肌动蛋白存在于蚕豆细胞核和染色体中

以兔抗肌动蛋白抗体为一抗,FTTC偶联的羊抗兔IgG抗体为二抗进行间接免疫荧光实验,观察到蚕豆(Vicia faba L.)根端分生组织中完整的细胞核和染色体均有明亮荧光。用抗肌动蛋白抗体和蛋白A-胶体金进行标记的免疫电镜实验结果表明,金颗粒分布在蚕豆细胞核中,集缩染色质和核仁中金颗粒较多。经DNaseI消化和2 mol/L NaCl处理得到去除DNA和组蛋白的细胞核和染色体。免疫荧光实验结果指出,去除DNA和组蛋白的细胞核和染色体与抗肌动蛋白抗体呈阳性反应。上述结果说明,肌动蛋白不仅存在于完整的蚕豆细胞核和染色体中,而且存在于去除DNA和组蛋白的蚕豆细胞核和染色体中。另外,用抗原肌球蛋白抗体所做的免疫荧光标记结果表明,原肌球蛋白也存在于蚕豆细胞核和染色体中。对高等植物细胞核和染色体以及核骨架和染色体骨架是否含有肌动蛋白等问题进行了讨论。     

肌动蛋白是多头绒泡菌细胞核骨架和染色体骨架的组成成分

自多头绒泡菌(Physarum polycephalum Schw.)的原质团中分离细胞核和染色体,分别经DNaseⅠ消化和2 mol/L NaCl抽提后制备成细胞核骨架和染色体骨架。以抗肌动蛋白的抗体作一抗、FITC标记的羊抗兔IgG抗体作二抗进行的间接免疫荧光实验结果显示,细胞核骨架和染色体骨架都分别与抗体呈阳性反应。间接免疫斑点印迹实验结果进一步证实,细胞核骨架和染色体骨架的蛋白质成分中存在与肌动蛋白抗体呈阳性显色反应的抗原。以抗肌动蛋白的抗体作一抗、金颗粒标记的蛋白A作二抗的间接免疫电镜实验结果表明,在实验组间期细胞核的核仁、集缩染色质和核基质以及中期染色体上都有很多金颗粒分布。上述结果证明,肌动蛋白是多头绒泡菌细胞核和染色体及其骨架的组成成分。     

F—肌动蛋白是蒜根端分生组织细胞核和染色体的组成成分

以兔抗鸡肌动蛋白抗体为一抗、ＦＩＴＣ羊抗兔ＩｇＧ抗体为二抗进行间接免疫荧光标记实验,观察到蒜（ＡｌｉｕｍｓａｔｉｖｕｍＬ．）根端分生组织细胞核和染色体均发出明亮的黄绿色荧光,说明其中含有肌动蛋白。经ＴＲＩＴＣ鬼笔环肽标记后,完整的间期细胞、游离的间期细胞核、前期和中期染色体以及末期子细胞核均发出较强的红色荧光,而固定前用细胞松弛素Ｄ处理的根端分生组织细胞的荧光明显减弱或没有荧光,这些结果说明细胞核和染色体中存在着Ｆ肌动蛋白。抗肌动蛋白抗体和鬼笔环肽双标记实验结果指出,同一细胞核和染色体,在ＦＩＴＣ的激发光波长下发出代表总肌动蛋白的黄绿色的ＦＩＴＣ型荧光,在ＴＲＩＴＣ的激发光波长下则发出代表Ｆ肌动蛋白的红色的ＴＲＩＴＣ型荧光,两类荧光的分布是一致的。上述结果进一步证明Ｆ肌动蛋白是细胞核和染色体的组成成分,并说明Ｆ肌动蛋白可能是细胞核和染色体中肌动蛋白的主要存在方式。     

紫鸭跖草花粉母细胞减数分裂细胞核和染色体含有F—肌动蛋白

肌动蛋白间接免疫荧光标记实验观察到紫鸭跖草花粉母细胞减数分裂前期Ⅰ细胞核,中期┘染色体,二分体和四分体均发现较明亮的黄绿色荧光,说明其中含有肌动蛋白。经ＴＲＩＴ－Ｃ鬼等环肽荧光标记后,减数分裂前Ⅰ细胞核,二分枝及中期Ⅰ染色体均发现较明亮的红色荧光;ＣＤ处理后细胞核和染色体的荧光明显减弱或没有荧光,说明其中存在Ｆ－肌动蛋白。     

