A Digital Image Processing Technique for the Analysis of Particle Movements: Its Application to Organelle Movements during Mitosis in Adiantum Protonemata

A digital image processing technique was developed for the simultaneousdetection of changes in organelle movements in different regionsof a cell from the protonemata of the fern, Adiantum. The speedof particle movements at a chosen position in a series of dynamicimages that had been recorded by a time-lapse video system wasdetermined in terms of standard error of brightness changeswith a gray scale level. Using this new method and microscopy we could distinguish 3different regions during mitosis in terms of organelle movementpatterns. Organelles located outside of the nucleus were inmovement until the nucleolus disappeared at prophase, whereasorganelles in the boundary region between the nucleus and cytoplasmbecame active after prophase. The organelles located outsidethe nucleus again began to move rapidly after chromosome separation.The nuclear pole region showed movement throughout mitosis. ³ Present address: Tbaraki Satellite Communication Center, KokusaiDenshin Denwa Co. Ltd., Takahagi, Ibaraki 318, Japan. ⁴ Present address: Biology Department, Faculty of Science, TokyoMetropolitan University, Fukazawa, Tokyo 158, Japan. (Received September 3, 1982; Accepted December 23, 1982)     

Mitotic Activities and Levels of Nuclear DNA in the Apical Meristem of Silene armeria (strain SI.2) Following Application of Gibberellin A3

Strain S1.2 of Silene armeria was grown under an 8h-photoperiodand treated with GA₃ every day for 20 days. This growth substancecaused stem elongation, but no flowering in this long-day plant.Changes in the mitotic index and DNA content of cells in thevarious zones of the apical meristem before, during and afterGA₃ treatment were described. Mitotic activity and increasein the proportion of nuclei at the 4C level (S+G₂ phase of thecell cycle) were strongly stimulated in the rib-meristem, andto a lesser extent in the lateral zone, but not in the axialzone. This stimulation of apical activity reached a peak aftertwo GA₃ treatments and then declined gradually, so that after20 days the activity in GA₃-treated meristems was lower thanthat in untreated controls; at this point most cells were inthe G₁ phase. When the GA₃ treatment was discontinued, there was a gradualincrease in the mitotic activity which ultimately reached thesame level as that in controls. Stem elongation ceased and leavesformed aerial rosettes. It is concluded that in vegetative plants of strain S1.2 ofSilene armeria GA₃ acts mainly on the rib-meristem cells whichresults in stem elongation. Lack of response in the axial cellsexplains why GA₃ fails to induce flowering in this strain ofSilene armeria. (Received June 18, 1983; Accepted August 3, 1983)     

Flow Cytometric Determination of Nuclear Replication Stage in Seed Tissues

Flow cytometric determination of DNA levels in embryos of fullymatured seeds of various plant species revealed large amountsof 2C DNA signals, indicating that most cells had arrested thecell cycle at the presynthetic G₁ phase of nuclear division.The accumulation of cells at G₁ was found both in orthodox andin recalcitrant (i.e. Castanea sativa) seed species. As recalcitrantseeds are characterized by the absence of maturation drying,the arrest of the cell cycle in the presynthetic phase may notbe linked to the seed water status. Apart from the 2C signal, 4C values were found in the embryoof some seed species (e.g. Raphanus sativus) indicating thatcells were arrested in G₂ Cells arrested in G₂ were primarilylocated in the root-tip region of the embryo. In addition, combinationsof higher C values (i.e. 8C, 12C, 16C and 64C) were observedin the endosperm of Solanum melongena and Lycopersicon esculentum,and in the root-tip cells of Phaseolus vulgaris and Spinaciaoleracea. These mixtures of polyploid nuclei (also called 'polysomaty')may arise from a developmentally controlled cellular endoreduplicationand indicates that in each cell type of the seed the amountof DNA is regulated both spatially and temporally.Copyright1993, 1999 Academic Press Endive, Cichorium endiva, lettuce, Lactuca sativa, egg-plant, Solanum melongena, pepper, Capsicum annuum, tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum, radish, Raphanus sativus, bean Phaseolus vulgaris, spinach, Spinacia oleracea, chestnut, Castanea sativa, beech, Fagus sylvatica, pine, Pinus nigra, DNA content, flow cytometry, seed, nuclear replication stage, C levels, storage     

