Nucleolus-like bodies in micronuclei of cultured Xenopus cells

Two of the 36 chromosomes in Xenopus laevis are known to carry nucleolar organizer loci. Partitioning of the chromosomes of cultured, early-passage Xenopus cells among variable numbers of micronuclei could be induced by extended colcemid treatment. A large, obvious nucleolus occurred in a maximum of 4 micronuclei per colcemid-induced tetraploid cell. The large, deeply-stained nucleoli incorporated [³H]uridine and appeared by electron microscopy to have typical nucleolar morphology with fibrillar and granular areas disposed in nucleolonema. In situ hybridization to radioactive ribosomal RNA (rRNA) resulted in heavy labelling of nucleoli in no more than 4 micronuclei per cell. The other micronuclei generally contained small bodies (blobs) which stained for RNA and protein as well as with ammoniacal silver. In the electron microscope, these appeared as round, dense bodies resembling nucleoli segregated by actinomycin D treatment. Nucleoplasmic RNA synthesis occurred in all micronuclei regardless of whether they contained definitive nucleoli. These observations suggest that micronuclei which formed large, typical, RNA-synthesizing nucleoli contained nucleolar organizer chromosomes, while the other micronuclei, which contained nucleolus-like “blobs” probably lacked nucleolar organizer loci. It is possible that the nucleolus-like bodies may have been aggregates of previously synthesized nucleolar RNA and protein trapped in micronuclei after mitosis.     

Nucleolus-like morphology produced during the in vitro reassociation of nucleolar components

Nucleoli, the sites of rRNA synthesis, rRNA processing, and the assembly of ribosomes, are dynamic organelles that, in most cells, disperse and reform during mitosis. The mechanisms that regulate nucleolar formation are unknown as is the relationship between nucleolar morphology and the pathway of ribosome biogenesis. In this report we describe the in vitro formation of nucleolus-like particles (NLPs) from soluble extracts of nucleoli. NLPs, which reached sizes comparable to nucleoli (1-3 microns), were found to contain 40% of the nucleolar DNA, RNA, and protein. The ultrastructure of NLPs resembled that of a number of in vivo structures including compact nucleoli, prenucleolar bodies, and pseudonucleoli. The particles were composed of two morphologically distinct regions. The core resembled the dense fibrillar component (DFC) of nucleoli while the cortex resembled the granular component (GC) of nucleoli. The cortex of NLPs contained numerous 15-20 nm osmophilic granules that resembled the preribosomes found in the GC of nucleoli. The distribution of nucleolar proteins in NLPs also resembled that in nucleoli. BN46/51, a component of the GC of nucleoli, was restricted to the GC-like cortex of NLPs. A mAb that bound to the DFC of nucleoli, bound only to the DFC-like core of NLPs while a second mAb that bound to both the DFC and GC of nucleoli, bound to both the core and cortex of NLPs. Thus solubilized components of nucleoli can reassociate in vitro to produce particles that resemble nucleoli in their size, ultrastructure, and protein distribution.     

Comparison of in vivo and in vitro ribosomal RNA synthesis in nucleolar mutants of Xenopus laevis

Cells of embryos carrying a lethal nucleolar mutation have been maintained in vitro for extended periods of time. Normally these mutants live only 9 to 12 days after fertilization but their cells in culture will survive for more than 3 months. The extent of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) synthesis was determined in primary cultures prepared from normal embryos and nucleolar mutants having different numbers of ribosomal RNA genes. We found that the accumulation of radioactivity into rRNA for normal and mutant embryos was similar in vivo and in vitro. In primary cultures of normal embryos which have two nucleoli per cell and mutant embryos which have only one nucleolus per cell, the incorporation of radioactivity into rRNA was similar even though the normal cells have twice as many rRNA genes. Thus the mechanism which regulates dosage compensation of the rRNA genes operates both in vivo and in vitro.     

