Aspects of three-dimensional chromosome reorganization during the onset of human male meiotic prophase

1998 ◽  
Vol 111 (16) ◽  
pp. 2337-2351 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Scherthan ◽  
R. Eils ◽  
E. Trelles-Sticken ◽  
S. Dietzel ◽  
T. Cremer ◽  
...  

The three-dimensional morphology and distribution of human chromosomes 3 were studied in nuclei of spermatogonia and spermatocytes I from formaldehyde-fixed human testis sections. Chromosome arms, pericentromeres and telomeric regions were painted by a three-color, five-probe fluorescence in situ hybridization protocol. Light optical serial sections of premeiotic and meiotic nuclei obtained by confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that premeiotic chromosomes 3 are separate from each other and occupy variably shaped territories, which are sectored in distinct 3 p- and q-arm domains. Three-dimensional reconstructions of the painted chromosome domains by a Voronoi tessellation approach showed that mean chromosome volumes did not differ significantly among the premeiotic and meiotic stages investigated. A significant increase in surface area and reduction of dimensionless ‘roundness factor’ estimates of arm domains indicated that the restructuring of spatially separate chromosome territories initiates during preleptotene. Telomeric regions, which in meiotic stem cells located predominantly in arm-domain chromatin, showed a redistribution towards the domain surface during this stage. At leptotene homologues were generally misaligned and displayed intimate intermingling of non-homologous chromatin. Pairing initiated at the ends of bent zygotene chromosomes, which displayed a complex surface structure with discernible sister chromatids. The results indicate that, in mammals, homology search is executed during leptotene, after remodeling of chromosome territories.

1996 ◽  
Vol 135 (5) ◽  
pp. 1195-1205 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Kurz ◽  
S Lampel ◽  
J E Nickolenko ◽  
J Bradl ◽  
A Benner ◽  
...  

The intranuclear position of a set of genes was analyzed with respect to the territories occupied by the whole chromosomes in which these genes are localized. Genes and their respective chromosome territories were simultaneously visualized in three-dimensionally preserved nuclei applying dual color fluorescence in situ hybridization. Three coding (DMD, MYH7, and HBB) and two noncoding sequences (D1Z2 and an anonymous sequence) were analyzed in four different cell types, including cells where DMD and MYH7 are actively transcribed. Spatial analysis by confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that the genes are preferentially located in the periphery of chromosome territories. This positioning was independent from the activity of the genes. In contrast, the non-expressed anonymous fragment was found randomly distributed or localized preferentially in the interior of the corresponding chromosome territory. Furthermore, the distribution of the analyzed genes within the territorial peripheries was found to be highly characteristic for each gene, and, again, independent from its expression. The impact of these findings with regard to the three-dimensional arrangement of the linear DNA string within chromosome territories, as well as with respect to a putative nuclear subcompartment confining gene expression, are discussed.


1991 ◽  
Vol 98 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-105
Author(s):  
D. Hernandez-Verdun ◽  
M. Robert-Nicoud ◽  
G. Geraud ◽  
C. Masson

The behaviour of nucleolar proteins in cycling PtK1 cells and in micronuclei with or without NORs was investigated by immunofluorescence using antibodies from autoimmune sera and confocal laser scanning microscopy. These antibodies were shown by electron microscopy to recognize antigens confined to only one of the three basic nucleolar components: fibrillar centres (FC), dense fibrillar component (DFC) and granular component (GC). Serial optical sections allowed us to determine the three-dimensional organization of these components in the nucleolus of cycling cells. Furthermore, clear differences were found in the distribution of the various antigens in micronucleated cells. Three patterns could be observed: (1) the FC antigens were found mainly in the nucleoli, but also in varying amounts in the dots; (2) surprisingly, the DFC antigens were found to accumulate preferentially in the dots; (3) the GC-specific marker stained intensively the nucleoli as well the dots. The results are interpreted with regard to possible mechanisms for targeting nucleolar proteins to the site of nucleolar formation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (12) ◽  
pp. 88
Author(s):  
Kazuo Katoh

As conventional fluorescence microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy generally produce images with blurring at the upper and lower planes along the z-axis due to non-focal plane image information, the observation of biological images requires “deconvolution.” Therefore, a microscope system’s individual blur function (point spread function) is determined theoretically or by actual measurement of microbeads and processed mathematically to reduce noise and eliminate blurring as much as possible. Here the author describes the use of open-source software and open hardware design to build a deconvolution microscope at low cost, using readily available software and hardware. The advantage of this method is its cost-effectiveness and ability to construct a microscope system using commercially available optical components and open-source software. Although this system does not utilize expensive equipment, such as confocal and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopes, decent images can be obtained even without previous experience in electronics and optics.


