Inositol pyrophosphates modulate cell cycle independently of alteration in telomere length.

Synthesis of inositol pyrophosphates through activation of Kcs1 plays an important role in the signalling response required for cell cycle progression after mating pheromone arrest. Overexpression of Kcs1 doubled the level of inositol pyrophosphates when compared to wild type cells and 30 min following the release from α-factor block further increase in inositol pyrophosphates was observed, which resulted that cells overexpressing Kcs1 reached G2/M phase earlier than wild type cells. Similar effect was observed in ipk1Δ cells, which are unable to synthesize IP6-derived inositol pyrophosphates (IP7 and IP8) but will synthesize IP5-derived inositol pyrophosphates (PP-IP4 and (PP)2-IP3). Although ipk1Δ cells have shorter telomeres than wild type cells, overexpression of Kcs1 in both strains have similar effect on cell cycle progression. As it is known that PP-IP4 regulates telomere length through Tel1, inositol polyphosphates, cell cycle and telomere length were determined in tel1Δ cells. The release of the cells from α-factor block and overexpression of Kcs1 in tel1Δ cells produced similar effects on inositol pyrophosphates level and cell cycle progression when compared to wild type cells, although tel1Δ cells possesses shorter telomeres than wild type cells. It can be concluded that telomere length does not affect cell cycle progression, since cells with short telomeres (ipk1Δ and tel1Δ) progress through cell cycle in a similar manner as wild type cells and that overexpression of Kcs1 in cells with either short or normal telomeres will increase S phase progression without affecting telomere length. Furthermore, IP5-derived inositol pyrophosphates can compensate for the loss of IP6-derived inositol pyrophosphates, in modulating S phase progression of the cell cycle.

Immunocytochemical characterization of the incubated rat renal cortical slices.

The use of renal cortical slices in vitro and the data obtained in these studies have been subjects of controversy, largely due to uncertain viability, e.g., structural and functional integrity of the proximal and other tubules. However, detailed studies of tubule integrity have not been reported. To correlate functional and structural viability of the hand-cut rat renal cortical slices, incubated in optimally conditioned media for up to 25 h, we studied the time course of p-aminohippurate (PAH) uptake, the immunocytochemical distribution of several proteins that reside in the proximal tubule basolateral [Na/K-ATPase, organic anion transporters (OAT)1 and OAT3], or brush border [megalin, sodium-proton exchanger (NHE)3] membrane, as well as the general integrity of the tubule epithelium and its cytoskeleton (actin filaments, microtubules). PAH uptake in slices was proportional to time within 1 h of incubation and gradually declined thereafter. The immunostaining experiments indicated a fast, time-dependent loss of basolateral transporters, at a rate of OAT1 > Na/K-ATPase > OAT3. In the brush border membrane, the loss of megalin was faster than that of NHE3, and a partial redistribution of NHE3 into the basolateral domain indicated the loss of cell polarity. The loss of intracellular actin and tubulin cytoskeleton in the proximal tubule was already visible after 15 min of incubation and gradually increased with time, whereas a partial redistribution of actin to the basolateral domain indicated a compromised polarity of the cells. The data also revealed very early (after 15 min) necrotic events in the proximal tubule epithelium, with sloughing of brush border and cell debris into the tubule lumen, detachment of cells from the basal membrane, and opening and widening of the tubule lumen. We conclude that the loss of cellular structure, cytoskeleton, and cell membrane transporters in the nephron epithelium is a very early event in the incubated rat renal cortical slices.