Transport of newly synthesized ribosome precedes initiation of S phase in root meristem cells in Helianthus annuus L

According to earlier results, cold treatment blocks most of cells in G1 phase; after 3 h of postincubation at 20 degrees C these cells initiate S phase. Simultaneous cytophotometric (DNA stained with Methyl Green) and autoradiographic (3H-uridine, 3H-arginine) analyses of cold pretreated cells have shown that transport of 3H-RNA into cytoplasm is faster in G2 than in G1 cells: radioactivity of cytoplasm is faster in G2 cells becomes higher than that of nucleoli as early as between 2 h and 2.5 h postincubation, while in G1 cells--not until between 2.5. and 3.0 h. Simultaneous cytophotometric measurements of DNA (Feulgen) and protein (Naphthol Yellow S) contents demonstrate the considerable increase in cytoplasmic protein contents during the 2nd h of postincubation at 20 degrees C; therefore it precedes the export of more than 50% of 3H-RNA synthesized after cold treatment. The results of these experiments indicate two separate events in G1 cells: increase in cytoplasmic protein amounts (up to 2nd h of postincubation) and enhanced transport of newly-synthesized ribosome (2.5 h of postincubation), the later event immediately precede the entry of cells into S phase.     

The 3-dimensional organization of the nucleoli of benign and malignant tumor cells from different human organs]

The method of ultrathin serial sections was used to perform a comparative ultrastructural and 3-dimensional analysis of nucleoli for the following variants of human tumours: benign (fibroadenoma) and malignant (infiltrating ductal carcinoma) tumours of one organ (mammary gland); malignant tumours of epidermal genesis in different organs (squamous cell carcinomas of skin, larynx, lung, gullet, uterus); two forms of malignant tumours (squamous cell and small cell carcinomas) of one organ (lung). The spatial models of nucleoli in these tumour cells are given. The specific signs in architecture of tumour nucleoli was found. Nucleoli of fibroadenomas have well pronounced 1-4 fibrillar centres forming a united system with a lacunar component and intranucleolar chromatin. Unlike benign tumour cells, nucleoli of infiltrating ductal carcinomas are characterized by large, prominent nucleoli containing giant, multiform fibrillar centres with a complicated surface, a well developed granular component and an unusually organized lacunar system. In squamous cell carcinomas of various localization, active, hypertrophied nucleoli with pseudonucleolonemal organization were found. The small cell carcinoma of lung differs from the squamous cell cancer of the same organ by dense, fibrillar nucleoli with a small amount of granular component located on the periphery of the nucleolar body. Nucleolar type reflecting the functional state of malignization process may serve as an additional diagnostic criterion for tumour identification.     

Light and electron microscopic study of the mitochondria in human embryonic nervous tissue cells in vitro

After a 5-min heating of isolated Tradescantia leaves at 49 degrees C the granular component in the nucleoli of parenchyma cells disappears and the nucleoli grow more compact and exclusively fibrillar in structure. Simultaneously, the ability of chloroplasts of these cells for phototaxis is completely inhibited. In leaves placed in a moist chamber at room temperature 48 h after heating a normal ultrastructure of nucleoli and the ability of chloroplasts to respond by phototaxis to change in illuminations are restored almost synchronously.     

Ultrastructural Distribution of DNA within Plant Meristematic Cell Nucleoli during Activation and the Subsequent Inactivation by a Cold Stress

We have investigated the precise location of DNA within the meristematic cell nucleolus ofZea maysroot cells andPisum sativumcotyledonary buds, in the course of their activation and induced inactivation following a subsequent treatment at low temperature. For this purpose, we combined the acetylation method, providing an excellent distinction between the various nucleolar components, with thein situterminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-immunogold technique, a highly sensitive method for detecting DNA at the ultrastructural level. In addition to the presence of DNA in the condensed chromatin associated with the nucleolus, we demonstrated that a significant label was detected in the nucleolus of quiescent cells in both plant models. Evident labels were also found in the dense fibrillar component of actived nucleoli. Whereas in inactivated nucleoli no significant label was observed within the dense fibrillar component, an intense label was seen over the large heterogeneous fibrillar centres only during inactivation. The granular component was never significantly labelled. These results appear to indicate that the DNA present in the dense fibrillar component of activated nucleoli withdraws from this structure during its inactivation and becomes incorporated in the large fibrillar centres. These observations suggest that in plant cells inactivation of rRNA genes is clearly accompanied by changes in the conformation of ribosomal chromatin.     

