Electron Microscopy Analysis of the Nucleolus of Trypanosoma cruzi

The nucleolus is the main site for synthesis and processing of ribosomal RNA in eukaryotes. In mammals, plants, and yeast the nucleolus has been extensively characterized by electron microscopy, but in the majority of the unicellular eukaryotes no such studies have been performed. Here we used ultra...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Microscopy and microanalysis 2005-08, Vol.11 (4), p.293-299
Main Authors: LOpez-VelAzquez, Gabriel, HernAndez, Roberto, LOpez-VillaseNor, Imelda, Reyes-Vivas, Horacio, Segura-Valdez, MarIa de L, JimEnez-GarcIa, Luis F
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Antigens, Nuclear - analysis
BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
Cell Nucleolus - ultrastructure
Electron microscopy
Epoxy resins
Gene expression
Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
Molecular biology
Nuclear Proteins - analysis
RNA polymerase
Transmission electron microscopy
Trypanosoma cruzi
Trypanosoma cruzi - ultrastructure
Yeasts
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Summary:The nucleolus is the main site for synthesis and processing of ribosomal RNA in eukaryotes. In mammals, plants, and yeast the nucleolus has been extensively characterized by electron microscopy, but in the majority of the unicellular eukaryotes no such studies have been performed. Here we used ultrastructural cytochemical and immunocytochemical techniques as well as three-dimensional reconstruction to analyze the nucleolus of Trypanosoma cruzi, which is an early divergent eukaryote of medical importance. In T. cruzi epimastigotes the nucleolus is a spherical intranuclear ribonucleoprotein organelle localized in a relatively central position within the nucleus. Dense fibrillar and granular components but not fibrillar centers were observed. In addition, nuclear bodies resembling Cajal bodies were observed associated to the nucleolus in the surrounding nucleoplasm. Our results provide additional morphological data to better understand the synthesis and processing of the ribosomal RNA in kinetoplastids.
ISSN:1431-9276
1435-8115
DOI:10.1017/S1431927605050233