肌动蛋白存在于金黄地鼠联会复合体中

以金黄地鼠精母细胞为材料,以抗肌动蛋白抗体为探针,应用免疫荧光和免疫胶体金技术有ＳＣ有无肌动蛋白的问题进行了研究。免疫荧光结果表明,经抗肌动蛋白抗体标记后,减数分裂粗线期标本中ＳＣ发出特异性荧光,说明肌动蛋白存在于ＳＣ中,免疫电镜结果表明：实验组ＳＣ的胶体金颗粒密度远高于对照组的金颗粒密度,说明ＳＣ含有肌动蛋白。观察到,常染色体ＳＣ和性染色体ＳＣ以及偶线期和粗线期ＳＣ中都含有肌动蛋白,肌动蛋白分布     

肌动蛋白存在于金黄地鼠(Mesocricetus auratus)联会复合体中

以金黄地鼠精母细胞为材料,以抗肌动蛋白抗体为探针,应用免疫荧光和免疫胶体金技术对ＳＣ有无肌动蛋白的问题进行了研究。免疫荧光结果表明：经抗肌动蛋白抗体标记后,减数分裂粗线期标本中ＳＣ发出特异性荧光,说明肌动蛋白存在于ＳＣ中。免疫电镜结果表明：实验组ＳＣ的胶体金颗粒密度远高于对照组的金颗粒密度,说明ＳＣ含有肌动蛋白。观察到,常染色体ＳＣ和性染色体ＳＣ以及偶线期和粗线期ＳＣ中都含有肌动蛋白,肌动蛋白分布于ＳＣ的端部和侧生组分上,代表肌动蛋白的胶体金颗粒在ＳＣ上往往成簇存在。对ＳＣ含有肌动蛋白的意义进行了讨论。     

2种短翅型蝗虫减数分裂比较研究

减数分裂是生物有性繁殖过程中产生配子的一种特殊分裂方式,其过程中染色体行为在一定程度上反映物种的产生、分化和演变。对2种云南分布的短翅型蝗虫减数分裂中染色体行为特征进行研究,结果显示:两者减数分裂各个时期的特征基本一致,但双线期、终变期存在显著差异,二齿龙川蝗同源染色体联会配对较曲尾龙川蝗更为复杂。     

共聚焦荧光镜检术揭示大蒜鳞片细胞间期核中的F肌动蛋白网络

采用免疫荧光和荧光分子探针技术与共聚焦激光扫描显微镜观察相结合,对大蒜（Ａｌｌｉｕｍ ｓａｔｉｖｕｍ Ｌ．）鳞片细胞间期核中是否存在Ｆ肌动蛋白进行了研究。结果表明,以兔抗肌动蛋折抗体为一抗、ＦＴＴＧ－羊抗兔ＩｇＧ抗体为二抗进行免疫荧光标记实验,在荧光镜下观察到蒜瓣薄壁组织的细胞核及表皮细胞核均发出明亮的黄绿色荧光经共聚焦激光扫描显微镜进一步检查,整个细胞核呈黄绿色荧光,说明其中含有肌动蛋白。经ＴＲ     

HeLa细胞核和核骨架含有肌动蛋白

提取HeLa细胞核并制备核骨架标本,以抗肌动蛋白抗体为探针,采用SDS－PAGE、免疫荧光和免疫印迹等方法,对HeLa细胞细胞核和核骨架中的肌动蛋白进行了研究,并用鬼笔环肽荧光染色方法研究了其中的F－肌动蛋白。在荧光显微镜下观察到：代表肌动蛋白的特异性荧光分布在细胞核和核骨架中,说明肌支蛋白是细胞核和核骨架的固有成分;代表F－肌动蛋白的特异性荧光存在于细胞和核骨架中,说明细胞核和核骨架含有F－肌动蛋白。免疫印迹结果进一步肯定了细胞核和核骨架中肌动蛋白的存在。     

蝗虫精母细胞减数分裂各时期的识别

蝗虫具有材料易得、染色体大、染色体数相对较少等优点, 被普遍用于观察精子发生中减数分裂各个过程。蝗虫精巢制片简单、快速, 但初学者普遍感到辨别分裂相较为困难。鉴于此, 文章以东亚飞蝗(Locusta migratoria manilensis (Meyen))精母细胞的减数分裂过程为例, 介绍如何根据染色体的数目及染色体构象, 识别减数分裂各个时期。此外, 文章也简要描述了东亚飞蝗精母细胞的有丝分裂及精子形成过程, 供初学者参考。     

Dynamics of chromosome organization and pairing during meiotic prophase in fission yeast

