核仁研究新进展

核仁是真核细胞间期核中最显著的结构。其主要功能是进行rRNA的合成和核糖体大、小亚基的装配。然而,近年来的研究提示核仁可能还参与了一系列其他功能活动,如mRNA和tRNA的加工成熟、信号识别颗粒的组装、端粒酶活性和调节细胞周期等。对多个物种核仁蛋白质组数据的分析也显示核仁中具有许多与核糖体生物合成无关以及功能未知的蛋白,表明核仁在组成和功能上远比人们以前的认识复杂。同时,核仁蛋白质组数据的获得也为人们从组学水平研究核仁的起源与进化提供了新视角。该文对近年来在核仁结构、功能、蛋白质/基因组学研究及其起源与进化等方面的进展进行了概述,并探讨了一些有待于进一步研究的问题。     

核仁是怎样行使其生理功能的

真核细胞间期核中最显著的细胞结构是核仁。在光学显微镜下,核仁通常呈均质而致密的球体;在电子显微镜下,核仁主要分为三个区,即.1)颗粒区,含有核糖体前体颗粒;2)致密的丝状区即纤维区,包含有正在转录的RNA分子;3)浅染色区,或称为核仁内染色质,该区包含有从染色体核仁组织者区来的DNA,其中含有rRNA基因。因而,从成份上说,核仁是由DNA、RNA和蛋白质组成的,它的主要功能是转录rRNA和装配核糖体亚单位。     

核仁和核仁蛋白

核仁是位于细胞核内的非膜结构。电子显微镜下的核仁从形态上可以分为三层结构包括纤维中心区(FC)、高密度纤维区(DFC)和颗粒区(GC)。核仁内的蛋白有核糖体蛋白和非核糖体蛋白两种。利用蛋白质组学方法已经鉴定了350多种核仁蛋白,其中包括80多种核糖体蛋白。核仁是核糖体合成的场所,核仁中的非核糖体蛋白对核糖体的生物合成起关键调控作用。核仁不仅是细胞内通讯和核糖体：RNA加工的中心,而且在细胞周期、细胞增殖和衰老中起重要调控作用;核仁也是tRNA、mRNA和其它类型小分子RNA加工的场所。因此核仁是一个多功能的细胞生命活动中心。     

核仁的蛋白质组学

核仁是胞核内高度紧密的结构,参与转录、剪接、核糖体合成等重要生命过程,并与细胞分裂、衰老有关。1963年虽已从哺乳动物肝脏提纯核仁,并鉴定了所含的一些蛋白质,但还有不少核仁蛋白质迄今尚未阐明。2002年英国、丹麦的两实验室首次完成了核仁的蛋白质组学分析。本文就近年报道有关核仁蛋白质组的分离和检测、检出的271种核仁蛋白质的分类,蛋白质在胞核内迁移以及核仁蛋白质组学检测技术的问题和发展前景等方面作一简介。     

核仁应激损伤与热休克蛋白研究

核仁作为细胞核糖体生物合成的场所,在细胞的增殖、分化,以及衰老等生命活动中发挥重要作用。多种应激原可导致核仁结构及功能损伤。应激状态下,多种热休克蛋白向核仁移位以保护核仁损伤。深入探讨应激状态下核仁损伤及热休克蛋白保护核仁损伤的分子机制,是细脆生物学研究的重要内容。     

核仁进化研究取得进展

核仁(nucleolus)是普遍存在于真核细胞间期核中的最显著结构。它是rDNA转录和核糖体亚基组装的场所。如果说核糖体是合成蛋白质的“分子机器”,那么核仁便是制造这一机器的“母机”。中国科学院昆明动物研究所文建凡研究员领导的研究小组先是在一类低等的单细胞真核生物——贾第虫(Giardia)上证实了“不具核仁结构”的现象,那么这类生物是如何进行rDNA转录和核糖体亚基组装呢?     

胚胎早期发育过程中核仁前体的研究进展

核仁前体存在于卵母细胞及早期胚胎中,由于核仁前体在卵母细胞中的含量较少且结构致密,目前,只有少数核仁前体组分得到了鉴定.核仁前体结构的完整组成尚未被详细解析,明确核仁前体在胚胎早期发育过程中发挥的作用及其机制尚存挑战.早期的观点认为:核仁前体虽不具备加工rRNA及生成核糖体的功能,但该结构为纤维颗粒状核仁的生成提供了物质基础,从而使发育后期胚胎重获核糖体生成能力.近期,这一观点逐步得到了修正.基于显微操作技术的核仁前体转移实验证实:母源核仁前体在胚胎早期发育过程中发挥关键作用,且发挥作用的时间窗口限定在受精至原核期之间.核仁前体可参与染色质重塑过程并维持着丝粒稳定,进而影响胚胎早期发育.本文主要综述了核仁前体的结构功能特点及发挥作用的潜在机制,从核仁前体的角度为拯救早期胚胎的发育潜能提供新思路.     

正常615小鼠中期染色体核仁组织者银染观察

用银染方法(或称Ag-AS技术)对中期染色体的核仁组织者(NOR)进行特异性染色,能够显示18S和28S核糖体基因(rDNA)的活动。肿瘤细胞的rRNA具有较高速率的蛋白质合成能力。而被银染的酸性蛋白质在核仁的大小和组成上可能起重要作用。癌患者的核仁比正常成年人的核仁大。某些白血病患者的核仁有明显的变化。我们用改     

核仁小分子RNA

核仁小分子ＲＮＡ屈良鹄（中山大学生命科学学院生物工程研究中心广州５１０２７５）关键词核仁小分子ＲＮＡ（ｓｏｎＲＮＡ）;内含子（ｎｉｔｒｏｎ）;基因（ｇｅｎｅ）;核糖体（ｒｉｂｏｓｏｍｅ）真核生物（ｅｕｋａｒｙｏｔｅ）在真核生物细胞中,除了人们所熟悉的ｒＲＮＡ,ｍＲＮＡ和ｔＲＮＡ之外,还存在着许多小分子ＲＮＡ［１,２］,如核小分子ＲＮＡ（ｓｎＲＮＡ）,核仁小分子ＲＮＡ（ｓｎｏＲＮ）以及细胞过程中的调控活动,具有十分重要的生物学意义[3,4].     