SITES OF NUCLEOLUS PRODUCTION IN CULTURED CHINESE HAMSTER CELLS

Chinese hamster cell strains in the early passages in culture display wide variation in number of nucleolus-like bodies per cell, though such strains are characteristically euploid. A variety of criteria indicate that the nucleolus-like bodies are true nucleoli. Their Azure B- and fast green-staining properties indicate the presence of RNA and protein; they have typical nucleolar fine structure, including both fibrous and granular components; radioautography reveals that their patterns of uptake of uridine-³H into RNA are similar to those reported for nucleoli of other cell types; actinomycin D, at a level which selectively inhibits ribosomal RNA synthesis, greatly reduces their RNA synthesis and also causes segregation of fibrous and granular nucleolar components. Colchicine was used to experimentally fragment the nuclei of these cells into a number of separate karyomeres, each presumably containing some, or only one, of the chromosomes of the complement. Almost all the karyomeres contain nucleolus-like bodies which, by the same criteria applied to the multiple nucleolus-like bodies of uninuclear cells, appear to be true nucleoli. The nucleoli of individual karyomeres of the same cell often differ from each other in fine structure while the multiple nucleoli of a uninuclear cell generally resemble each other. The evidence presented in this study indicates that Chinese hamster cells contain many nucleolus-producing sites scattered through the genome.     

Comparison of in vivo and in vitro ribosomal RNA synthesis in nucleolar mutants ofXenopus laevis

Summary Cells of embryos carrying a lethal nucleolar mutation have been maintained in vitro for extended periods of time. Normally these mutants live only 9 to 12 days after fertilization but their cells in culture will survive for more than 3 months. The extent of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) synthesis was determined in primary cultures prepared from normal embryos and nucleolar mutants having different numbers of ribosomal RNA genes. We found that the accumulation of radioactivity into rRNA for normal and mutant embryos was similar in vivo and in vitro. In primary cultures of normal embryos which have two nucleoli per cell and mutant embryos which have only one nucleolus per cell, the incorporation of radio-activity into rRNA was similar even though the normal cells have twice as many rRNA genes. Thus the mechanism which regulates dosage compensation of the rRNA genes operates both in vivo and in vitro. This work was supported by Grant GB38651 from the National Science Foundation.     

REPOPULATION OF POSTMITOTIC NUCLEOLI BY PREFORMED RNA : II. Ultrastructure

The reconstruction of the nucleolus after mitosis was analyzed by electron microscopy in cultured mammalian (L929) cells in which nucleolar RNA synthesis was inhibited for a 3 h period either after or before mitosis. When synchronized mitotic cells were plated into a concentration of actinomycin D sufficient to block nucleolar RNA synthesis preferentially, nucleoli were formed at telophase as usual. 3 h after mitosis, these nucleoli had fibrillar and particulate components and possessed the segregated appearance characteristic of nucleoli of actinomycin D-treated cells. Cells in which actinomycin D was present for the last 3 h preceding mitosis did not form nucleoli by 3 h after mitosis though small fibrillar prenucleolar bodies were detectable at this time. These bodies subsequently grew in size and eventually acquired a particulate component. It took about a full cell cycle before nucleoli of these cells were completely normal in appearance. Thus, nucleolar RNA synthesis after mitosis is not necessary for organization of nucleoli after mitosis. However, inhibition of nucleolar RNA synthesis before mitosis renders the cell incapable of forming nucleoli immediately after mitosis. If cells are permitted to resume RNA synthesis after mitosis, they eventually regain nucleoli of normal morphology.     

REFORMATION OF NUCLEOLUS-LIKE BODIES IN THE ABSENCE OF POSTMITOTIC RNA SYNTHESIS

The dependence of nucleolar reformation on RNA synthesis that resumes in late anaphase or early telophase has been investigated in synchronously dividing Amoeba proteus. RNA synthesis was completely inhibited throughout all stages of mitosis and the early hours of interphase with high concentrations of actinomycin D. In such cells, nucleolus-like bodies that bind azure B and pyronin were apparent in the reformed nuclei. The bodies appear as dense, fibrous masses with loosely associated, finely fibrillar material. There are no characteristic granular regions in the reformed structures. It is suggested that the bodies probably represent mainly nucleolar protein and residual RNA which can bring about the reorganization of nucleoli in the absence of postmitotic RNA synthesis.     

