Localization of nucleic acids in hepatocyte nucleoli of rats upon D-galactosamine-induced block of transcription

Relationships between the structural and functional organization of the turtle cell nucleolus

The nucleolus is a multifunctional structure of the eukaryotic cell nucleus. However, its primary role is ribosome formation. Although the factors and mechanisms involved in ribogenesis are well conserved in eukaryotes, two types of nucleoli have been observed under the electron microscope: a tricompartmentalized nucleolus in amniotes and a bicompartmentalized nucleolus in other species. A recent study has also revealed that turtles, although belonging to amniotes, displayed a nucleolus with bipartite organization, suggesting that this reptile group may have carried out a reversion phenomenon during evolution. In this study, we examine in great detail the functional organization of the turtle nucleolus. In liver and spleen cells cultured in vitro, we confirm that the turtle nucleolus is mainly formed by two components: a fibrillar zone surrounded by a granular zone. We further show that the fibrillar zone includes densely-contrasted strands, which are positive after silver-stained Nucleolar Organizer Region (Ag-NOR) staining and DNA labelling. We also reveal that the dense strands condensed into a very compact mass within the fibrillar zone after a treatment with actinomycin D or 5,6-dichlorobenzimidazole riboside. Finally, by using pulse-chase experiments with BrUTP, three-dimensional image reconstructions of confocal optical sections, and electron microscopy analysis of ultrathin sections, we show that the topological and spatial dynamics of rRNA within the nucleolus extend from upstream binding factor (UBF)-positive sites in the fibrillar zone to the granular zone, without ever releasing the positive sites for the UBF. Together, these results seem to clearly indicate that the compartmentalization of the turtle nucleolus into two main components reflects a less orderly organization of ribosome formation.

Spherical bodies present within the germinal vesicle of Podarcis sicula previtellogenic oocyte derive from the temporaneous inactivation of ribosomal genes

In the present paper we have investigated the origin of the spherical bodies (SBs) present within the germinal vesicle of about 400 microm previtellogenic oocytes in the lizard Podarcis sicula. In particular, we have attempted to clarify whether they derive from the single, large nucleolus present in early diplotenic oocyte as a consequence of ribosomal gene inactivation. We have, therefore, experimentally induced a decrease in rRNA synthesis by injecting animals with D-galactosamine or by exposing them to low temperatures. The investigations carried out have demonstrated that both treatments induce significant ultrastructural changes in the nucleolar apparatus and in particular fragmentation and the formation of SBs comparable to those observed in germinal vesicle under physiological conditions. These results indicate that the germinal vesicle of Podarcis sicula has a nucleolar apparatus that significantly changes its aspect according to its functional status and reveal that in this species, the time course of rRNA synthesis is peculiar with respect to any other vertebrate oocyte studies so far.

Ultrastructural methods for nucleic acid detection by immunocytology

In the present review are summarized recent developments in immunocytochemical detection of nucleic acids in biological materials at the ultrastructural level. Not only the approaches using antibodies to natural nucleic acids are described but also the techniques involving the use of antibodies raised against various nucleotide analogs incorporated beforehand into nucleic acids. Special emphasis is placed on each method's potential and limitations. These methods, combined or not with molecular biotechnology, are powerful tools for studying the structure and function of nucleic acids. They can be used to investigate the distribution and topological organization of DNA and RNA molecules or of specialized within these molecules in the cells.

Ultrastructural nucleolar alterations induced by an ametantrone/polyr(A-U) complex

In the present study we examined the ultrastructural modifications as well as the precise distribution of DNA and RNA in RT4 cell nucleoli following a 3-h exposure to nontoxic or toxic doses of ametantrone (AMT), poly(adenylate-uridylate) (polyr(A-U), or an AMT/polyr(A-U) combination. While distribution of nucleic acids within the various nucleolar components is not modified following all treatments, the nucleoli exhibit several ultrastructural changes: redistribution of the nucleolar components, decrease in the number of fibrillar centers, and increase in the size of the fibrillar centers. The relative frequencies of the test agents to induce the apparition of nucleoli of compact type are AMT/polyr(A-U) > AMT approximately polyr(A-U) > sham-treated, while the abilities of the test agents to induce the nucleolar segregation are AMT/polyr(A-U) approximately AMT > polyr(A-U) > sham-treated cells. These ultrastructural changes are characteristics of drugs that intercalate into DNA and inhibit rDNA transcription as well as rRNA processing and release of nascent preribosomes from the nucleolus.