Ultrastructural and autoradiographic studies of the role of nucleolar vacuoles in soybean root meristem

Ultrastructural and autoradiographic studies of nucleoli in soybean root meristematic cells in seedlings: (1) grown for 3 days at 25 degrees C (control), (2) grown for three days at 25 degrees C and for 4 days at 10 degrees C, and (3) grown as in (2) and recovered for 1 day at 25 degrees C were carried out. Control nucleoli had dense structure and a few small nucleolar vacuoles. Chilled plant nucleoli had less dense structure and no vacuoles. Nucleoli of plants recovered at 25 degrees C had big nucleolar vacuoles. In autoradiograms of squashed preparations, the labeling of nucleoli and cytoplasm after 20-min incubation in 3H-uridine was 5- and 6-fold stronger, respectively, in control than in chilled roots. Following recovery, the labeling of nucleoli and cytoplasm was much stronger than after chilling or even than in control roots. After 80-min postincubation in non-radioactive medium, average labeling of particular areas of cells was the highest in recovered plants which indicated intensification of rRNA synthesis, maturation and transport into cytoplasm resulting from the resumption of optimal conditions which was correlated with the appearance of big nucleolar vacuoles. In autoradiograms of semi-thin sections from roots of seedlings chilled for 4 days then recovered and incubated for 20 min in 3H-uridine, practically only extravacuolar parts of nucleoli were labeled. After 80-min postincubation, the labeling of nucleolar vacuoles was observed. Thus, during postincubation the labeled molecules were translocated from the nucleolar periphery into nucleolar vacuoles in cells where intensive transport of these molecules to the cytoplasm takes place. On the basis of these results, a hypothesis has been put forward that nucleolar vacuoles may be involved in the intensification of pre-ribosome transport outside nucleolus.     

Ultrastructure and behavior of the nucleoli and fibrillar centers during cell differentiation of liver erythroblasts of 12-day-old mouse embryos

The transformation of nucleolus and its structural components in the main groups of erythroid cells (from pronormoblasts to reticulocytes and dividing ones) has been studied. It is shown that during inactivation of the nucleolus, the granular component is reduced, and the degree of chromatin condensation increases. Enlargement and "naking" of fibrillar centres are also observed. At the stage of basophilic and polychromatophilic erythroblasts, the nucleolus has a mushroom-like shape with well developed fibrillar centres, which lie at the border of the nucleolus. Nucleolar RNP components consist predominantly of a fibrillar component and forms "caps" of these mushroom-like structures. Therefore, at this stage "free" fibrillar centres are found on ultrathin sections, if the section plane runs only through the fibrillar centre, or through ring-shaped nucleoli, i.e. the fibrillar centre surrounded by sheet of nucleolar RNP fibrilles, when the mushroom-like nucleolus is cut tangentially. Using serial section technique, small round nucleoli with an extremely weakly developed RNP material or free fibrillar centres, resembling those in telophase nuclei, are shown on the terminal stage of nucleolus transformation. It is noted that the main groups of erythroid cells differ from each other not only in the chromatin condensation degree, but also in the development of nucleolus material and in the size of fibrillar centres. However, such differences exist in either cell group. Consequently, we can distinguish between cell populations being on different stages of maturation. On this basis, we described on intermediate population of cells, which possess signs of pronormoblasts and basophilic erythroblasts. In all the cases, strands of electron opaque material bound with the condensed chromatin are present in fibrillar centres.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Action of actinomycin D on the nucleolar function and ultrastructure of a pig embryo kidney cell culture

It has been shown that the morphofunctional alterations of nucleoli in KEPV cells induced by actinomycin D at 0,05 microgram/ml proceed in two steps. During the first 3 h of actinomycin D action a level of the RNA synthesis in nucleoli falls to 25% from the initial one. Simultaneously the following morphological alterations take place: condensation of the chromatin, infiltration of nucleoli, displacement to outlining regions, increase of the dimensions and reduction of number of fibrillar centres, gradual disappearance of compact fibrillar zone and appearance looplike granular structures. During the following 3-6 h of antibiotic action the RNA synthesis falls slightly, nucleoli dimensions decrease, fibrillar micronucleoli appear.     

