High-resolution autoradiographic localization of DNA-containing sites and RNA synthesis in developing nucleoli of human preimplantation embryos: a new concept of embryonic nucleologenesis

Development ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 101 (4) ◽  
pp. 777-791 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Tesarik ◽  
V. Kopecny ◽  
M. Plachot ◽  
J. Mandelbaum
Keyword(s):  
Rna Synthesis ◽  
Preimplantation Embryos ◽  
Synthetic Activity ◽  
Rrna Synthesis ◽  
Nucleolar Organizer Regions ◽  
Careful Study ◽  
Matrix Elements ◽  
Electron Microscopic Autoradiography ◽  
General Validity ◽  
Granular Component

Human embryos from the 2-cell to the morula stage, obtained by in vitro fertilization, were incubated with [3H]thymidine or [3H]uridine so as to achieve labelling of all replicating nuclear DNA and the newly synthesized RNA, respectively. The label was localized in different structural components of developing nucleoli using electron microscopic autoradiography. Careful study of the relationship between the structural pattern and nucleic acid distribution made it possible to define four stages of embryonic nucleologenesis. Homogeneous nuclear precursors (i) consist of nucleolar matrix elements appearing as filaments of 3 nm thickness, (ii) do not contain recently replicated DNA and (iii) lack RNA synthetic activity. Penetration of DNA into these bodies is a key event leading to their transformation into heterogeneous nucleolar precursors. In addition to the 3 nm matrix filaments, two types of 5 nm fibrillar components can be recognized in them. The denser type contains DNA and is the site of nucleolar RNA synthesis, while the more loosely arranged 5 nm fibrils are not labelled with [3H]thymidine and apparently represent the newly produced pre-rRNA detached from the transcribing rDNA filament. Compact fibrillogranular nucleoli are characterized by the first appearance of the granular component and reduction of the nontranscribing part of the fibrillar component, both indicating the activation of the machinery for rRNA processing. Finally, the granular component is most evident in reticulated nucleoli, occupying mostly the inner parts of their nucleolonema, while the transcription sites tend to be located at the nucleolar periphery. Our findings advocate a unique concept of embryonic nucleologenesis, different from any other nucleolar event during the cell cycle of differentiated cells. This developmental pattern is characterized by a gradual activation of rRNA synthesis and processing, mediated by progressive association of rDNA and, later on, the newly formed pre-rRNA with pre-existing nucleolar matrix elements that are originally topically separated from nucleolar organizer regions. This model may have a general validity in early animal embryos despite some interspecies variability in the timing of individual steps and resulting structural peculiarities.

Bovine abnormal preimplantation embryos: analysis of segregated cells occurring in the subzonal space and/or blastocoele cavity for their nuclear morphology and persistence of RNA synthesis

Zygote ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Pivko ◽  
P. Grafanau ◽  
E. Kubovičová
Keyword(s):  
Rna Synthesis ◽  
Actinomycin D ◽  
Blastocyst Stage ◽  
Preimplantation Embryos ◽  
Bovine Embryos ◽  
Transcription Inhibition ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
Electron Microscopic Autoradiography ◽  
Labelling Intensity ◽  
Intense Labelling

Bovine embryos in the early blastocyst/blastocyst stage were analysed by [5-3H]uridine labelling followed by electron microscopic autoradiography. In normal control embryos an intact zona pellucida, evenly developed blastomeres and a transparent perivitelline space were seen. In this group, the blastomeres of the trophoblast and embryoblast showed high homogeneous labelling localised in the nucleoplasm and even more intense labelling in the nucleolus. On the contrary, in addition to evident cytoplasmic disintegration, a clearly different labelling pattern and a low labelling intensity were observed in the nuclei of the segregated cells in the subzonal space and in those free in the blastocoele cavity. A typical nuclear morphological feature of these blastomeres was chromatin marginalisation, similar to that observed in embryos treated with actinomycin D for transcription inhibition. It is concluded that the segregated cells are arrested in their further differentiation.

scholarly journals ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION OF THE SITES OF NUCLEAR RNA SYNTHESIS DURING AMPHIBIAN EMBRYOGENESIS

1965 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 937-958 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuichi Karasaki
Keyword(s):  
Rna Synthesis ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Tail Bud ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
Electron Microscopic Autoradiography ◽  
Nuclear Rna Synthesis ◽  
Nuclear Rna ◽  
Chromatin Material ◽  
Labeled Rna