Interactions between homologous chromosomes (pairing, recombination) are of central importance for meiosis. We studied entire chromosomes and defined chromosomal subregions in synchronous meiotic cultures of Schizosaccharomyces pombe by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Probes of different complexity were applied to spread nuclei, to delineate whole chromosomes, to visualize repeated sequences of centromeres, telomeres, and ribosomal DNA, and to study unique sequences of different chromosomal regions. In diploid nuclei, homologous chromosomes share a joint territory even before entry into meiosis. The centromeres of all chromosomes are clustered in vegetative and meiotic prophase cells, whereas the telomeres cluster near the nucleolus early in meiosis and maintain this configuration throughout meiotic prophase. Telomeres and centromeres appear to play crucial roles for chromosome organization and pairing, both in vegetative cells and during meiosis. Homologous pairing of unique sequences shows regional differences and is most frequent near centromeres and telomeres. Multiple homologous interactions are formed independently of each other. Pairing increases during meiosis, but not all chromosomal regions become closely paired in every meiosis. There is no detectable axial compaction of chromosomes in meiotic prophase. S. pombe does not form mature synaptonemal complexes, but axial element-like structures (linear elements), which were analyzed in parallel. Their appearance coincides with pairing of interstitial chromosomal regions. Axial elements may define minimal structures required for efficient pairing and recombination of meiotic chromosomes.     

Actin is Immunolocalized in the Nuclei and Chromosomes of Vicia faba

Meristematic cells of Vicia faba L. were labeled with rabbit anti-actin antibody and FITC-conjugated goat anti-rabbit lgG antibody and observed with fluorescence microscopy. Both the nuclei and chromosomes sent forth distinctive fluorescence, indicating that actin is present in the nuclei and chromosomes. Sections were reacted with the anti-actin antibody and protein A-colloidal gold and observed with transmission electron microscopy. Gold particles were found over the whole nuclei, and a lot of particles were concentrated in condensed chromatin areas and nucleoli, confirming the observations with the fluorescence microscopy. V. faba nuclei and chromosomes were treated with DNase Ⅰ and 2 mol/L NaC1, and DNA and histone-depleted nuclei and chromosomes were obtained. Indirect immunofluorescence tests showed that the DNA and histone-depleted nuclei and chromosomes reacted positively with the anti-actin antibody. These results demonstrated that actin exists not only in intact nuclei and chromosomes but also in DNA and histone-depleted nuclei and chromosomes of V. faba. In addition, the authors' results indicate that tropomyosin is present in the nuclei and chromosomes of V. faba. Presence of actin in nuclei and chromosomes as well as in DNA and histone-depleted nuclei and chromosomes of higher plants is discussed.     

F-actin is a Nuclear and Chromosomal Component of the Meristematic Cells of Allium sativum

It is known that actin functionates in the form of F-actin. However, the presence of Factin in eukaryotic nuclei and chromosomes has not been well established. The authors labeled meristematic cells of Allium sativum L. with rabbit anti-chicken actin antibody and FITC-conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG antibody and observed with fluorescence microscopy. Both the nuclei and chromosomes showed prominent yellow-green fluorescence, indicating the presence of actin in them. Fluorescence examination with TR1TC-conjugated phalloidin demonstrated prominent red fluorescence in the intact interphase cells, cytoplasm-free interphase nuclei, prophase and metaphase chromosomes as well as the daughter nuclei at telophase indicating the presence of F-actin; but the fluorescence was absent or very weak in the cells exposed to cytochalasin D before fixation. When double labeling of the anti-actin antibody and phalloidin was applied, the same nuclei and chromosomes were found to emanate yellow-green fluorescence representing actin at the excitation wavelength of F1TC, and red fluorescence representing F-actin at the excitation wavelength of TRITC, respectively. The FITC fluorescence and TRITC fluorescence shared the same distribution among the nuclei and chromosomes. These results indicate that F-actin is a component of the nuclei and chromosomes of the meristematic cells of A. sativum. It also suggests that F-actin may be the major existing form of actin in them.     