Ultrastructural localization of rRNA in HeLa cells, rat liver cells and Xenopus laevis oocytes by means of the monoclonal antibody--protein a--gold technique

Summary The postembedding localization of rRNA was investigated in ultrathin sections of HeLa cells, rat liver andXenopus laevis oocytes by means of the monoclonal antibody to rRNA and protein A-gold technique. The incidence of gold particles was highest in nucleoli and cytoplasmic areas containing ribosomes. The chromosomes were labelled less than the surrounding cytoplasm in mitotic HeLa cells. In nucleoli of HeLa cells and rat hepatocytes, the labelling of areas containing ribonucleoprotein components was greater than the labelling of fibrillar centres. In segregated nucleoli ofX. laevis oocytes, the labelling of the granular region substantially exceeded that of the fibrillar regions. The incidence of nucleoplasmic gold particles in interphasic HeLa cells was found to be slightly increased in the vicinity of nucleoli. The labelling of clusters of interchromatin granules in rat hepatocytes was not significantly different from that of the rest of the nucleophasmic interchromatin spaces.A part of this study was presented as the poster and abstract at the 8th European Congress on Electron Microscopy 1984 in Budapest.     

Electron microscopy and morphometry of nucleoli in rat neurosecretory cells with stimulated and suppressed secretion

The nucleoli in the neurons of the supraoptic nucleus in the rat were analyzed by electron microscopy and morphometry after the secretion of vasopressin had been fully suppressed by water load, after the secretion had been stimulated by water deprivation and in normal rats which had water ad libitum. Suppression of the secretion increased the proportion of fibrillar centres in the nucleoli 2-fold. Stimulation of the secretion increased the proportion of the granular component by 22%. The overall nucleolar organization did not change very much with the secretory activity. The results show that an increased proportion of fibrillar centres in nucleoli is an indicator of decreased secretory activity and, moreover, that an increased volume of the nucleolar fibrillar and granular components per cell indicates an increased secretory activity.     

Nucleolar structure and synthetic activity during meiotic prophase and spermiogenesis in the rat

The ultrastructure of nucleoli was examined in developing rat spermatocytes and spermatids, with the help of serial sections. In addition, the radioautographic reaction of nucleoli as examined in rats sacrificed 1 hr after intratesticular injection of 3H(5')-uridine and taken as an index of the rate of synthesis of ribosomal RNA (rRNA). Primary spermatocytes from preleptotene to zygotene have small nucleoli typically composed of fibrillar centers, a fibrillar component, and a granular component, within which are narrow interstitial spaces. During early and mid-pachytene, nucleoli enlarge to about nine times their initial size, with the fibrillar and granular components forming an extensive network of cords--a nucleolonema--within which are wide interstitial spaces. Meanwhile, there appear structures identical to the granular component but distinct from nucleoli; they are referred to as extranucleolar granular elements. Finally, from late pachytene to the first maturation division, nucleoli undergo condensation, as shown by contraction of fibrillar centers into small clumps, while fibrillar and granular components condense and segregate from each other, with a gradual decrease in interstitial spaces. In secondary spermatocytes, nucleoli are compact and rather small, while in young spermatids they are also compact and even smaller. Nucleoli disappear in elongating spermatids. In 3H-uridine radioautographs, nucleolar label is weak in young primary spermatocytes, increases progressively during early pachytene, is strong by the end of mid pachytene, but gradually decreases during late pachytene up to the first maturation division. In secondary spermatocytes and spermatids, there is no significant nucleolar label. In conclusion, rRNA synthesis by nucleoli is low in young spermatocytes. During pachytene, while nucleoli enlarge and form a lacy nucleolonema, rRNA synthesis increases gradually to a high level by the end of mid pachytene. However, during the condensation and segregation of nucleolar components occurring from late pachytene onward, the synthesis gradually decreases and disappears. The small, compact spermatids arising from the second maturation division do not synthesize rRNA.     

NUCLEOLAR AGING IN TETRAHYMENA DURING THE CULTURAL GROWTH CYCLE

Nucelolar morphology was studied by electron microscopy in control and actinomycin D-treated populations of Tetrahymena pyriformis (W) during the cultural growth cycle. Nucleoli exhibit an "aging" cycle concomitant with the cultural growth cycle, but independent of the individual cell cycle. Four different stages in the course of this aging process have been defined. Stage 1 occurs upon inoculation (low number of cells per milliliter) and lasts through lag and accelerating growth phases. In this stage, many small nucleoli are found at the nuclear periphery. In stages 2 and 3, nucleolar fusion begins. Stage 2 dominates the first half of logarithmic growth, and stage 3 dominates the second half. In late decelerating growth phase, the nucleoli enter stage 4. In this stage, only a few large nucleoli are present and these are apparently inactive in ribosome production. In stationary phase, where total RNA remains constant, only stage 4 nucleoli are present. The relative preponderance of granular vs. fibrous components in the nucleoli changes during this cycle, the granular component dominating stage 1 nucleoli and the fibrillar, stage 4 nucleoli. There is a shortening of the intermediate nucleolar stages in the treated cultures; fusion occurs early and is now pronounced. Not enough ribosomes accumulate to carry the treated cultures through the number of generations equivalent to those of the control, which produces a premature stationary phase.     

