Extranuclear Structural Components that Mediate Dynamic Chromosome Movements in Yeast Meiosis

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Histone differentiation and nuclear activity

When fast green and eosin are used in combination to stain histones, nuclei display different affinities toward the dyes, some binding fast green exclusively, others binding eosin exclusively, and still others, both stains. In a given tissue, the frequencies of nuclei exhibiting the different colors remain fairly constant over a wide range of staining conditions. Nuclei of cells of the same type may stain differently, but when they are in the same stage of development or state of activity they tend to stain alike. Xenopus erythrocyte nuclei stain bright pink. Condensed mitotic and meiotic chromosomes stain purple. In the grasshopper spermatocyte, the main body of the interphase nucleus stains bright green, but the condensed chromosome stains purple. The mole crab sperm contains several distinct histone-like proteins, that differ in their amino acid compositions, within separate areas of the cell. In these sperms, the lysine-rich histones bind eosin, while the protamine-like protein and arginine-rich histone bind fast green. In general, the eosin and fast green bind preferentially to the lysine and arginine rich histones respectively, when the dyes are permitted to compete with one another. In several systems, including spermiogenesis and erythropoiesis, the aquisition of an eosinophilic component by the nuclei accompanies the slowing of RNA synthesis, and it is suggested that there may be a causal relationship between the two events, the eosinophilic histone effecting RNA synthesis within the nucleus as a whole.     

Meiosis in Schizophyllum commune: the effect of hydroxyurea on basidiospore sporulation, germination, and nuclear number

Summary In a search for an experimental procedure to synchronize meiosis in fruit bodies of Schizophyllum commune, the effect of hydroxyurea on sporulation was tested. Results indicate that hydroxyurea has an immediate and reversible effect on basidiospore sporulation, germination, and nuclear number. A tentative time schedule for meiosis is presented.     

Meiosis: organizing microtubule organizers

During meiosis in fission yeast, the zygote nucleus undergoes microtubule-driven oscillatory movements that ultimately serve to promote genetic recombination. An essential component of this is a meiosis-specific consolidation of microtubule-organizing activity to the the spindle pole body, driven by the novel coiled-coil protein mcp6/hrs1p.     

Sporogenesis in Bryophytes: Patterns and Diversity in Meiosis

Meiosis in bryophytes retains unusual features that provide clues to the innovation of sporogenesis in early land plants. Sporocytes are typically quadrilobed before nuclear division and the meiotic spindle is quadripolar with poles in the four future spore domains. Whereas seed plants consistently have anastral spindles arising from γ-tubulin in the perinuclear area, bryophytes have spindles organized at POs, plastids, or nuclear envelope. All of these MTOCs are significantly different from centrosomes of the algal ancestors. Mosses and hornworts have quadrilobed sporocytes with meiotic spindles organized at plastids. Meiosis in liverworts is extremely varied. Sporocytes of Jungermanniopsida are deeply quadrilobed and have microtubule bands marking division planes prior to cytoplasmic shaping. Spindles are organized at POs or nuclear envelope. Sporocytes of Marchantiopsida are quadrilobed to apolar with spindles organized at plastids, POs, or nuclear envelope. Pre-meiotic bands have been reported in only one marchantiod, the early divergent Blasia. An atlas of cytological data on 13 liverworts, 3 mosses and 2 hornworts is presented and analyzed.     

Meiosis in man

The study of human meiosis impinges on clinically important areas such as infertility and aneuploidy, and an understanding of the behaviour of chromosomes in the germ line is essential for those engaged in genetic counselling. Recent advances in cytological techniques are allowing detailed observation of chromosomes in the prophase stage. Important problems such as the effects of structural and numerical chromosome abnormalities, and the relationship between abnormal meiotic chromosome behaviour and germ-cell death are being explored, while studies on mouse oocytes are beginning to shed light on the basis of the maternal age effect for aneuploidy such as in Down syndrome in man. Work at the molecular level promises to yield further advances.     

Meiosis in Coprinus

Chromosome pairing takes two steps: members of the homologous pair become aligned first and then zip up throughout their length. Initial contact may begin from one end or from both ends of the chromosomes. Prom late paehytene to diplotene, the chromosomes are somewhat elongated and exhibit lampbrush characteristics. This is followed by a diffuse stage in which the chromosomes are most indistinct. The centrosome divides at this time. The chromosome numbers are as follows: Coprinus lagopus, n=12; C. micaceus, n=12, C. comatus, n=14; and C. atramentarius, n=16.