Induced genetic deficiency of the nucleolar organizer in rat kangaroo cells (PTK1) by ultraviolet laser microirradiation

An ultraviolet laser microbeam was used to irradiate one of the two nucleolar organizer regions of PTK1 cells in early prophase. The directed nucleolar deficiency induced by ultraviolet laser irradiation was maintained in the daughter cells through subsequent cell generations. However, the frequent occurrence of spontaneous cell fusion in low density cells following the cloning procedure facilitated a recovery of cells to two or more nucleoli.     

Laser microirradiation of kinetochores in mitotic PtK2 cells

Irradiation of the kinetochore region of PtK₂ chromosomes by laser light of 532 nm was used to study the function of the kinetochore region in chromosome movement and to create artificial micronuclei in cells. When the sister kinetochores of a chromosome were irradiated at prometaphase, the affected chromosome detached from the spindle and exhibited no further directed movements for the duration of mitosis. The chromatids of the chromosome remained attached to one another until anaphase, at which point they separated. No poleward movement of the chromatids was observed, and at telophase they passively moved to one of the daughter cells and were enclosed in a micronucleus. The daughter cell containing the micronucleus was then isolated by micromanipulation and followed through subsequent mitoses. At the next mitosis, two chromosomes, each with two chromatids, condensed in the micronucleus. These chromosomes did not attach to the spindle and showed chromatid separation, but no poleward movements at anaphase. They were again enclosed in micronuclei at telophase. The third generation mitosis was similar to the second. Occasionally, both the irradiation-produced and naturally occurring micronuclei exhibited no chromosome condensation at mitosis. Feulgenstained monolayers of PtK₂ cells with naturally occurring micronuclei showed that some micronuclei stain positive for DNA and others do not. This finding raises questions about the fate of chromosomes in a micronucleus.     

Chromosome behavior after laser microirradiation of a single kinetochore in mitotic PtK2 cells

The role of the kinetochore in chromosome movement was studied by 532- nm wavelength laser microirradiation of mitotic PtK2 cells. When the kinetochore of a single chromatid is irradiated at mitotic prometaphase or metaphase, the whole chromosome moves towards the pole to which the unirradiated kinetochore is oriented, while the remaining chromosomes congregate on the metaphase plate. The chromatids of the irradiated chromosome remain attached to one another until anaphase, at which time they separate by a distance of 1 or 2 micrometers and remain parallel to each other, not undergoing any poleward separation. Electron microscopy shows that irradiated chromatids exhibit either no recognizable kinetochore structure or a typical inactive kinetochore in which the tri-layer structure is present but has no microtubules associated with it. Graphical analysis of the movement of the irradiated chromosome shows that the chromosome moves to the pole rapidly with a velocity of approximately 3 micrometers/min. If the chromosome is close to one pole at irradiation, and the kinetochore oriented towards that pole is irradiated, the chromosome moves across the spindle to the opposite pole. The chromosome is slowed down as it traverses the equatorial region, but the velocity in both half-spindles is approximately the same as the anaphase velocity of a single chromatid. Thus a single kinetochore moves twice the normal mass of chromatin (two chromatids) at the same velocity with which it moves a single chromatid, showing that the velocity with which a kinetochore moves is independent, within limits, of the mass associated with it.     

Characteristics of quantitative karyotypic variability in cell line of kidney from rat kangaroo (Potorous tridactylis)

The goal of this work was to investigate the numeral karyotypic variability in different sublines (MT, M2). These sublines are formed spontaneously from the main cell line (M) and have modal number of chromosomes 9 and 10, MSVK (main structural variant karyotype)--3 + 3 + 1 + 2 and 3 + 4 + 2 + 1. There are general regulations which were originally got for the line M. In particular: 1) nonrandom character of cell distribution according to the number of chromosomal deviations from MSVK; 2) specific character of deviations of each chromosome from MSVK; 3) presence of significant connections between separate chromosomes by simultaneous, mainly single directed numeral deviations. These three lines (M, MT, M2) were compared and some differences were found: 1) different frequencies of deviations from MSVK; 2) the same chromosomes have tendency to different numeral deviation; 3) the specificity of some significant connections between separate chromosomes by simultaneous numeral deviations. These results lead us to a conclusion that the balance of numerical karyotypic structure in cell populations depends on the regulations connected with the character of deviations according to the number of chromosomes from MSVK which has the largest selected advantage. Each line has its own specific limits of karyotypic variability.     

The distribution of x-ray induced chromosomal abnormalities in rat kangaroo (Potorous tridactylis) cells in vitro

Synchronized cells of Potorous tridactylis (female origin) were irradiated with X-rays in vitro at different times during the cell cycle. Chromosome aberrations were scored in the first metaphase after irradiation.It is shown that the distribution of breaks and gaps in the chromosome arms is different at different cell-cycle times, and is non-random.     