Ultrastructural organization of nucleoli in benign naevi and malignant melanomas

We have studied the ultrastructural organization of nucleoli in benign naevi and malignant melanomas. In benign naevus cells the nucleoli displayed a compact ribonucleoprotein distribution, with one or two large fibrillar centres. In malignant melanoma cells the nucleoli were large with an irregular, nucleolonema-like ribonucleoprotein distribution and they exhibited numerous, small fibrillar centres. Statistical evaluation of the size of fibrillar centres indicated a mean value of 0.482 micron 2 +/- 0.136 SD for naevi and 0.221 micron 2 +/- 0.128 SD for malignant melanomas. These features, together with the more dispersed chromatin pattern of malignant melanoma nuclei compared with those of benign naevus cells, are proposed as diagnostic parameters which differentiate benign naevi from malignant melanomas at the ultrastructural level.     

Changes in the ultrastructure of rat hepatocyte nucleoli during bilateral adrenalectomy and after administration of cortisol

Nucleolar ultrastructure of the rat hepatocytes after bilateral adrenalectomy and cortisol stimulation has been studied by the electron-microscopic method Traits of nucleolar inactivation (a decrease of granular component enlargement of fibrillar centres, condensation of peri- and intranucleolar chromatin, etc.) are observed in hepatocyte nucleoli 5 days after adrenalectomy. Cortisol stimulation of hepatocytes of the adrenalectomized rats leads to nucleolar activation (4h, 5h, 8h after the hormone injection). Adrenalectomy with following cortisol injection is a useful model to study inactivation and activation of ribosomal genes in the target cells.     

Ultrastructure and functions of ring-shaped nucleoli, fibrillar centers and nucleolar vacuoles

Evidence on the ultrastructure of ring-shaped nucleoli in several cell types is reviewed. Detailed attention is paid to these structures in PEK culture cells after the action of actinomycin D, to infiltrating carcinomas of human breast after different degrees of malignization, and to hepatocytes of 11 day old chick embryos. On the basis of our own and literary data, the ring-shaped nucleoli are classified into two groups: 1) those with centrally located fibrillar centres, and 2) those containing large central vacuole. Connections of fibrillar centres with the nucleolus organizer regions in the interphase nucleolus and mitotic chromosomes are considered in detail. Literary and our own data on the genesis and functional activity of ring-shaped nucleoli with the central vacuole, as well as nucleoli with different degrees of vacuolization (vacuolized nucleoli) are specially analyzed. Cellular function, properties and significance of the central vacuole in low differentiated cells are discussed.     

Study of RNA distribution in the nucleolar components of Ehrlich cell using RNase-gold method

The RNA distribution in Ehrlich tumour cell nucleoli has been investigated using RNase-gold method. This technique has been applied to sections of cells prepared under various fixation and embedding conditions. As expected, the specificity and intensity of labelling by gold particles have varied according to the experimental conditions used. Interestingly, however, it has been noted that the localization of gold particles does also vary and in particular within the fibrillar centre. This observation underlines the interest of assaying the RNase-gold complex under various conditions. The gold particles were particularly concentrated over the granular component and to a lesser extent, in the dense fibrillar component. In the latter constituent, it has been noted that the gold markers were preferentially localized at the edge of the dense fibrils. Surprisingly, a few gold particles have also been detected in the fibrillar centres. The weak labelling has persisted even after pepsin or DNase extraction but has completely disappeared after RNase extraction. Further, an inhibition of rRNA synthesis by a treatment with actinomycin D has not produced a significant decrease of the number of gold particles present in the fibrillar centre. These results suggest that fibrillar centres contain a small amount of RNA which would not correspond to pre-rRNA.     

Simultaneous immunoelectron microscopic visualization of protein B23 and C23 distribution in the HeLa cell nucleolus

The intranucleolar distribution of phosphoproteins B23 and C23 was visualized simultaneously by post-embedding immunoelectron microscopy in HeLa cell nucleoli, using specific antibodies. The data show that proteins B23 and C23 co-localize to the same nucleolar compartments, i.e., the dense fibrillar component and the granular component. Neither of the two antibodies is significantly associated with the fibrillar centers in these cells, although the fibrillar centers appear positive after silver staining. These findings suggest that other unidentified components must be responsible for the silver staining observed in the fibrillar centers of interphase nucleoli. The results are discussed in the light of previously reported data obtained by preembedding immunolabeling techniques and by silver staining, which both suggested a localization of protein C23 inside the fibrillar centers.