carbachol increased the phosphorylation of Pyk2 on tyrosine 402 and c-src on tyrosine 416 in a time-dependent manner. The c-src inhibitor PP1 inhibited carbachol-stimulated phosphorylation of Pyk2. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that cholinergic agonists use Ca(2+) and PKC to phosphorylate Pyk2 and c-Src, which subsequently stimulate MAPK activity. In contrast, alpha(1D)-adrenergic agonists and EGF do not use Pyk2 and Src but do use PKC to activate MAPK.

Alpha 1-adrenergic and cholinergic agonists activate MAPK by separate mechanisms to inhibit secretion in lacrimal gland.

The purpose of this study was to determine the role of p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in alpha(1)-adrenergically and cholinergically stimulated protein secretion in rat lacrimal gland acinar cells and the pathways used by these agonists to activate MAPK. Acini were isolated by collagenase digestion and incubated with the alpha(1)-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine or the cholinergic agonist carbachol, and activation of MAPK and protein secretion were then measured. Phenylephrine and carbachol activated MAPK in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Inhibition of MAPK significantly increased phenylephrine- and carbachol-induced protein secretion. Inhibition of EGF receptor (EGFR) with AG1478, an inhibitor of the EGFR tyrosine kinase activity, significantly increased phenylephrine- but not carbachol-induced protein secretion. Whereas phenylephrine-induced activation of MAPK was completely inhibited by AG1478, activation of MAPK by carbachol was not. Phenylephrine stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of the EGFR, whereas carbachol stimulated p60(Src), and possibly Pyk2, to activate MAPK. We conclude that, in the lacrimal gland, activation of MAPK plays an inhibitory role in alpha(1)-adrenergically and cholinergically stimulated protein secretion and that these agonists use different signaling mechanisms to activate MAPK.