The Effects of Cell Cycle Parameters on Cell Wall Regeneration and Cell Division of Cotton Protoplasts (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Protoplasts of cotton cotyledons were isolated and culturedto undergo cell wall regeneration and cell division. DNA contentand cell cycle parameters of nuclei from cotyledons and/or protoplastswere determined by flow cytometry. The DNA content of cotton,Gossypium hirsutum L., was estimated to be 4·34±0·12pg DNA per nucleus. There was a strong positive correlation between G₂ or Sand G₂,and cell wall regeneration and cell division and a strong negativecorrelation between G₁, and cell wall regeneration and celldivision of cotton cotyledon protoplasts. The cell cycle statusof cotyledons changes during their development; as the cotyledonsenlarge, the proportion of cells in G₀ and G₁ phases of thecell cycle increases. The implication of these results in relationto protoplast growth and development is discussed. Key words: Cell cycle parameters, cell wall regeneration, cell division, flow cytometry, Gossypium     

Cell Cycle Changes in the Shoot Apex of Silene coeli-rosa During the Second and Third Days of Floral Induction

The cell cycle in Silene coeli-rosa shoot apices was measuredto test whether or not early components of the floral stimulus,produced during the 2nd and 3rd long days (LD) of an inductiveLD treatment, resulted in an increase in the duration of G₂phase in constant 20–24 h cell cycles. Plants were grownat 20°C in short days (SD) of 8 h light and 16 h darknessfor 28 d (day 0). Starting on day 0, plants were given SD or3 LD each comprising an identical 8 h day and 16 h photo-extension,or 3 dark-interrupted (d.i.) non-inductive LD, interrupted at1700 h of each day with 1 h of darkness. The cell cycle (percentagelabelled mitoses method) and changes in cell number were determinedin the shoot apical meristem. During days 1–2 of the SDtreatment, the cell cycle and mean cell generation time (MCGT)was 18 and 32 h, respectively, giving a growth fraction of 56%.During days 2–3, the cell cycle and MCGT shortened to15 and 23 h, respectively (growth fraction = 65%). During days1–2 of the LD and d.i. LD treatments, cell cycles andMCGTs were 9–10 and 27–29 h, respectively, resultingin smaller growth fractions (about 33%). Thus, shortened cellcycles and altered growth fractions occurred regardless of whetheror not the treatment was inductive. The LD treatment resultedin a marked shortening of G₁ and, to a lesser extent, S-phase,whilst G₂ remained constant. These changes were consistent withincreases in the proportion of cells in G₂ during the photoextensionof each LD which were suppressed during the comparable periodsof the d.i. LD treatment. The latter treatment resulted in eachphase occupying virtually identical proportions of the cellcycle as in the SD treatment. Thus, the unique cell cycle responsesto the initial part of the inductive LD treatment were increasesin the proportion of cells in G₂ coupled with G₁ and G₂ beingof similar duration. Cell cycle, mean cell generation time, shoot apex, Silene coeli-rosa     

Cell and Nuclear Size in Vicia faba Roots: changes during Germination and in Response to Levels of Ambient Water

Changes in cell and nuclear size were studied in roots of germinatingseeds of Vicia faba in order to answer the following questions:(1) When is growth of cells and nuclei initiated? (2) Is theratio, nucleus: cell size, constant over the first two to threecell cycles, i.e. are nuclear and cell growth closely coordinatedor can they vary independently of one another? Answers to thesequestions should contribute to our knowledge of the relationbetween cell and nuclear growth and the systems that regulategrowth of actively proliferating cells. The results show thatmean cell area increased very little during the first cell cycleand then decreased over the subsequent two to three cell cycles,i.e. until roots reached a steady state condition. Nuclei, onthe other hand, increased in size from 30 to 50 h after seedswere sown, i.e. when most nuclei were in S or G₂ The mean andthe range in nuclear volumes reached in the first two mitoticcycles during germination are maintained when root meristemsachieve a steady state condition. Thus nuclei maintain a constantmean size over the first few cycles, while cells decrease insize. As a, result of this difference, the ratio, nucleus: cellarea, increases over the few first cell cycles from 0·157to 0·222. The ratio increases in both interphase andprophase cells. Increases in size of cells and nuclei are notabsolutely coordinated; this suggests that nuclear and cellgrowth are, to some extent, regulated independently of eachother. Vicia faba L, broad bean, nuclear volume, cell area, root meristem, germination, water level     