THE DISORGANIZATION OF HEPATIC CELL NUCLEOLI INDUCED BY ETHIONINE AND ITS REVERSAL BY ADENINE

The structure of nuclei and nucleoli of hepatic cells after short-term ethionine administration was investigated with the electron microscope. By 1½ hr after the injection, a distinct alteration occurred in the nucleoli which was characterized by the appearance of electron-opaque masses in the nucleolonema. After 6–8 hr, the nucleoli showed partial fragmentation into small, dense masses. Large aggregates of interchromatinic granules appeared in the nucleoplasm. Condensation of chromatin became prominent in the nucleoplasm particularly along the nuclear membrane. By 12 hr almost complete fragmentation of nucleoli had occurred. The administration of adenine or methionine at 4 hr prevented the development of nucleolar changes. Also, adenine administration at 8 hr after ethionine completely reversed the nucleolar lesion by 12 hr. After methionine administration at 8 hr, many nucleoli showed incomplete reconstruction with many twisted ropelike structures when viewed 4 hr later. Identical structures were found when adenine was given at 8 hr, and animals were sacrificed 2 hr later. On the basis of this observation, the simplified structures of nucleoli found 2 hr after adenine or 4 hr after methionine appeared to be precursors of the nucleolonema. It is suggested that nucleoli show at least two basic reaction patterns to inhibitors of RNA synthesis, one typified by actinomycin D and one by ethionine.     

Formation of cytoplasmic nucleolus-like bodies from pre-existing nucleolar material in the mitotic cells of Vicia faba

The origin and behaviour of cytoplasmic nucleolus-like bodies was examined and correlated with the fate of the nucleolar material during mitosis of Vicia faba. The minute cytoplasmic nucleolus-like bodies first appeared in late anaphase. Relatively large bodies more than 1 μm in diameter were detected almost exclusively in early telophase but did not persist long in mid or late telophase. Ultrastructural survey revealed that the minute cytoplasmic nucleolus-like bodies in late anaphase consisted of ribosome-like granules and/or a fibrillogranular substance similar to the nucleolar remnants in prometaphase. Two types of the nucleolus-like bodies, however, were discerned in early telophase; one was composed of ribosome-like granules and/or the fibrillogranular substance and the other was exclusively fibrous in texture.     

Differences in the fine structure and chemical constitution of nucleolar bodies and the true nucleolus in Xenopus laevis embryos

Numerous bodies resembling nucleoli, named “prenucleolar bodies”, were seen in the interphase nucleus of Xenopus laevis embryos between stages 7 and 11 of Nieuwkoop and Faber (1956) but not at stage 12. These bodies are composed of thick strands, 200 A in diameter, and apparently differ from the fibrillar component of the true nucleolus which consists of thin fibrils, 50 A in diameter. The granular component of the true nucleolus consists of fibers and granules which are both also 150–200 A in diameter, but which differ in chemical nature from the prenucleolar bodies. The granular component and fibrillar component are readily digested by RNase with or without pretreatment with trypsin, while the prenucleolar body is only digested with RNase after pretreatment with trypsin. This suggests that the prenucleolar body consists of strands of RNA coated with protein. At stage 9, another type of nucleolus-like body is formed, which is larger (2–2.6 μ in diameter) than the prenucleolar body (0.2–1 μ) and consists of thin fibrils of 50 A. This body resembles the fibrillar component of the true nucleolus in the size of the elemental fibrils as well as in its susceptibility to actinomycin D, RNase and trypsin. It seems to be a precursor of the true nucleolus and for this reason was named the “primary nucleolus.” From stage 9 to stage 10, each nucleus in the presumptive ectodermal and mesodermal areas contains 2 primary nucleoli together with multiple prenucleolar bodies. At stage 12, the prenucleolar body is not seen at all, but a new type of nucleolus-like body appears. There are usually 2 of these bodies in each nucleus, and they consist of 2 components: a network of 50 A fibrils, and a group of strands, 150–200 A in diameter, containing some granule-like elements. The former has the same susceptibility to actinomycin D, RNase and/or trypsin as the fibrillar component of the definitive nucleolus and the primary nucleolus, while the latter has the same susceptibility as the granular component of the definitive nucleolus. Thus, this body may     

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.     

