The Plant Nucleoskeleton: Ultrastructural Organization and Identification of NuMA Homologues in the Nuclear Matrix and Mitotic Spindle of Plant Cells

In the present work we investigate the structural organization of the nucleoskeleton ofAllium cepameristematic root cells. Resinless sections reveal for the first time a residual filamentous network in plant nuclei. This network is composed of branched knobbed filaments with associated globular stru...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Experimental cell research 1999-02, Vol.246 (2), p.516-526
Main Authors: Yu, Wendou, Moreno Dı́az de la Espina, Susana
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Allium cepa
Animals
Antigens, Nuclear
Autoantigens - metabolism
Blotting, Western
Fluorescent Antibody Technique
Humans
immunoblotting
immunocytochemistry
immunofluorescence
immunogold
Microtomy
Mitosis - physiology
Nuclear Matrix - metabolism
Nuclear Matrix - ultrastructure
Nuclear Matrix-Associated Proteins
Nuclear Proteins - metabolism
NuMA
Onions - metabolism
Onions - ultrastructure
plant nuclear matrix
resinless sections
Resins, Plant
Skeleton
Solubility
Spindle Apparatus
Staining and Labeling
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Summary:In the present work we investigate the structural organization of the nucleoskeleton ofAllium cepameristematic root cells. Resinless sections reveal for the first time a residual filamentous network in plant nuclei. This network is composed of branched knobbed filaments with associated globular structures, connected to the lamina and to the dense aggregates of different sizes. Results of immunoblotting show that many components of this network are homologues of intermediate filament-type proteins. NuMA, a coiled-coil protein related to intermediate filaments, found in animal cells, can also be detected in this plant nuclear matrix system. Immunofluorescence reveals a diffuse distribution of the animal NuMA homologues in plant nuclear core filaments in interphase. Resinless immunoelectron microscopy further reveals a distribution along the extended filaments and the dense aggregates. During mitosis, in contrast to the accumulation at the poles in animal cells, NuMA homologues in plant onion cells show a diffuse pattern, which may correspond to the spindle matrix. Our data are the first report of the conservation in plants of NuMA proteins, which may be involved in both nuclear and mitotic spindle organizations.
ISSN:0014-4827
1090-2422
DOI:10.1006/excr.1998.4334