Ordnungsprinzipien im Spermatidenkern von Gryllus domesticus L Hinweise auf Polytäne Flaschenbürsten-Chromosomen

1962 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. 559-565 ◽  
Author(s):  
Friedrich-Wilhelm Schlote ◽  
Ki Ssu Schin

Most of the chromatin in the spermatid nuclei of the cricket Gryllus domestricus, lies on the periphery of the nucleus. This zone is 0.2 —0.3 μ wide in young, round nuclei and 0.3 —0.4 μ in older spearshaped nuclei. In the young spear-shaped nuclei this zone begins to exhibit negative birefringence in relation to the radius of the nucleus. Thus, while the chromatin zone in young, round nuclei is entwined with irregularly wound threads (diam. 7 mμ), in the older spear-shaped nuclei one observes 20 mμ thick, hollow tubes with 7 mμ thick walls. These tubes lie approximately vertical to the nuclear membrane and originate from the screw-like wound threads of young, round nuclei as they strech. Later the stretching is corrected. An aggregation of the now parallel lying elements follows at once and leads during the continued shrinking of the nucleus to the formation of thick strands. Now. their length is about 0.4 μ. Some thick strands reach far into the center of the nucleus and are seen here as a loosely woven thread mesh. This central region of the nucleus is isotropic.The approximately 12 thousand radially oriented chromatin threads, each with a diameter of 20 mμ, are not attached directly to the nuclear membrane but to a non-membranous auxiliary structure which in longitudinal sections sometimes appears to be doubly contoured, lies several tens of mμ inward and is almost 20 mμ thick. Calculations indicate that this auxiliary structure consists most probably of the long axial threads of individual pachytene chromatids.A model of branched chromosomes is discussed which is believed to fit best the findings in cricket sperms. According to this model chromatin side chains are attached laterally to longitudinal axial threads which elements are thought upon due consideration to be morphologically polytenic in nature.The principal order of arrangement in spermatid nuclei should thus be sought in the manner of the attachment of the longitudinal threads to the nuclear membrane, a process which commences in an apical or terminal position and extends subsequently to the entire length of the threads.

1977 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 273-281
Author(s):  
M. Schliwa

Resting histiocytes within the dermis and epidermis of the cichlid fish Pterophyllum scalare exhibit an unusual association between stacks of lamellar cisternae and tubular structures greater in diameter than ordinary microtubules (macrotubules) after treatment with 2 × 10(−4) M vinblastine. Macrotubules are found in the intercisternal spaces in a regular side-by-side orientation and extend the entire length of the cisternae. The lamellae seem to be formed as a result of increased membrane proliferation of the outer nuclear membrane; in some instances, cisternae have been observed to be continuous with the nuclear envelope. Since blebbing of the outer nuclear membrane is also observed in untreated histiocytes, lamellae formation is envisaged as hypertrophy of a normally occurring process. The association of lamellae with macrotubules possibly indicates a relationship between membranes and microtubule proteins.


1979 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-84
Author(s):  
Y.J. Lin

The synaptonemal complex (SC) in the diploid Rhoeo consists of 2 amorphous lateral elements, each about 46.0 nm thick, and one amorphous central element about 30.0 nm thick. The central region is about 115.0 nm wide. SC in the triploid have essentially the same dimensions as those of the diploid; both lateral (46.0 nm) and central (30.0 nm) elements are amorphous, and the central region is about 117.5 nm wide. The coil, observed in both diploid and triploid, is a modified short segment of SC with several twists at the end of a synapsed bivalent that is attached to the nuclear membrane. Serial sections in a diploid cell reveal that a coil extends inwards about 3.5 micron from the nuclear membrane and makes a complete turn at a distance of every 0.5 micron. There is a correlation between the modified ends of SC and terminal chiasmata in Rhoeo. The coils might have a positive role in the process of crossing over, or alternatively might be involved in ring formation by holding chromosome ends together while chiasmata are not involved. SC are present in chromocentres of both diploid and triploid. Chromocentres in diploid and triploid are indistinguishable, and appear to be formed from the aggregation of pericentromeric heterochromatin as a result of translocations which occured close to the centromeres. 3-dimensional hypothetical pachytene configuration of the diploid is presented.


