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Desmin protein is an abundant constituent of the intermediate filaments in the electrocytes of the electric organ of the electric eel Electrophorus electricus. Polyclonal antibodies were raised against purified desmin from the electric organ and used for immunolabeling of the protein in reconstituted filaments. In thick sections of the main electric organ that has been stained with fluorescein-labeled desmin-specific antibodies, light microscope revealed a diffuse meshwork of desmin filaments dispersed in the cytoplasm of electrocytes. In the region under the membrane, the immunostaining was slightly more intense than elsewhere. The meshwork of intermediate filaments composed of desmin was examined by electron microscopy of the main electric organ. Immuno-gold labeling demonstrated a widespread meshwork of desmin filaments in the cytoplasm and in close association with the plasma membrane. These observations suggest that intermediate filaments play a role in the maintenance of the morphology of electrocytes and, as an intracellular meshwork spanning the width of the cell, they may contribute to the organization of the intracellular compartments.

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of purified desmin from the electric organ of Electrophorus electricus exhibited five isoforms as opposed to four from the dorsal muscle of the eel. Differences in isoforms may indicate different degrees of desmin phosphorylation in these tissues. The similarities detected in the two less acidic isodesmin from the electric organ and from the dorsal muscle of Electrophorus electricus suggest that the electric organ has conserved some characteristics seen in the dorsal muscle, favoring previous suggestions that considered the electric tissue as a differentiated form of striated muscle.

Endochitinases are widely distributed among higher plants, including a number of important crop species. They are generally considered to be involved in plant defence against potential pathogens. We have cloned a class IV chitinase gene (AtchitIV) from Arabidopsis thaliana. Southern blot analysis allowed the detection of two cross-hybridising genes in the A. thaliana genome. AtchitIV transcripts are detected in seedpods, but not in roots, inflorescence stems, leaves and flowers of healthy plants. The transcripts accumulated very rapidly in leaves after inoculation with Xanthomonas campestris. Maximum mRNA accumulation was reached one hour after infection and decreased to very low levels 72 hours after induction. This result suggests an involvement of AtchitIV in the initial events of the hypersensitive reaction. Nevertheless, A. thaliana plants transformed with the gus gene under the control of a class IV chitinase bean promoter, showed GUS activity in seed embryos. These data, together with the constitutive expression of the endogenous gene in the seedpods, points to additional physiological roles for this protein.

The early response to bacterial inoculation has been investigated and two Arabidopsis genes, ap3.3a and ap4.3a have been characterized. The AP3.3A protein showed high identity to centrin, a ubiquitous cytoskeletal protein first identified in unicellular green alga. Amino-acid sequence analyses of the AP4.3A protein indicates that the second gene characterized encodes an unusual protein with two putative kinase domains. Expression of ap3.3a and ap4.3a was rapidly induced after pathogen inoculation. A role of ap3.3a in plant defense could be postulated based on its preferential induction during the incompatible interactions analyzed. In contrast, activation of ap4.3a was not specific and could be related to a more general stress response.