Flow Cytometric Determination of Relative Nuclear DNA Contents in Bicellulate and Tricellulate Pollen

Nuclear DNA content in mature pollen was measured with a flowcytometer Pollen of Lilium longiflorum, Dendranthema grandiflora(syn Chrysanthemum monfolium) and Zea mays was chopped and stainedwith the DNA fluorochrome DAPI DNA levels, expressed as arbitraryC values, were compared with those of nuclei isolated from leafor root material of the same plants In mature tricellulate pollen the generative cell is dividedafter second pollen mitosis into two sperm cells Tricellulatepollen from maize and chrysanthemum gave rise to one large 1Cpeak and, only in the case of chrysanthemum, a much smallerone at the 2C level These results suggest that the haploid nucleiof the vegetative as well as both sperm cells in tricellulatepollen are arrested in the G₁ stage of nuclear division Thesmall 2C peak in the case of chrysanthemum probably arose froma fraction of pollen with the sporophytic chromosome number(2n pollen) In contrast to this, mature bicellulate lily pollengave rise to two identical peaks at the 1C and the 2C levelFrom this result it was concluded that in bicellulate pollen,the 1C peak is caused by the signal of the haploid vegetativenucleus arrested in the G₁ stage of nuclear division, whereasthe 2C peak originates from the haploid generative nucleus whichhas already undergone DNA synthesis and is arrested in G₂ Lilium longiflorumThunb, lily, Dendranthema grandiflora Tzelev (syn Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat ), chrysanthemum, Zea maysL, maize, male gametophytic cells, vegetative cells, generative cells, sperm cells, unreduced pollen, sporophytic cells, relative nuclear DNA contents, replication stage     

Potassium channel expression level is dependent on the proliferation state in the GH3 pituitary cell line

Previously, we showed that the peakdensity of the transient outward K⁺ current(I_to) expressed in GH3 cells was different inthe S phase than in other phases of the cell cycle. Using cellsynchronization, we show here that I_to dropsprecisely at the quiescent (G₀ phase)/proliferating transition. This change is not due to a modification in the voltage dependence of I_to, but rather to a modificationin its inactivation kinetics. Molecular determination of K⁺channel subunits showed that I_to required theexpression of Kv1.4, Kv4.1, and Kv4.3. We found that the increase inI_to density during the quiescent state wasaccompanied by an increase in Kv1.4 protein expression, whereas Kv4.3expression remained unchanged. We further demonstrate that the linkbetween I_to expression and cell proliferation isnot mediated by variations in cell excitability. These results providenew evidence for the cell cycle dependence ofI_to expression, which could be relevant inunderstanding the mechanisms leading to pituitary adenomas.

     

Nuclear DNA Metabolism in the Tip of the Cortical Strands of Viscum album L

The tips of the cortical strands of Viscum album were investigatedby autoradiographic and cytophotometric methods. It is shown that DNA synthesis and mitotic activity of the sub-apicalmeristematic cells are constant during the whole year. Theirnuclear DNA content varies from 2C to 4C values. The elongated cells which cover the meristematic zone are characterizedby no DNA synthesis, no mitotic activity and a 2C nuclear DNAcontent. They are ‘blocked’ in the presyntheticphasc G₁ of their cellular cycle, without polyploidy. The relationship between polyploidy and secretion is discussed. Viscum album, mistletoe, nucleus, DNA, polyploidy     

一种特殊的长寿细胞: 毛竹茎秆纤维细胞

利用显微和细胞化学方法, 对毛竹( Phyllostachys edulis) 茎秆纤维次生壁形成过程中超微结构变化以及ATP 酶、Ca²⁺ -ATP_ase 和酸性磷酸酶的超微细胞化学定位进行了研究。研究发现, 次生壁形成早期,细胞核具有双层核膜, 染色质凝聚, 可见大量的线粒体、粗面内质网和高尔基体等细胞器存在于纤维细胞中; 随后, 双层核膜消失, 细胞器将逐渐解体, 多泡体开始出现在纤维细胞的细胞质; 随着年龄的增加,纤维细胞壁逐渐增厚, 并出现多层结构现象, 而运输小泡、细胞膜、胞间连丝和凝聚的染色质将持续存在。在次生壁形成的整个过程中, ATP 酶、Ca²⁺ -ATP_ase 和酸性磷酸酶在运输小泡、细胞膜、质膜内陷、胞间连丝和凝聚的染色质中将持续存在。结果表明, 毛竹茎秆纤维细胞是一种不同于木本双子叶植物的长寿细胞, 纤维原生质体中ATP 酶和酸性磷酸酶的持续存在与次生壁的持续增厚密切相关。     