Chromosomal changes in three cell strains of the tasmanian rat-kangaroo,Potorous tridactylis,cultured in vitro (Marsupialia)

The chromosomal changes occurring in three strains of cells from Potorous tridactylis, one derived from testis and two of kidney tissue, were followed during the in vitro life of the strains.One kidney cell strain was a slow growing one and died after 23 passages showing aneuploidy with very aberrant metaphases. The strain derived from testis showed aneuploidy after a period of growth retardation, about 50% of the aneuploid cells having 18, 19 or 20 chromosomes. In these cells the chromosomes 1, 2 and 4 were always present in triplicate and the cells always had two X-chromosomes. The second kidney strain showed aneuploidy after a period of growth retardation, cells with 22 and 23 chromosomes being the most frequent ones, but in different proportions. As the number of aneuploid cells gradually decreased, diploid cells appeared in the population. Their number also decreased and a new population of aneuploid cells arose, having 23 chromosomes, missing one chromosome nr. 5 from the tetraploid complement. Then again the cell strain returned to diploidy but as the frequency of these diploid cells decreased, the strain died out.The work was carried out, in part, under the association between Euratom and the University of Leiden, contract No. 052-64-I-BIAN, and it also received support from the Foundation for Basic Medical Research (FUNGO).     

Chromosomes and DNA-replication of rat kangaroo cells (PtK2)

The karyotype, chromosomal measurements, and the time course of DNA replication during the S-phase were determined in metaphase chromosomes of non-synchronized monolayer cultures of PtK₂ cells (CCL 56) derived from Potorous tridactylis. The karotype was the same as originally determined for this cell line. Chromosomal measurements differed from data for primary bone marrow cells of this species published by Shaw and Krooth. PtK₂ cells and chromosomes showed maximal incorporation of tritiated thymidine (³H-TdR) halfway through the S-phase. Chromosome Y₁ showed a second peak of ³H-TdR-incorporation at the end of the S-phase in addition to the peak halfway through S. Comparison of grain densities for chromosomal arms showed late replication of the short arms of chromosomes 1, 3, and X. The time course of incorporation of ³H-TdR was changed when cells were treated for 1 h with fluorodeoxyuridine (FUdR) prior to the ³H-TdR-pulse. FUdR-treated cells showed maximum incorporation of ³H-TdR immediately after the beginning of the S-phase, which was followed by a second peak halfway through the S-phase. This indicated that ³H-TdR-incorporation was partially synchronized by treatment of cells with FUdR. Total radioactivity of FUdR-treated cells had increased by 77% in comparison to cells not treated with FUdR, which indicates that approximately 44% of the TdR-precursors of the latter cells may have originated from cellular precursor pools.     

Nucleoli and ploidy in Potorous cells (PTK2) in vitro

Most cells of the male PTK₂ cell line contain one nucleolus, and they are diploid. However, a proportion of cells have more than one nucleolus. Cells with two and three nucleoli were isolated and cloned into viable populations. Greater than 90% of the cells in these clonal populations maintained the abnormal nucleolar number of the originally isolated cell. Karyotype analysis of cells with two and three nucleoli demonstrated that the cells were respectively tetraploid and hexaploid. It was concluded that in PTK₂ cells, nucleolarity is a good index of ploidy even if the ploidy level is abnormal. Furthermore, long term monitoring of the tetraploid cells demonstrated virtually no tendency towards reversion to the diploid condition as suggested by other studies in Potorous.     

Mitotic reversion in prophase of PTK1 cells induced by argon laser microirradiation

In this paper, we report the effects of laser microirradiation of prophase nucleoli and mitotic chromosomes in cells of female rat kangaroo kidney epithelial cell line PTK₁. When the laser power delivered to sample surface was 90–190 mW, irradiation of one of the two nucleoli in the prophase cell did not inhibit the mitotic progress, but resulted in the loss of the irradiated nucleolus in daughter cells. When the laser power was increased to 360–420 mW, either irradiation of the nucleolus or chromosome in midprophase caused a blockage of mitosis at terminal midprophase. The irradiated cells returned morphologically to early prophase. No mitotic reversion occurred in the case of irradiation of chromosomes at late prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, and anaphase. Irradiation of the cytoplasm in prophase cells caused a 50–70 min mitotic delay at prophase. However, the irradiated cells underwent successive mitotic divisions. The mechanism of laser-induced mitotic prophase reversion is discussed.     