The site of H3-uridine incorporation and the fate of labeled RNA during early embryo-genesis of the newt Triturus pyrrhogaster were studied with electron microscopic autoradiography. Isolated ectodermal and mesodermal tissues from the embryos were treated in H3-uridine for 3 hours and cultured in cold solution for various periods before fixation with OsO4 and embedding in Epon. At the blastula stage, the only structural component of the nucleus seen in electron micrographs is a mass of chromatin fibrils. At the early gastrula stage, the primary nucleoli originate as small dense fibrous bodies within the chromatin material. These dense fibrous nucleoli enlarge during successive developmental stages by the acquisition of granular components 150 A in diameter, which form a layer around them. Simultaneously larger granules (300 to 500 A) appear in the chromatin, and they fill the interchromatin spaces by the tail bud stage. Autoradiographic examination has demonstrated that nuclear RNA synthesis takes place in both the nucleolus and the chromatin, with the former consistently showing more label per unit area than the latter. When changes in the distribution pattern of radioactivity were studied 3 to 24 hours after immersion in isotope at each developmental stage, the following results were obtained. Labeled RNA is first localized in the fibrous region of the nucleolus and in the peripheral region of chromatin material. After longer culture in non-radioactive medium, labeled materials also appear in the granular region of the nucleolus and in the interchromatin areas. Further incubation gives labeling in cytoplasm.

Distinguishing the sites of pre-rRNA synthesis and accumulation in Ehrlich tumor cell nucleoli

1991 ◽  
Vol 99 (4) ◽  
pp. 759-767
Author(s):  
M. Thiry ◽  
G. Goessens
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Cell ◽  
Condensed Chromatin ◽  
Rrna Genes ◽  
Rrna Synthesis ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Dense Fibrillar Component ◽  
Ehrlich Tumor ◽  
Granular Component ◽  
Fibrillar Component

The precise location of transcribing rRNA genes within Ehrlich tumor cell nucleoli has been investigated using two approaches: high-resolution autoradiography of cells pulse-labelled with tritiated uridine, varying the exposure time, and in situ-in vitro transcription coupled with an immunogold labelling procedure. When autoradiographic preparations are exposed for a short time, silver grains are found associated almost exclusively with interphasic cell nucleoli. Labelling of extranucleolar areas requires longer exposure. Within the nucleolus, the first sites to be revealed are in the dense fibrillar component. Prolonging exposure increases labelling over the dense fibrillar component, with label becoming more and more apparent over the fibrillar centers. Under these conditions, however, labelling does not extend into the granular component, and no background is observed. Initiation of transcription on ultrathin cell sections occurs preferentially at the borders of condensed chromatin blocks and in their close vicinity. The condensed chromatin areas themselves remain unlabelled. Inside most nucleoli, gold-particle clusters are mainly detected in the fibrillar centers, especially at their periphery, whereas the dense fibrillar component and the granular component remain devoid of label. These results, together with previous observations made on the same cell type, clearly indicate that the fibrillar centers are the sites of rRNA gene transcription in Ehrlich tumor cell nucleoli, while the dense fibrillar component is the site of pre-rRNA accumulation.

Effect of infection with R23 on DNA and RNA synthesis in Escherichia coli

1971 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 461-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroko Watanabe ◽  
Mamoru Watanabe
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Dna Synthesis ◽  
Rna Synthesis ◽  
Rrna Synthesis ◽  
Maximal Inhibition ◽  
Dna And Rna ◽  
Marked Inhibition ◽  
Dna And Rna Synthesis ◽  
Infected Cells

Infection of Escherichia coli by R23 results in a marked inhibition of rRNA synthesis. Both 16 S and 23 S RNA are inhibited with maximal inhibition occurring at 30 min. Inhibition of 4 S RNA is not as profound. DNA synthesis is also inhibited after R23 infection although infected cells continue to divide for about one generation (45–60 min) after infection.

scholarly journals INORGANIC CATIONS IN THE CELL NUCLEUS

1972 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 483-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura L. Tres ◽  
A. L. Kierszenbaum ◽  
C. J. Tandler
Keyword(s):  
Meiotic Prophase ◽  
Rna Synthesis ◽  
Adult Mouse ◽  
Divalent Cations ◽  
Synthetic Activity ◽  
Inorganic Cations ◽  
Transcription Process ◽  
Inorganic Cation ◽  
Interchromatin Granules ◽  
Potassium Pyroantimonate