Photocontrol of Nuclear DNA Replication in Chattonella antiqua (Raphidophyceae)

The timing of nuclear DNA replication was examined in a synchronizedcell population of a red-tide flagellate, Chattonella antiqua,using fluorescence microspectrophotometry with a DNA-specificfluorochrome, 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI). Under alternating12-h periods of light and dark (12L12D), nuclear DNA began toincrease synchronously ca. 10 h after the onset of light irradiation.Even when the light-off timing of the light period or the wholespan of the 12-h light period was shifted after synchronizationunder 12L12D cycles, the timing of the beginning of nuclearDNA replication was invariably ca. 10 h from the onset of lightirradiation. When irradiation was not given, there was no increaseof nuclear DNA. The conclusion reached was that light irradiationis necessary for nuclear DNA replication in Chattonella antiquaand that the timing of the replication is dependent upon onlythe timing of the onset of the last irradiation. In other words,a light-on signal induces the transition of cell nuclei fromthe G₁ into the S phase and also determines the timing of thisevent. When not irradiated, cells are arrested in the G₁ phase. ³ Present address: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science,University of Tokyo, Hongo, Tokyo 113, Japan. ⁴ Present address: Frontier Research Programs, RIKEN, Wako-city,Saitama 351-01, Japan. (Received February 28, 1987; Accepted June 5, 1987)     

Effects of light and nitrogen limitation on the cell cycle of the dinoflagellate Amphidinium carteri

Cell cycle phase durations of cultures of Amphidinium carteriin light- or nitrogen-limited balanced growth were determinedusing flow cytometry. For both types of growth rate limitation,the increases in generation time caused by increasing degreesof limitation were due solely to expansion of the G₁ phase ofthe cell cycle. The durations of the S and G₂ + M phases wereindependent of growth rate. Furthermore, when cells were deprivedcompletely of light and nitrogen, they arrested in the G₁ phaseof the cell cycle. The results indicate that light- and nitrogen-dependentprocesses are heavily concentrated in the early part of thecell cycle, while DNA replication and cell division, once initiated,are independent of light or nitrogen supply.     

Intracellular Localization of Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase in Bundle Sheath Cells of C4 Plants

Bundle sheath protoplasts (BSP) were isolated and purified fromfour C₄ species of the phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxykinasetype (Panicum maximum, P. texanum, Chloris gayana and Eriochloaborumensis), and cell organellses were separated from the BSPextract by differential centrifugation or sucrose density gradientcentrifugation. Separation of the organelles was ascertainedby the distribution of marker enzymes for chloroplasts, mitochondria,peroxisomes and cytoplasm. Contrary to the previous report [Rathnamand Edwards (1975) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 171: 214], the distributionof PEP carboxykinase in BSP of P. maximum was the same as thatof UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase, a marker for cytoplasm, andPEP carboxykinase activity was not recovered in the intact chloroplasts.The same results were obtained with P. texanum, C. gayana andE. borumensis. Therefore, we conclude that PEP carboxykinase is exclusivelylocalized in the cytoplasm of bundle sheath cells of C₄ plants. (Received July 23, 1983; Accepted October 17, 1983)     

Periodic Gene Expression Patterns during the Highly Synchronized Cell Nucleus and Organelle Division Cycles in the Unicellular Red Alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae

Previous cell cycle studies have been based on cell-nuclearproliferation only. Eukaryotic cells, however, have double membranes-boundorganelles, such as the cell nucleus, mitochondrion, plastidsand single-membrane-bound organelles such as ER, the Golgi body,vacuoles (lysosomes) and microbodies. Organelle proliferations,which are very important for cell functions, are poorly understood.To clarify this, we performed a microarray analysis during thecell cycle of Cyanidioschyzon merolae. C. merolae cells containa minimum set of organelles that divide synchronously. The nuclear,mitochondrial and plastid genomes were completely sequenced.The results showed that, of 158 genes induced during the S orG2-M phase, 93 were known and contained genes related to mitochondrialdivision, ftsZ1-1, ftsz1-2 and mda1, and plastid division, ftsZ2-1,ftsZ2-2 and cmdnm2. Moreover, three genes, involved in vesicletrafficking between the single-membrane organelles such as vps29and the Rab family protein, were identified and might be relatedto partitioning of single-membrane-bound organelles. In othergenes, 46 were hypothetical and 19 were hypothetical conserved.The possibility of finding novel organelle division genes fromhypothetical and hypothetical conserved genes in the S and G2-Mexpression groups is discussed.     

