Summary
The dry mass of nucleoli from yolky oocytes of T. cristatus, as determined by interference microscopy is about 150 μμg. Less than 10% of this is attributable to RNA that is removable by ribonuclease from formalin-fixed nucleoli. There is a linear relationship between nucleolar dry mass and size. There are basic proteins in oocyte nucleoli and these are bound to the nucleolar RNA. The concentrations of cytochemically detectable RNA and basic protein are higher in the nucleolar core than in the cortex. The ratio of RNA to basic protein is higher in the core than in the cortex, as determined by microdensitometry of nucleoli stained with gallocyanine and fast green. The significance of these observations in relation to the role of the nucleolus in ribosome biosynthesis is discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alfert, M., Geschwind, I. I.: Selective staining of basic proteins of cell nuclei. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 39, 991–999 (1953).
Brown, C. A., Ris, H.: Amphibian oocyte nucleoli. J. Morph. 104, 377–402 (1959).
Brown, D. D.: The nucleolus and synthesis of ribosomal RNA during oogenesis and embryogenesis of Xenopus laevis. Nat. Cancer Inst. Monogr. 23, 297–309 (1966).
Callan, H. G.: Chromosomes and nucleoli of the axolotl Ambystoma mexicanum. J. Cell Sci. 1, 85–108 (1966).
—, Lloyd, L.: Lampbrush chromosomes of crested newts Triturus cristatus (Laurenti). Phil. Trans. roy. Soc. B 243, 135–219 (1960).
Gall, J. G.: Lampbrush chromosomes from oocyte nuclei of the newt. J. Morph. 94, 283–351 (1954).
—: Nuclear RNA of the salamander oocyte. Nat. Cancer Inst. Monogr. 23, 475–488 (1966).
Lane, N. J.: Spheroidal and ring nucleoli in amphibian oocytes. Patterns of uridine incorporation and fine structural features. J. Cell Biol. 35, 421–434 (1967).
Macgregor, H. C.: Pattern of incorporation of 3H uridine into RNA of amphibian oocyte nucleoli. J. Cell Sci. 2, 145–150 (1967).
Maden, B. E. H.: Ribosome formation in animal cells. Nature (Lond.) 219, 685–689 (1968).
Miller, O. L., Beatty, B. R.: Portrait of a gene. J. cell. Physiol. 74, Suppl. 1, 225–232 (1969).
Pease, D. C.: Histological techniques for electron microscopy, 2nd ed., p. 50–60. New York and London: Academic Press 1964.
Penman, S., Smith, I., Holtzman, E., Greenberg, H.: RNA metabolism in Hela cell nucleus and nucleolus. Nat. Cancer Inst. Monogr. 23, 489–512 (1966).
Rogers, M. E.: Ribonucleoprotein particles in the amphibian oocyte nucleus. J. Cell Biol. 36, 421–432 (1968).
Swift, H.: Cytochemical techniques for nucleic acids Nucleic acids, vol. II (ed. E. Chargaff and J. N. Davidson), p. 92. New York and London: Academic Press 1955.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This study was supported in part by Science Research Council Grant No. BSR/4468. We wish to thank Dr. Colin Muir of the Department of Zoology, University of St. Andrews for his helpful advice on interferometry.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Macgregor, H.C., Moon, S.J. Some measurements on amphibian oocyte nucleoli. Z. Zellforsch 122, 273–282 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00337634
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00337634