Plant Methods ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachele Tofanelli ◽  
Athul Vijayan ◽  
Sebastian Scholz ◽  
Kay Schneitz

Abstract Background A salient topic in developmental biology relates to the molecular and genetic mechanisms that underlie tissue morphogenesis. Modern quantitative approaches to this central question frequently involve digital cellular models of the organ or tissue under study. The ovules of the model species Arabidopsis thaliana have long been established as a model system for the study of organogenesis in plants. While ovule development in Arabidopsis can be followed by a variety of different imaging techniques, no experimental strategy presently exists that enables an easy and straightforward investigation of the morphology of internal tissues of the ovule with cellular resolution. Results We developed a protocol for rapid and robust confocal microscopy of fixed Arabidopsis ovules of all stages. The method combines clearing of fixed ovules in ClearSee solution with marking the cell outline using the cell wall stain SCRI Renaissance 2200 and the nuclei with the stain TO-PRO-3 iodide. We further improved the microscopy by employing a homogenous immersion system aimed at minimizing refractive index differences. The method allows complete inspection of the cellular architecture even deep within the ovule. Using the new protocol we were able to generate digital three-dimensional models of ovules of various stages. Conclusions The protocol enables the quick and reproducible imaging of fixed Arabidopsis ovules of all developmental stages. From the imaging data three-dimensional digital ovule models with cellular resolution can be rapidly generated using image analysis software, for example MorphographX. Such digital models will provide the foundation for a future quantitative analysis of ovule morphogenesis in a model species.


2020 ◽  
Vol 119 (12) ◽  
pp. 4159-4168
Author(s):  
Runhui Zhang ◽  
Wanpeng Zheng ◽  
Arwid Daugschies ◽  
Berit Bangoura

AbstractMixed infections of Toxoplasma gondii and Eimeria tenella are likely to occur frequently due to the high prevalence of both pathogens in free-ranging chickens. In this study, we investigated the co-occurrence of the two parasites in the same immune-competent host cell towards altered patterns of parasite-host interactions. Chicken blood monocyte–derived macrophages were co-infected with T. gondii RH tachyzoites and E. tenella Houghton sporozoites in vitro for 24 h. Through monitoring the uptake of pH-sensitive pHrodo™ Zymosan BioParticles (“Zymosan”) by macrophages, we created a three-dimensional model and to analyze quantitatively phagocytosis using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Assessments of parasite populations were performed by qPCR at 2, 6, 12, and 24 h post-infection (hpi). At 6 hpi, phagocytosis was inhibited in the E. tenella–infected cultures while no inhibition of phagocytosis was observed due to T. gondii. Phagocytosis activity revealed more complex interactions during co-infection. At 12 and 24 hpi, phagocytosis response to “Zymosan” was distinctly weaker in co-infected cells than in all other groups except for cells mono-infected with high doses of E. tenella at 24 hpi. By qPCR, significantly reduced numbers of both intracellular parasites were recorded (10-fold) in all infected groups at 2 hpi. At 12 hpi, the T. gondii population reached lowest values but dramatically increased by 24 hpi. Our data confirm that macrophage phagocytosis is involved in the control of invasion by apicomplexan parasites in chicken which particularly applies to E. tenella infection and it was able to be altered by the co-existing parasites.


2006 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 2864-2875 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cordula Lembke ◽  
Andreas Podbielski ◽  
Carlos Hidalgo-Grass ◽  
Ludwig Jonas ◽  
Emanuel Hanski ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus [GAS]) is a frequent cause of purulent infections in humans. As potentially important aspects of its pathogenicity, GAS was recently shown to aggregate, form intratissue microcolonies, and potentially participate in multispecies biofilms. In this study, we show that GAS in fact forms monospecies biofilms in vitro, and we analyze the basic parameters of S. pyogenes in vitro biofilm formation, using Streptococcus epidermidis as a biofilm-positive control. Of nine clinically important serotype strains, M2, M6, M14, and M18 were found to significantly adhere to coated and uncoated polystyrene surfaces. Fibronectin and collagen types I and IV best supported primary adherence of serotype M2 and M18 strains, respectively, whereas serotype M6 and M14 strains strongly bound to uncoated polystyrene surfaces. Absorption measurements of safranin staining, as well as electron scanning and confocal laser scanning microscopy, documented that primary adherence led to subsequent formation of three-dimensional biofilm structures consisting of up to 46 bacterial layers. Of note, GAS isolates belonging to the same serotype were found to be very heterogeneous in their biofilm-forming behavior. Biofilm formation was equally efficient under static and continuous flow conditions and consisted of the classical three steps, including partial disintegration after long-term incubation. Activity of the SilC signaling peptide as a component of a putative quorum-sensing system was found to influence the biofilm structure and density of serotype M14 and M18 strains. Based on the presented methods and results, standardized analyses of GAS biofilms and their impact on GAS pathogenicity are now feasible.


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