Ultrastructural analysis in yeast reveals a meiosis-specific actin-containing nuclear bundle

Actin polymerises to form filaments/cables for motility, transport, and the structural framework in a cell. Recent studies show that actin polymers are present not only in the cytoplasm but also in the nuclei of vertebrate cells. Here, we show, by electron microscopic observation with rapid freezing...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Communications biology 2021-08, Vol.4 (1), p.1009-1009, Article 1009
Main Authors: Takagi, Tomoko, Osumi, Masako, Shinohara, Akira
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
101/28
38/1
631/80/386/1899
631/80/641/1633
Actin
Actins - ultrastructure
Biology
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Cell division
Cell Nucleus - ultrastructure
Chromosomes
Cytoplasm
DNA damage
Electron microscopy
Filaments
Freezing
Homologous recombination
Life Sciences
Meiosis
Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
Nuclei
Prophase
Saccharomyces cerevisiae - ultrastructure
Spores
Yeast
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Summary:Actin polymerises to form filaments/cables for motility, transport, and the structural framework in a cell. Recent studies show that actin polymers are present not only in the cytoplasm but also in the nuclei of vertebrate cells. Here, we show, by electron microscopic observation with rapid freezing and high-pressure freezing, a unique bundled structure containing actin in the nuclei of budding yeast cells undergoing meiosis. The nuclear bundle during meiosis consists of multiple filaments with a rectangular lattice arrangement, often showing a feather-like appearance. The bundle was immunolabelled with an anti-actin antibody and was sensitive to an actin-depolymerising drug. Similar to cytoplasmic bundles, nuclear bundles are rarely seen in premeiotic cells and spores and are induced during meiotic prophase-I. The formation of the nuclear bundle is independent of DNA double-stranded breaks. We speculate that nuclear bundles containing actin play a role in nuclear events during meiotic prophase I. Using freeze-substitution electron microscopy, Takagi et al identify nuclear actin-containing bundles within meiotic yeast cells. These bundles are absent in stages other than meiosis I and in spo11 mutants defective in homologous recombination, allowing authors to speculate that these bundles may be involved in meiotic chromosome movement or in protecting the nucleus from mechanical stress during cell division.
ISSN:2399-3642
2399-3642
DOI:10.1038/s42003-021-02545-9