Earlier reports indicated the presence of significant amounts of inorganic salts in the nucleus. In the present study the possibility that this might be related to the transcription process was tested on seminiferous epithelium of the adult mouse, using potassium pyroantimonate as a fixative. The results indicated that a correlation exists between the inorganic cations comprising the pyroantimonate-precipitable fraction and the RNA synthetic activity. During meiotic prophase an accumulation of cation-antimonate precipitates occurs dispersed through the middle pachytene nuclei, the stage in which RNA synthesis reaches a maximum. At other stages (zygotene to diplotene), where RNA synthesis falls to a low level, that pattern is not seen; cation-antimonate deposits are restricted to a few masses in areas apparently free of chromatin. The condensed sex chromosomes, the heterochromatin of the "basal knobs," the axial elements, and the synaptonemal complexes are devoid of antimonate deposits during the meiotic prophase. The Sertoli cells, active in RNA synthesis in both nucleoplasm and nucleolus, show cation-antimonate deposits at these sites. In the nucleoplasm some "patches" of precipitates appear coincident with clusters of interchromatin granules; in the nucleolus the inorganic cations are mainly located in the fibrillar and/or amorphous areas, whereas relatively few are shown by the granular component. The condensed chromatin bodies associated with the nucleolus were always free of antimonate precipitates. It is suggested that the observed sites of inorganic cation accumulation within the nucleus may at least partially indicate the presence of RNA polymerases, the activity of which is dependent on divalent cations.

scholarly journals LIGHT AND ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC RADIOAUTOGRAPHY OF HEPATIC CELL NUCLEOLI IN MICE TREATED WITH ACTINOMYCIN D

1967 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 489-496 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. H. de Man ◽  
N. J. A. Noorduyn
Keyword(s):  
Orotic Acid ◽  
Rna Synthesis ◽  
Actinomycin D ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
Granular Component ◽  
Hepatic Cells ◽  
Progressive Loss ◽  
Nucleolar Rna ◽  
Silver Grains ◽  
Electron Microscopic Radioautography

Nucleolar partition induced by actinomycin D was used to demonstrate some aspects of nucleolar RNA synthesis and release in mouse hepatic cells, with light and electron microscopic radioautography. The effect of the drug on RNA synthesis and nucleolar morphology was studied when actinomycin D treatment preceded labeling with tritiated orotic acid. Nucleolar partition, consisting of a segegration into granular and fibrillar parts was visible if a dosage of 25 µg of actinomycin D was used, but nucleolar RNA was still synthesized. After a dosage of 400 µg of actinomycin D, nucleolar RNA synthesis was completely stopped If labeling with tritiated orotic acid preceded treatment with 400 µg of actinomycin D, labeled nucleolar RNA was present 15 min after actinomycin D treatment while high resolution radioautography showed an association of silver grains with the granular component. At 30 min after actinomicyn D treatment all labeling was lost. Since labeling was associated with the granular component the progressive loss of label as a result of actinomycin D treatment indicated a release of nucleolar granules. The correlation between this release and the loss of 28S RNA from actinomycin D treated nucleoli as described in the literature is discussed.

scholarly journals REGULATION OF RIBOSOMAL RNA AND 5s RNA SYNTHESIS IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER: I. BOBBED MUTANTS

Genetics ◽  
1972 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-276
Author(s):  
Roberto Weinmann
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Developmental Delay ◽  
Ribosomal Rna ◽  
Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Rna Synthesis ◽  
Rrna Synthesis ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
5S Rna ◽  
Wild Type Level

ABSTRACT Analysis of the rates and amounts of rRNA and 5s RNA synthesized in Drosophila melanogaster bobbed mutants was done by using acrylamide-gel electrophoresis. The results show that the amounts of rRNA synthesized are constant, although the rates of rRNA synthesis in bb's are reduced to 30% of the wild-type level. The rates of synthesis of 5s RNA were constant. The rate of synthesis of the two kinds of molecules that enter in equimolar amounts into the mature ribosome is non-coordinated.—The rates of rRNA synthesis were shown to be proportional to the length of the scutellar bristles, supporting the notion that in trichogen cells there is no developmental delay, but the size of the bristle depends directly on the rate of rRNA synthesis.

