Nuclear Division (nuclear + division)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Cdc20 protein contains a destruction-box but, unlike Clb2, its proteolysisis not acutely dependent on the activity of anaphase-promoting complex

FEBS JOURNAL, Issue 2 2000
Phuay-Yee Goh
Both chromosome segregation and the final exit from mitosis require a ubiquitin-protein ligase called anaphase-promoting complex (APC) or cyclosome. This multiprotein complex ubiquitinates various substrates, such as the anaphase inhibitor Pds1 and mitotic cyclins, and thus targets them for proteolysis by the 26S proteasome. The ubiquitination by APC is dependent on the presence of a destruction-box sequence in the N-terminus of target proteins. Recent reports have strongly suggested that Cdc20, a WD40 repeat-containing protein required for nuclear division in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is essential for the APC-mediated proteolysis. To understand the function of CDC20, we have studied its regulation in some detail. The expression of the CDC20 gene is cell-cycle regulated such that it is transcribed only during late S phase and mitosis. Although the protein is unstable to some extent through out the cell cycle, its degradation is particularly enhanced in G1. Cdc20 contains a destruction box sequence which, when mutated or deleted, stabilizes it considerably in G1. Surprisingly, we find that while the inactivation of APC subunits Cdc16, Cdc23 or Cdc27 results in stabilization of the mitotic cyclin Clb2 in G1, the proteolytic destruction of Cdc20 remains largely unaffected. This suggests the existence of proteolytic mechanisms in G1 that can degrade destruction-box containing proteins, such as Cdc20, in an APC-independent manner. [source]


Ultrastructural features of bone marrow cells from patients with acquired sideroblastic anemia

MICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE, Issue 3 2004
Meir Djaldetti
Abstract The ultrastructural findings of the bone marrow cells from 15 patients with acquired sideroblastic anemia are presented. The red cell precursors from all patients showed the presence of electron-dense material in the mitochondria, representing most probably iron deposits. A great number of these mitochondria were completely destroyed. The erythropoietic precursors from one of the patients showed markedly elongated mitochondria that measured up to 3 ,m. In addition numerous cytoplasmic vacuoles were observed. The red cell precursors from 60% of the patients showed signs of dyserythropoiesis, such as incomplete nuclear division and nuclear distortion. The polymorphonuclears from 47% of the patients presented nuclear abnormalities expressed as nuclear bridges, appendices, and blebs. In addition, phagocytosis of red blood cells was observed. The results of the study underline the advantages of the transmission electron microscope examination in visualization of intricate alterations in hematopoietic cells that cannot be detected with a light microscope. Microsc. Res. Tech. 63:155,158, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


SEPH, a Cdc7p orthologue from Aspergillus nidulans, functions upstream of actin ring formation during cytokinesis

MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2001
Kenneth S. Bruno
In the filamentous fungus, Aspergillus nidulans, multiple rounds of nuclear division occur before cytokinesis, allowing an unambiguous identification of genes required specifically for cytokinesis. As in animal cells, both an intact microtubule cytoskeleton and progression through mitosis are required for actin ring formation and contraction. The sepH gene from A. nidulans was discovered in a screen for temperature-sensitive cytokinesis mutants. Sequence analysis showed that SEPH is 42% identical to the serine,threonine kinase Cdc7p from fission yeast. Signalling through the Septation Initiation Network (SIN), which includes Cdc7p and the GTPase Spg1p, is emerging as a primary regulatory pathway used by fission yeast to control cytokinesis. A similar group of proteins comprise the Mitotic Exit Network (MEN) in budding yeast. This is the first direct evidence for the existence of a functional SIN,MEN pathway outside budding and fission yeast. In addition to SEPH, potential homologues were also identified in other fungi and plants but not in animal cells. Deletion of sepH resulted in a viable strain that failed to septate at any temperature. Interestingly, quantitative analysis of the actin cytoskeleton revealed that sepH is required for construction of the actin ring. Therefore, SEPH is distinct from its counterpart in fission yeast, in which SIN components operate downstream of actin ring formation and are necessary for ring contraction and later events of septation. We conclude that A. nidulans has components of a SIN,MEN pathway, one of which, SEPH, is required for early events during cytokinesis. [source]


Comparative positions of kinetoplasts in Trypanosoma musculi and Trypanosoma lewisi during development in vitro

CELL PROLIFERATION, Issue 5 2002
M. Ashraf
The development of Trypanosoma musculi and Trypanosoma lewisi were studied in vitro in the presence of adherent splenic cells. Both parasites developed only when attached by their flagellar tips to adherent splenic cells. During the proliferation of T. musculi, the kinetoplast migrated towards the nucleus, and once in the vicinity of the nucleus, the nuclear division was triggered. The kinetoplast of T. lewisi did not migrate towards the nucleus, but remained at its original location. The nucleus and kinetoplast divided at the same time in both parasites, and parasites started dividing from their flagellar ends and T. musculi and T. lewisi daughter cells were formed within 48 h. The unavailability of the adherent splenic cells in vitro led the parasites to transform into round/oval nonviable forms. [source]


The Unique Adaptation of the Life Cycle of the Coelomic Gregarine Diplauxis hatti to its Host Perinereis cultrifera (Annelida, Polychaeta): an Experimental and Ultrastructural Study

THE JOURNAL OF EUKARYOTIC MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 6 2008
GERARD PRENSIER
ABSTRACT. The coelomic gregarine Diplauxis hatti exhibits a unique adaptation of its life cycle to its polychaete host Perinereis cultrifera. Experimental and ultrastructural observations on natural populations from the English Channel showed that release of parasite spores is concomitant with the polychaete spawning. As the development of P. cultrifera is direct, the notochete larva ingest parts of the jelly coat covered with numerous sporocysts of D. hatti during hatching. Transepithelial migration of the sporozoites takes place in the gut of three- or four-segment notochete larvae and syzygies of about 20 ,m are observed in the coelom. Growth of these young syzygies is slow: after 18,24 mo they reach only 60,70 ,m. They exhibit active pendular movements. In the English Channel, female and male gametogenesis of P. cultrifera begins at 19 mo and 2 yr, respectively; the somatic transformations (epitoky) in the last 4 mo of their 3-year life. During epitoky, the syzygies undergo an impressive growth and reach 700,800 ,m within a few weeks. A shift from pendular to active peristaltic motility is observed when the syzygies reach 200,250 ,m. When gamogony occurs, syncytial nuclear divisions are initiated and cellularization produces hundred to thousands of male and female gametes of similar size. The male gametes exhibit a flagellum with 3+0 axoneme. The mixing of the gametes ("danse des gametes") and fertilization are observed during 4,5 h. Zygotes differentiate sporoblasts with eight sporozoites. The sporozoites exhibit the canonical structure of Apicomplexa, a polarized cell with micronemes and rhoptries. [source]