Phosphatidylserine externalization and membrane blebbing are involved in the nonclassical export of FGF1.

The mechanisms of nonclassical export of signal peptide-less proteins remain insufficiently understood. Here, we demonstrate that stress-induced unconventional export of FGF1, a potent and ubiquitously expressed mitogenic and proangiogenic protein, is associated with and dependent on the formation of membrane blebs and localized cell surface exposure of phosphatidylserine (PS). In addition, we found that the differentiation of promonocytic cells results in massive FGF1 release, which also correlates with membrane blebbing and exposure of PS. These findings indicate that the externalization of acidic phospholipids could be used as a pharmacological target to regulate the availability of FGF1 in the organism.

Pseudopollen and food-hair diversity in Polystachya Hook. (Orchidaceae).

Labellar food-hairs in Polystachya Hook. exhibit considerable morphological diversity. The commonest type of trichome is uniseriate, two to four-celled, with a clavate or subclavate terminal cell. This type occurs amongst representatives of most sections examined. Other trichomes are bristle-like with tapering or fusiform terminal cells, whereas representatives of section Polystachya have uniseriate, moniliform trichomes that fragment with the formation of rounded or elliptical component cells. Most contain protein and, while some contain starch, lipid is invariably absent. The presence of particular types of labellar trichomes does not coincide with variations in vegetative morphology. Thus, current taxonomic treatment of the genus indicates that trichome types, with perhaps the sole exception of moniliform, pseudopollen-forming hairs found in section Polystachya only, have limited taxonomic value. However, the remarkable similarity between pseudopollen-forming hairs of Polystachya and those of the Neotropical genus Maxillaria in terms of morphology, cellular dimensions and food content indicates that pseudopollen may have arisen several times and evolved in response to similar pollinator pressures.