ABSTRACT
Sperm protamines have been isolated from representatives of three major plant groups: algae (Chara corallina ), bryophytes ( Marchantia polymorpha), and ferns ( Marsilea vestitia ). We previously reported the complete displacement of histones by protamines in Marchantia (Reynolds W F & Wolfe, S L, Exp cell res 116 (1978) 269 [8] ). Marchantia protamines appear as four components on acid-urea gels, whereas Chara and Marsilea protamines comigrate as a single band with a mobility comparable to salmon protamine. The amino acid compositions of the plant protamines show these to be arginine-rich, highly basic (35-42%) proteins which display overall similarity in amino acid composition (84-91%). The molecular weights of Chara and Marsilea protamines are approx. 4700-5300 D.
Subject(s)
Plants/metabolism , Protamines/metabolism , Seeds/metabolism , Amino Acids/analysis , Electrophoresis, Agar Gel , Molecular WeightSubject(s)
Germ Cells/metabolism , Nucleoproteins/metabolism , Plants/metabolism , Amino Acids/analysis , Biological Evolution , Cell Nucleus/metabolism , Germ Cells/analysis , Germ Cells/growth & development , Histones/metabolism , Nucleoproteins/analysis , Plant Development , Protamines/metabolismSubject(s)
Chromatin , Chromosomes , Microtomy , Aldehydes , Animals , Anura/cytology , Buffers , Chelating Agents/pharmacology , Chromosomes/drug effects , Histological Techniques , Insecta/cytology , Liver/cytology , Male , Meiosis , Microscopy, Electron , Organ Specificity , Osmium , Oxides , Phosphates , Plant Cells , Rana pipiens/cytology , Salmon/cytology , Spermatozoa/cytology , Testis/cytologySubject(s)
Cell Nucleus/analysis , Chromosomes/analysis , DNA/analysis , Histones/analysis , Nucleoproteins/analysis , Animals , Cattle , Cell Nucleolus , Culture Techniques , Insecta , Kidney/cytology , Male , Microscopy , Microscopy, Electron , Mitosis , RNA/analysis , Staining and Labeling , Testis/cytologyABSTRACT
The effect of prefixation on the diameter of chromosome fibers isolated by the Langmuir trough-critical point method has been investigated in several species of plants and animals. In barley, fibers isolated from endosperm without prefixation have an average diameter of between 240 and 250 A, and are similar in dimensions and structure to the chromosome fibers isolated from animals by this method. Chromosome fibers from other tissues of the same plant are smaller in diameter when isolated without prefixation, approximating 200 A. After prefixation in 2% buffered formalin, isolated fibers from the three barley tissues studied are reduced in diameter, to approximately 120-130 A for endosperm and leaflet and to 140 A for root tip. Chromosome fibers isolated from newt erythrocytes also show a significantly reduced diameter after formalin prefixation, to approximately 120 A.
Subject(s)
Chromosomes/physiology , Chromosomes/ultrastructure , Cytological Techniques , Fixatives/pharmacology , Formaldehyde/pharmacology , Hordeum/genetics , Plant Physiological Phenomena , Animals , Cattle , Cell Nucleus/ultrastructure , Erythrocytes/cytology , Hordeum/ultrastructure , Insecta , Kidney/cytology , SalamandridaeSubject(s)
Chromosomes , Plant Cells , Histological Techniques , Microscopy , Microscopy, Electron , TrypsinSubject(s)
Blood Cells/cytology , Cell Nucleus/cytology , Chromosomes , Testis/cytology , Animals , Cytogenetics , Insecta , Male , Microscopy, Electron , UrodelaSubject(s)
Cell Membrane , Erythrocytes/cytology , Organoids , Animals , Microscopy, Electron , UrodelaABSTRACT
Meiotic chromosomes were isolated from male Oncopeltus fasciatus by dissecting the testes under insect Ringer's solution and spreading the living cells on the Langmuir trough. After being dried by the critical point method, preparations were examined under the electron microscope. Chromosomes at all stages of prophase prove to be multistranded. A significant increase in the number of parallel 250 A fibers in the chromosomes occurs between zygotene and diakinesis. Parallel folding, rather than true multistrandedness, is interpreted as the mechanism responsible for this observed increase in multistrandedness. It has not been possible to determine whether the multistrandedness observed at leptotene represents true multistrandedness or is the result of parallel folding. Apparent multistrandedness is lost at metaphase when the 250 A fibers of the chromosomes become coiled more tightly. In preparations isolated by these methods, no structures other than the 250 A chromosome fibers are visible in the chromomeres, which appear as regionally coiled or folded areas of the fibers along the arm of the chromosome.