The Effect of Actinomycin D in Vivo Upon Peripheral Nucleoli and Other Nuclear Organelles in Oocytes of Triturus Cristatus

1972 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 833-855
Author(s):  
M. H. L. SNOW
Keyword(s):  
Phase Contrast ◽  
Rna Synthesis ◽  
Actinomycin D ◽  
Triturus Cristatus ◽  
Granular Component ◽  
Azure B ◽  
Final Maturation ◽  
Ribosomal Precursor ◽  
20 Nm

Exposure of the ovaries of Triturus cristatus to actinomycin D at a concentration of 100 µg/ml causes characteristic changes in the peripheral nucleoli and other nuclear organelles in oocytes of 0.6-1.1 mm diameter. Viewed with the light microscope untreated oocytes contain nucleoli that stain uniformly with a variety of dyes. They also appear homogeneous tmder phase-contrast optics. After 2 or 4 h of in vivo incubation with actinomycin D, oocyte sections stained with Haidenhain's haematoxylin or viewed under phase-contrast optics show nucleoli composed of 2 regions. The more heavily stained or contrasted zone is crescent-shaped and directed away from the nuclear membrane. Neither sections stained with azure B bromide nor gallocyanin chrome alum show this feature. Ribonuclease digestion does not eliminate or alter it. Autoradiography with [3H]uridine indicates that all recently synthesized RNA is lost from the nucleolus during actinornycin D treatment. The zonation is not therefore a reflexion of RNA distribution. During recovery from actinomycin D poisoning there is a reduction in the degree of zonation shown by nucleoli which re-establish a normal appearance some 48 h after treatment. Electron microscopy of peripheral nucleoli in oocytes sampled during this treatment indicates that the zonation is not associated with reorganization of ultrastructural components. During incubation with actinomycin D the coarse granules (20 nm diameter) are completely lost from the nucleolus. There is associated shrinkage of the nucleolus which after treatment is found to consist entirely of fibrils (5 nm thick) and small granules. The reappearance of the coarse granules during recovery is completed in about 48 h. It is thought that the loss of the granular component during treatment represents the movement of the 30-S precursor and the 18-s ribosomal unit from the nucleolus. Some 20-30 µm inside the nucleus of untreated oocytes is a region containing many spheroidal bodies, less than 1.0 µm diameter. They have been termed micronucleoli and consist of granules 2.5-5 nm in diameter and fibrils of similar thickness. Actinomycin D treatment causes these components to segregate and eventually (within 24 h of treatment) the granular component is extruded. This component reappears during the second day after treatment. It is postulated that these micronucleoli represent the sites at which the 30-S ribosomal precursor undergoes its final maturation. The segregation of components induced by actinomycin D is probably the morphological manifestation of an abnormal metamorphosis of this precursor. Treatment with actinomycin D also induces the immediate formation within the nucleus of crystalline bodies composed of lamellae 16 nm wide, 4 nm thick and with a centre-to-centre spacing of 8-10 nm. They are not present 24 h after treatment. They are thought to represent a protein fraction normally associated with periods of intense RNA synthesis.

Evolution des RNA ribosomaux au cours du verdissement de cotylédons de concombre en présence de 6-benzylaminopurine

1976 ◽  
Vol 54 (20) ◽  
pp. 2328-2336 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Roussaux ◽  
M. Hoffelt ◽  
N. Farineau
Keyword(s):  
Rna Synthesis ◽  
Rrna Synthesis ◽  
Cucumber Seedlings

Etiolated cotyledons were excised from cucumber seedlings, maintained in darkness for 24 h in vitro, and then illuminated in the presence or in the absence of 10−5 g/ml of 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BAP) for 48 h. During incubation in the dark, 6-BAP markedly increases the incorporation of 32P into cytoplasmic rRNA and, to a lesser extent, into etioplast rRNA. 6-BAP does not significantly affect the light-induced RNA synthesis during the first 24 h of illumination. The chloroplast rRNA synthesis stops after 24 h of light in the control, but it is maintained in 6-BAP-treated cotyledons. These results are discussed in relation to previously reported cytological observations. The conclusion is reached that cytokinin mainly acts at a cytoplasmic level during the differentiation of etioplast into chloroplast.

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