1967 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
pp. 239-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. J. Kerr

A review is given of information on the galactic-centre region obtained from recent observations of the 21-cm line from neutral hydrogen, the 18-cm group of OH lines, a hydrogen recombination line at 6 cm wavelength, and the continuum emission from ionized hydrogen.Both inward and outward motions are important in this region, in addition to rotation. Several types of observation indicate the presence of material in features inclined to the galactic plane. The relationship between the H and OH concentrations is not yet clear, but a rough picture of the central region can be proposed.


Author(s):  
G. G. Maul

The chromatin of eukaryotic cells is separated from the cytoplasm by a double membrane. One obvious structural specialization of the nuclear membrane is the presence of pores which have been implicated to facilitate the selective nucleocytoplasmic exchange of a variety of large molecules. Thus, the function of nuclear pores has mainly been regarded to be a passive one. Non-membranous diaphragms, radiating fibers, central rings, and other pore-associated structures were thought to play a role in the selective filter function of the nuclear pore complex. Evidence will be presented that suggests that the nuclear pore is a dynamic structure which is non-randomly distributed and can be formed during interphase, and that a close relationship exists between chromatin and the membranous part of the nuclear pore complex.Octagonality of the nuclear pore complex has been confirmed by a variety of techniques. Using the freeze-etching technique, it was possible to show that the membranous part of the pore complex has an eight-sided outline in human melanoma cells in vitro. Fibers which traverse the pore proper at its corners are continuous and indistinguishable from chromatin at the nucleoplasmic side, as seen in conventionally fixed and sectioned material. Chromatin can be seen in octagonal outline if serial sections are analyzed which are parallel but do not include nuclear membranes (Fig. 1). It is concluded that the shape of the pore rim is due to fibrous material traversing the pore, and may not have any functional significance. In many pores one can recognize a central ring with eight fibers radiating to the corners of the pore rim. Such a structural arrangement is also found to connect eight ribosomes at the nuclear membrane.


Author(s):  
A. Sosa ◽  
L. Calzada

The dependence of nuclear metabolism on the function of the nuclear membrane is not well understood. Whether or not the function of the nuclear membrane is partial or totally responsible of the repressed template activity of human sperm nucleus has not at present been elucidated. One of the membrane-bound enzymatic activities which is concerned with the mechanisms whereby substances are thought to cross cell membranes is adenosintriphosphatase (ATPase). This prompted its characterization and distribution by high resolution photogrammetry on isolated human sperm nuclei. Isolated human spermatozoa nuclei were obtained as previously described. ATPase activity was demonstrated by the method of Wachstein and Meisel modified by Marchesi and Palade. ATPase activity was identified as dense and irregularly distributed granules confined to the internal leaflet of the nuclear membrane. Within the nucleus the appearance of the reaction product occurs as homogenous and dense precipitates in the interchromatin space.


2020 ◽  
Vol 477 (14) ◽  
pp. 2715-2720
Author(s):  
Susana Castro-Obregón

The nuclear envelope is composed by an outer nuclear membrane and an inner nuclear membrane, which is underlain by the nuclear lamina that provides the nucleus with mechanical strength for maintaining structure and regulates chromatin organization for modulating gene expression and silencing. A layer of heterochromatin is beneath the nuclear lamina, attached by inner nuclear membrane integral proteins such as Lamin B receptor (LBR). LBR is a chimeric protein, having also a sterol reductase activity with which it contributes to cholesterol synthesis. Lukasova et al. showed that when DNA is damaged by ɣ-radiation in cancer cells, LBR is lost causing chromatin structure changes and promoting cellular senescence. Cellular senescence is characterized by terminal cell cycle arrest and the expression and secretion of various growth factors, cytokines, metalloproteinases, etc., collectively known as senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) that cause chronic inflammation and tumor progression when they persist in the tissue. Therefore, it is fundamental to understand the molecular basis for senescence establishment, maintenance and the regulation of SASP. The work of Lukasova et al. contributed to our understanding of cellular senescence establishment and provided the basis that lead to the further discovery that chromatin changes caused by LBR reduction induce an up-regulated expression of SASP factors. LBR dysfunction has relevance in several diseases and possibly in physiological aging. The potential bifunctional role of LBR on cellular senescence establishment, namely its role in chromatin structure together with its enzymatic activity contributing to cholesterol synthesis, provide a new target to develop potential anti-aging therapies.


2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Averill ◽  
Jacquie Wynn
Keyword(s):  

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