蚕豆根端细胞核中微核仁的研究

以蚕豆(Vicia faba)根端分生组织细胞为材料研究了微核仁的超微结构和细胞化学特点。结果表明;微核仁是直径0.3—0.5μm 的卵圆形或球形结构。常规染色时,微核仁与集缩染色质的电子密度相仿,但两者之间在结构上没有任何联系。细胞化学研究指出,微核仁含有 RNA 和蛋白质,其结构成分主要是与核仁颗粒组分十分相似的 RNP 颗粒。报道了植物细胞核中微核仁发生于核仁的过程并对微核仁的本质和功能进行了讨论。     

Nucleolar Localization Elements of Xenopus laevis U3 Small Nucleolar RNA

The Nucleolar Localization Elements (NoLEs) of Xenopus laevis U3 small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) have been defined. Fluorescein-labeled wild-type U3 snoRNA injected into Xenopus oocyte nuclei localized specifically to nucleoli as shown by fluorescence microscopy. Injection of mutated U3 snoRNA revealed that the 5′ region containing Boxes A and A′, known to be important for rRNA processing, is not essential for nucleolar localization. Nucleolar localization of U3 snoRNA was independent of the presence and nature of the 5′ cap and the terminal stem. In contrast, Boxes C and D, common to the Box C/D snoRNA family, are critical elements for U3 localization. Mutation of the hinge region, Box B, or Box C′ led to reduced U3 nucleolar localization. Results of competition experiments suggested that Boxes C and D act in a cooperative manner. It is proposed that Box B facilitates U3 snoRNA nucleolar localization by the primary NoLEs (Boxes C and D), with the hinge region of U3 subsequently base pairing to the external transcribed spacer of pre-rRNA, thus positioning U3 snoRNA for its roles in rRNA processing.     

Nucleolar organizing chromosomes ofRicinus

Summary Pachytene chromosome morphology was compared in nine races ofRicinus communis L. (2n = 20), using pollen mother cells (PMCs) and light microscopy. Of the ten bivalents, only the two possessing nucleolar organizing regions (NORs), chromosomes 2 and 7, exhibit structural variations among the races. The NORs are located in the short arms of these two chromosomes. Most of the observed structural variations affect these short arms, which are similar morphologically and consist largely of heterochromatic segments. The PMCs contain a single nucleolus and this is associated with the NOR of each of the two chromosomes at a particular frequency in each race. In eight races, a nucleolar constriction (NC) is present in either chromosome 2 or chromosome 7. In these races, the nucleolus is associated with the chromosome possessing an NC at a frequency of 100% and with the chromosome lacking an NC at a frequency ranging between 5.6 and 100%, depending upon the race. No microscopically visible NC is present in the ninth race. In this race, the nucleolus is associated with both chromosomes 2 and 7 at a frequency of 100%. The association of the nucleolus with a chromosome possessing an NC is at the NC and with a chromosome lacking an NC is at the terminal heterochromatic segment of the short arm. Several interpretations are offered to account for the variations in frequency of association between the nucleolus and each of the nucleolar organizing chromosomes. It is suggested that the two non-linked NORs have evolved through some intragenomic changes rather than polyploidy, that this species is highly intolerant to structural variations other than those occurring in or near the NORs, and that structural variations in the nucleolar organizing chromosomes are not associated with racial variations in plant phenotype.Paper of the Journal Series, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station     

Nucleolar behaviour in Triticum

The maximum number of major nucleoli (macronucleoli) per nucleus of hexaploid, tetraploid and diploid wheat, Aegilops speltoides and Ae. squarrosa corresponded to the number of satellited chromosomes of each species. Smaller nucleoli (micronucleoli) were rare or absent in all of these species except the hexaploid, in which they were predominantly organized on chromosome arm 5D^s. — Fewer than the maximum number of macronucleoli in a mitotic interphase nucleus resulted from fusion of developing nucleoli. Enforced proximity of nucleolus-organizing regions resulted in more frequent fusion of nucleoli. — Analyses of related interphase nuclei showed that nucleoli, and hence probably chromosomes, undergo limited movement during mitotic interphase. These observations also indicate that specific chromosomes do not occupy specific sites in the interphase nucleus.     

Geitler's Nucleolar Substance in Spirogyra

The movements of Geitler's ‘nucleolar substance’,a deeply staining material found in the mitotic nucleus afterbreakdown of the nucleolus, are traced in fifteen species ofSpirogyra including two of those originally used. Deposition of nucleolar substance on metaphase and anaphasechromosomes, noted by Geitler, is confirmed. Observed for thefirst time are the sloughing-off from the anaphase chromatidsof nucleolar substance and its distribution in and by the spindle,independent of the chromosomes.     

Nucleolar DNA amplification inOrnithogalum endosperm

Summary ³H-thymidine autoradiography has revealed selective amplification of nucleolar DNA in the maturing endosperm ofOrnithogalum elatum Andr., a liliaceous plant. Apart from the unusually heavy³H-thymidine labelling in the nucleoli, there is recurrent production of labelled accessory nucleoli which migrate into the cytoplasm by dynamic blebbings of the nuclear envelope, presumably to boost protein biosynthesis in the endosperm cells which nourish the developing embryo.