Electron-microscopic observations on nucleolar extrusion in nerve cells of the rat hypothalamus

Summary The electron-microscopic observation of nerve cells of the rat hypothalamus, especially of nuclei paraventricularis and ventro-medialis, showed occasional nucleolus-like bodies in the cytoplasm, which are interpreted as a result of nucleolar extrusion, and not as artifact. The extruded nucleoli were different from the nuclear ones on possessing no nucleolonema structure, a fact that might be related to the disappearance of the pars amorpha and subsequent rearrangement of the constituent particles. The cytoplasmic nucleolus did not show any intimate relation to such organelles as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus, but it seemed to release single ribosomes or polysomes from its periphery into the adjacent cytoplasm.     

The effects of zinc chloride on the RNP structures in HEp-2 cells: accumulation of perichromatin granules

The effects of zinc on the ribonucleoprotein (RNP) constituents of HEp-2 cells have been analyzed. Pulse-chase autoradiographic experiments show a preferential inhibition of nucleolar RNA synthesis and a block in the transport of nucleolar and extranucleolar RNA in zinc-treated cells. Concomitantly with the disturbance in RNA metabolism and in protein synthesis, nucleolar condensation, accumulation of perichromatin granules and fibrils, condensation of interchromatin fibrils, and appearance of dense granular bodies occur. Accumulation of perichromatin fibrils and condensation of interchromatin fibrils appear to be related to the block in the transport of heterogeneous nuclear RNA. Depletion of certain proteins required for the assembly of RNP particles could share in the abnormal behavior of RNA and lead to the accumulation of perichromatin granules and the appearance of dense granular bodies.     

Intranuclear structures containing RNA maturation factors in early vitellogenic oocytes of Rana temporaria

We have examined the distribution of RNA processing factors in the germinal vesicle (GV) of the common frog Rana temporaria during early vitellogenesis by immunostaining on light- and electronmicroscopic levels and by in situ nucleic acid hybridization. Small nuclear RNPs (snRNP) and factor SC35 involved in pre-mRNA splicing occur in lampbrush chromosome loops and numerous granules 1-3 microns in size. These granules are identical to B snurposomes of Xenopus laevis and Notophtalmus viridescens described earlier (Wu et al., 1991). Some of B snurposomes are attached to homologous loops of lampbrush chromosomes. Immunofluorescent study of Cajal bodies/coiled bodies (CB) showed that sometimes CB have B snurposomes attached to their surface. In this case splicing factor SC35 is found in B snurposomes and B-like inclusions in CB matrix. In CB without attached B snurposomes splicing factor SC35 localizes throughout the whole organelle. Staining of GV spreads with antibodies against nucleolar protein NO38 revealed this protein in CB, nucleoli and micronucleoli. Using in situ nucleic acid hybridization and immunofluorescent staining we have found that on GV spreads from hibernating frogs B snurposomes contact nucleoli. Nucleoli contain snRNP. These data suggest that nucleoli may be storage sites of snRNPs during natural inactivation of RNA synthesis. During winter season in Rana temporaria GV nucleoli become compacted and a number of micronucleoli (less than 2 microns) dramatically increases. Analysis of micronucleoli showed that they contain rRNA, protein NO38, trace amount of U3 small nucleolar RNA and do not contain fibrillarin, involved as U3 in pre-rRNA processing. We suggest that decrease of rRNA synthesis during frog hibernation results in transformation of part of nucleoli in micronucleoli.