Nucleoli

Nucleus The nucleus is separated from the cytosol by a double membrane, the nuclear envelope. The DNA is complexed with basic proteins (histones) to form chromatin fibers, the material from which chromosomes are made. A distinct RNA-rich region, the nucleolus, is the site of ribosome assembly. The nucleus is the repository of genetic information encoded in DNA and organized into chromosomes. During mitosis, the chromosomes are replicated and transmitted to the daughter cells. The genetic information of DNA is transcribed into RNA in the nucleus and passes into the cytosol where it is translated into protein by ribosomes. 

The nucleus, nucleolus, and nuclear envelope of plant cells are like those of animal cells. 

Kem-isomer, n. nuclear isomer, ring isomer, -isomerie, /. nucleus (or nuclear) isomerism, -kbrper, m., -korperchen, n. nucleolus, -la-dung,/. nuclear charge main charge, -la-dungszahl, /. nuclear-charge number, atomic number, -leder, n. butt or bend leather. 

Fig. 2.6 The moqjhological events of sporulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. (a) starved cell V, vacuole LG, lipid granule ER, endoplasmic reticulum CW, cell wall M, mitochondrion S, spindle pole SM, spindle microtubules N, nucleus NO, nucleolus, (b) Synaptonemal complex (SX) and development of polycomplex body (PB) along with division of spindle pole body in (c). (d) First meiotic division which is completed in (e). (f) Prepararation for meiosis II. (g) Enlargement of prospore wall, culminating in enclosure of separate haploid nuclei (h). (i) Spore coat (SC) materials produced and deposited, giving rise to the distinct outer spore coat (OSC) seen in the completed spores of the mature ascus (j). Reproduced from the review by Dickinson (1988) with permission from Blackwell Science Ltd.

Like other cells, a neuron has a nucleus with genetic DNA, although nerve cells cannot divide (replicate) after maturity, and a prominent nucleolus for ribosome synthesis. There are also mitochondria for energy supply as well as a smooth and a rough endoplasmic reticulum for lipid and protein synthesis, and a Golgi apparatus. These are all in a fluid cytosol (cytoplasm), containing enzymes for cell metabolism and NT synthesis and which is surrounded by a phospholipid plasma membrane, impermeable to ions and water-soluble substances. In order to cross the membrane, substances either have to be very lipid soluble or transported by special carrier proteins. It is also the site for NT receptors and the various ion channels important in the control of neuronal excitability. 

That the cytoplasmic nucleic acid is present in the mitochondria, the micro-eomes, and the non-sedimentable cell-sap is also known.117 The nuclear ribonucleic acid has been reported to be associated with the nucleolus and the chromosomes.118 It is known, moreover, that the ribonucleic acids of the different parts of the cell are biochemically distinct, since they become labeled with P32 at different rates.119 In liver cells, the nuclear ribonucleic acid is also chemically distinct from the cytoplasmic material, since the two differ in composition.120 It is clear, therefore, that ribonucleic acids prepared from whole cells are likely to be mixtures of various molecular species. 

Jordan EG, Collins CA. The Nucleolus, Cambridge University Press, New York, 1982. 

These cells are relatively undifferentiated and have a large nucleus, distinguishable nucleolus but few, if any, cytoplasmic granules. Myeloblasts arise from a precursor pool of stem cells, and both the rough endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus stain for peroxidase, indicating that this enzyme is beginning to be synthesised. This cell type is capable of proliferation. 

Microscopic examination of the mature neutrophils reveals two striking features a single multilobed nucleus and a dense, granular appearance of the cytoplasm (see Fig. 1.1a). The nucleus typically comprises two to four segments, and within this organelle the chromatin is coarsely clumped. Until recently, this abnormal chromatin structure was taken as evidence that the nucleus was transcriptionally inactive however, it is now appreciated that the mature neutrophil does perform active transcription ( 7.3), although rates of biosynthesis are somewhat lower than those observed in cells such as monocytes. There is no detectable nucleolus, so there can be only limited synthesis of ribosomal RNA in these cells. 

A commonly used staining method for the cell nucleolus is based on silver nanoparticles [54], The proteins of the nucleolus, such as nucleolin, are known to have high affinity to silver ions due to their amino-terminal domain. Subsequent reduction leads to the formation of the silver nanoparticles stain. In spite of all the efforts, a general and definitive conclusion regarding the attraction between silver... 

Close observations of immunofluorescence signals showed that there are three different staining patterns, which correspond to three different nucleolar compartments FC (Fibrillar center), DFC (dense fibrillar component), and GC (granular component). Nucleolus is surrounded by heterochromatin. When the cells are in very active state of its proliferation, the nucleolar compartments and heterochromatin are integrated into a highly intricate structure called nucleolonema . A recent study has suggested that the chromatin associated with the nucleolus is less mobile than... 

Figure 7. A series of monoclonal antibodies raised against nuclear proteins. HeLa cells fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde were immunostained with monoclonal antibodies raised against nuclear proteins. The intracellular localization of these antigens are (a) dot inside the nucleolus, (b) whole nucleolus, (c) nuclear foci, (d) nucleoplasm, (e) the edge of the nucleus, (f) cytoplasm, (g) cytoskeleton, (h) plasma membrane, (i) mitochondria, (j) nucleus and cytoplasm, (k) nucleus and the paranuclear structure, and (1) paranuclear structure and nucleoplasm...

At last, nucleolin might play a specific role in telomeric replication and maintenance, as suggested by two types of data. First, it binds telomeric repeat (TTAGGG)n in vitro (Ishikawa et al, 1993 Pollice et al, 2000), with a marked preference for the single-stranded form. Secondly, it interacts in vitro and in vivo with hTERT (Khurts et al, 2004), the protein catalytic component of human telom-erase. This interaction takes place both in the cytoplasm and in the nucleolus, where it could promote the assembly of hTERT with the RNA subunit hTERC. As a conclusion, many data regarding the involvement of nucleolin in DNA replication are indirect and an experimental demonstration through knockdown or knockout studies is still awaited. 

However, although this model is very attractive, it is still a matter of debate (Kim et al, 2005). First of all, co-immunoprecipation experiments proved that the formation of a nucleolin-RPA complex occurs in the nucleolus as well as in the nucleoplasm (Kim et al, 2005). Secondly, the interaction can be detected in a cell line which lacks p53 expression. Thirdly, hydroxyurea also induces RPA-nucleolin interaction without mobilizing nucleolin. On the other hand, mutant forms of Nucleolin that are constitutively mislocalized outside the nucleolus also constitu-tively interact with RPA, provided they retain the GAR domain (Kim et al, 2005). 

Bose S, Basu M, Banerjee AK (2004) Role of nucleolin in human parainfluenza virus type 3 infection of human lung epithelial cells. J Virol 78 8146-8158 Bouche G, Caizergues-Ferrer M, Bugler B, Amalric F (1984) Interrelations between the maturation of a 100 kDa nucleolar protein and pre rRNA synthesis in CHO cells. Nucleic Acids Res 12 3025-3035 Bouche G, Gas N, Prats H, Baldin V, Tauber JP, Teissie J, Amalric F (1987) Basic fibroblast growth factor enters the nucleolus and stimulates the transcription of ribosomal genes in ABAE cells undergoing GO-Gl transition. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 84(19) 6770-6774. 

---