Meiotic chromosome missegregation during apyrene meiosis in the gypsy moth,Lymantria dispar,is preceded by an aberrant prophase I

The gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, produces two structurally and genetically distinct types of spermatozoa. The eupyrene spermatozoa are genetically haploid and structurally typical. The apyrene spermatozoa are anucleate and structurally different from eupyrene spermatozoa. To understand further the events contributing to meiotic chromosome missegregation in apyrene spermatocytes, we examined the progression of meiosis in these cells with respect to their eupyrene counterparts. Chromosomal bouquet formation and fusion of nucleolar organizing regions are disrupted in apyrene nuclei. In addition, the chromatin of apyrene nuclei is prematurely and extremely condensed compared with that of eupyrene nuclei. An antibody to the conserved synaptonemal complex protein 3 (SCP3) labeled eupyrene pachytene chromosomes, but not apyrene pachytene chromosomes. In addition, apyrene meiotic spindles are missing a subset of microtubules, which likely include kinetochore microtubules. Because the condensation behavior of meiotic chromatin in apyrene spermatocytes deviates from that of eupyrene spermatocytes, we examined the appearance and distribution of the phosphorylated form of histone H3, but no significant differences in histone H3 phosphorylation were found between apyrene and eupyrene spermatocytes. We argue that because a pachytene checkpoint is not initiated in apyrene spermatocytes, this system may provide a way to understand better the underlying biochemical connections between pairing, recombination, synapsis, kinetochore assembly and segregation of chromosomes during meiosis in a higher eukaryote.     

The Caenorhabditis elegans SCC-3 homologue is required for meiotic synapsis and for proper chromosome disjunction in mitosis and meiosis

The product of the Caenorhabditis elegans ORF F18E2.3 is homologous to the cohesin component Scc3p. By antibody staining the product of F18E2.3 is found in interphase and early meiotic nuclei. At pachytene it localizes to the axes of meiotic chromosomes but is no longer detectable on chromatin later in meiosis or in mitoses. Depletion of the gene product by RNAi results in aberrant mitoses and meioses. In meiosis, homologous pairing is defective during early meiotic prophase and at diakinesis there occur univalents consisting of loosely connected sister chromatids or completely separated sisters. The recombination protein RAD-51 accumulates in nuclear foci at higher numbers during meiotic prophase and disappears later than in wild-type worms, suggesting a defect in the repair of meiotic double-stranded DNA breaks. Embryos showing nuclei of variable size and anaphase bridges, indicative of mitotic segregation defects, are frequently observed. In the most severely affected gonads, nuclear morphology cannot be related to any specific stage. The cytological localization and the consequences of the lack of the protein indicate that C. elegans SCC-3 is essential for sister chromatid cohesion both in mitosis and in meiosis.     

Distribution and association of mTOR with its cofactors,raptor and rictor,in cumulus cells and oocytes during meiotic maturation in mice

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a Ser/Thr protein kinase, is the catalytic component of two distinct signaling complexes, mTOR‐raptor complex (mTORC1) and mTOR‐rictor complex (mTORC2). Recently, studies have demonstrated mitosis‐specific roles for mTORC1, but the functions and expression dynamics of mTOR complexes during meiotic maturation remain unclear. In the present study, to evaluate the roles of respective mTOR complexes in maternal meiosis and compare them with those in mitosis, we sought to elucidate the spatiotemporal immunolocalization of mTOR, the kinase‐active Ser2448‐ and Ser2481‐phosphorylated mTOR, and raptor and rictor during cumulus‐cell mitosis and oocyte meiotic maturation in mice. mTOR principally accumulated around the chromosomes and on the spindle. Phosphorylated mTOR (Ser2448 and Ser2481) exhibited elevated fluorescence intensities in the cytoplasm and punctate localization adjacent to the chromosomes, on the spindle poles, and on the midbody during mitotic and meiotic maturation, suggesting functional homology of mTOR between the two cell division systems, despite their mechanistically distinctive spindles. Raptor colocalized with mTOR during both types of cell division, indicating that mTORC1 is predominantly associated with these events. Mitotic rictor uniformly distributed through the cytoplasm, and meiotic rictor localized around the spindle poles of metaphase‐I oocytes, suggesting functional divergence of mTORC2 between mitosis and female meiosis. Based on the general function of mTORC2 in the organization of the actin cytoskeleton, we propose that mTORC1 controls spindle function during mitosis and meiosis, while mTORC2 contributes to actin‐dependent asymmetric division during meiotic maturation in mice. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 80: 334–348, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Morphology of a human-derived YAC in yeast meiosis

In meiosis of human males DNA is packaged along pachytene chromosomes about 20 time more compactly than in meiosis of yeast. Nevertheless, a human-derived yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) shows the same degree of compaction of DNA as endogenous chromosomes in meiotic prophase nuclei of yeast. This suggests that in yeast meiosis, human and yeast DNA adopt a similar organization of chromatin along the pachytene chromosome cores. Therefore meiotic chromatin organization does not seem to be an inherent chromosomal property but is governed by the host-specific cellular environment. We suggest that there is a correlation between the less dense DNA packaging and the increased rate of recombination that has been reported for human-derived YACs as compared with human DNA in its natural environment.