Relation between Water Stress and DNA Synthesis during Germination of Zea mays L.

Mitotic index, percent nuclei in DNA synthesis and the relativeDNA content per nucleus were determined from cells of the Zeamays radicle at various times after the beginning of germination.Nuclear DNA synthesis was initiated after 45 h and mitosis wasfirst observed after 74 h from sowing. Most of the dormant nucleiwere in the pre-synthetic or G₁ phase of the mitotic cycle.By 72 h most cells were in S and 77 h after the beginning ofgermination, the cells of the primary root were observed inall phases of the mitotic cycle. Dehydration of karyopses after45–74 h of imbibition progressively reduced the percentof germination to zero upon dehydration and subsequent replantingdemonstrating that drought sensitivity was related to the onsetof nuclear DNA synthesis and genome duplication.     

Involvement of colchicine-sensitive cytoplasmic element in premitotic nuclear positioning ofAdiantum protonemata

Summary When the red-light grown protonema ofAdiantum capillus-veneris was transferred to the dark, the nucleus ceased its migration ca. 5 hours before cell plate formation (Mineyuki andFuruya 1980). To see whether the nucleus was held by some cytoplasmic structure during nuclear positioning, protonemata were treated with various centrifugal forces at different stages of the cell cycle. Nuclei of G₁ phase were easily displaced by centrifugation at 360×g for 15 minutes, but those of G₂ or M phase were not displaced by it, suggesting that the nuclei were held by some cytoplasmic elements in G₂ or M phase. This nuclear anchoring was not detectable in protonemata that were treated with 5mM colchicine. With this treatment, the nucleus did not stop its migration at late G₂ and moved even in prophase. And the retardation of organelle movement which was observed in cytoplasm on the lateral side of the nucleus after the cessation of premitotic nuclear migration (Mineyuki andFuruya 1984) was not observed in the presence of colchicine. Thus the nuclei appear to be held by colchicine-sensitive structure in cytoplasm between the lateral surface of the nucleus and cell wall during the premitotic nuclear positioning. Electron micrographs showing cytoplasmic microtubules were consistent with the idea.Abbreviations PPN Premitotic positioning of the nucleus - L region Cytoplasm between the lateral surface of the nucleus and cell wall (seeMineyuki et al. 1984)     

The changes of nuclear position and distribution of circumferentially aligned cortical microtubules during the progression of cell cycle inAdiantum protonemata

The intracellular positions of the nucleus and of cortical, circumferentially aligned microtubules (CCAM) in filamentous, single-celled protonemata ofAdiantum capillus-veneris were determined throughout the cell cycle in the dark. When apical growth continued at G₁ phase, the nucleus migrated keeping a constant distance from the tip. When the apical growth stopped at late S or G₂ phase, the nucleus stopped moving forward and then slightly moved backward to the site of cytokinesis. The CCAM were found only in the dome of protonemal tip when growing under continuous red light; they increased in number after dark incubation for 12 hr and then decreased after 20th hr in the dark. The CCAM were usually observed in the region between the nucleus and the tip at 28 hr in the dark. They were located around the nuclear region at pre-prophase and prophase, but then totally disappeared at metaphase and thereafter.     

Change in the rate of organelle movement during progression of the cell cycle inAdiantum protonemata

Summary The rate of organelle movement during progression of the cell cycle in single-celled protonemata of the fernAdiantum capillus-veneris is determined microscopically with a time-lapse video system. Under red light organelle movement is very slow (1.8 m/min) in early G₁ in the apical 100-m region. The rate of organelle movement becomes higher in proportion to distance from the nuclear region, reaching a plateau in the neighborhood of 300 m from the tip. Organelle movement during the progression of G₁ and S phases in the dark does not show a significant difference from that in early G₁ under red light. In M phase, however, organelle movement in the nuclear region slows down a few minutes after nucleolar disappearance and then stops until the beginning of cell plate formation. Organelle movement in the basal region of the protonema slows down, but does not stop, shortly after movement in the nuclear region has ceased. This indicates that a message is sent from the nuclear region to the basal region.