Mitotic reversion in prophase of PTK1 cells induced by argon laser microirradiation

In this paper, we report the effects of laser microirradiation of prophase nucleoli and mitotic chromosomes in cells of female rat kangaroo kidney epithelial cell line PTK1. When the laser power delivered to sample surface was 90-190 mW, irradiation of one of the two nucleoli in the prophase cell did not inhibit the mitotic progress, but resulted in the loss of the irradiated nucleolus in daughter cells. When the laser power was increased to 360-420 mW, either irradiation of the nucleolus or chromosome in midprophase caused a blockage of mitosis at terminal midprophase. The irradiated cells returned morphologically to early prophase. No mitotic reversion occurred in the case of irradiation of chromosomes at late prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, and anaphase. Irradiation of the cytoplasm in prophase cells caused a 50-70 min mitotic delay at prophase. However, the irradiated cells underwent successive mitotic divisions. The mechanism of laser-induced mitotic prophase reversion is discussed.     

Chromosomal changes in eight cell strains of the tasmanian rat-kangaroo,Potorous tridactylis (Marsupialia). Male and female heart fibroblasts cultured in vitro

Eight cell strains, derived from the hearts of a male and a female Motorous, were followed during their in vitro cultivation.All three male cell strains started as normal diploid cell strains. One of them, 2Hpo stayed diploid until passage 59, when the cells were frozen and stored at –96°C. After a period of growth retardation, that lasted two months, 1Hpo showed aneuploidy, the cells having 22–24 chromosomes. The cells with 23 chromosomes formed about 30% of the population. These cells predominantly missed the chromosomes 2, 3 and Y₁, from the tetraploid set. In the other cells no consistent pattern was observed. The cell strain 4Hpo did not show aneuploidy after three months of growth retardation. At the last passage (nr. 24) before death, it showed 25% diploid cells and 40% tetraploid cells.Three female strains were initiated on fibrin clot, two on plasm clot. No differences in growth and chromosomal changes, due to the different embedding media, were observed. All the strains started as diploid (2n=12) cell strains. The chromosomal changes that occurred showed many differences. Three cell strains (5Hf, 7Hp, 52Hf) died without showing any pattern in the aneuploid cells. One cell strain (53Hf) showed an aneuploid cell population with a stemline of 14 chromosomes. The cell strain (8Hp) showed different changes in ploidy. After 50 passages, it changed from diploid to aneuploid (19 chromosomes per cell in the stemline). Twenty passages later diploid cells started to dominate the population again (80% at passage 85). Then a new aneuploid population with a stemline of 18 chromosomes (30% triploid cells) arose, and the strain survived as a permanent line.The work was carried out, in part, under the association between Euratom and the University of Leiden, contract Nr. 052-64-I BIAN, and it also received support form the Foundation for Basic Medical Research (FUNGO).     

Composition and structure of nucleolar skeleton (nucleolar matrix)

Purified nucleoli of HeLa cells were treated sequentially with nonionic detergent, nucleic acid enzyme, low salt and high salt. The residual nucleolar structure termed nucleolar skeleton (nucleolar matrix) was shown as a fine network under electron microscope with DGD embedding-unembedding technique. Such structures of BHK-21 cell and mouse liver cell are similar to that of HeLa cell. The protein composition of the nucleolar skeleton of HeLa cells was analyzed. The protein composition of such nucleolar residual shows obvious difference from the compositions of nuclear matrix and chromosome scaffold. The major protein composition of the nucleolar skeleton of HeLa cells contains 6–7 polypeptides. Their molecular weights are about 48, 43, 36 and 33 ku. Further studies show that actin and fibrillarin are two major protein components of nucleolar skeleton of HeLa cells.     

Depolymerization of microtubules by colcemid induces the formation of elongated and centriole-nonassociated striated rootlets in PtK(2) cells

Striated rootlets are cross-banded structures associated with the basal body, which extends the cilium. To determine whether microtubule dynamics influence the shape and distribution of striated rootlets, we have depolymerized the microtubules by colcemid and observed the rootlets by the immunohistochemical technique with the R4109 antibody that specifically reacts with a 195-kDa protein in the rootlets in PtK(2) cells. In control interphase cells, striated rootlets were observed in various profiles such as fibrillar, branched, or looped shapes and were associated with a pair of centrioles. Treatment with colcemid (0.1 micro g/ml or more) resulted in the elongation and/or structural complication of the centriole-associated rootlets and the organization of intracytoplasmic free rootlets. These changes appeared 6 h after colcemid treatment and became more prominent with time. The changes were reversible and almost disappeared 2 h after removal of the drug. Immunoelectron microscopy confirmed that the R4109 antibody decorated both centriole-associated rootlets and free rootlets. These findings indicate functional relationships between cytoplasmic microtubules and striated rootlets and the existence of rootlet-nucleating factors in the cytoplasm, in addition to centrioles.