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Fine structural changes in theDrosophila oocyte nucleus during a short period of RNA synthesis

An autoradiographic and ultrastructural study of RNA synthesis in the oocyte nucleus ofDrosophila

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Summary

H3-uridine was injected into the abdomen ofD. melanogaster andD. immigrans and after 10, 30, 60 and 120 min of incorporation, the ovaries were prepared for autoradiography. The oocyte nucleus was found to synthesize RNA during a short period of vitellogenesis (stage 10A). Ultrastructural studies of the oocyte nucleus were made at the stage active in RNA synthesis and many electron-dense structures were found to appear at this time. Since none of these structures resembled nucleoli in fine structure, it is suggested that the RNA synthesized is non-ribosomal. Other ultrastructural modifications of the oooyte nucleus are presented and discussed.

Zusammenfassung

H3-Uridin wurde in die Abdomina vonDrosophila melanogaster undDrosophila immigrans injiziert, und nach 10, 30, 60 und 120 min wurden die Ovarien für Autoradiographie präpariert. Es wurde gefunden, daß der Oozytenkern während einer kurzen Periode der Vitellogenese (Stadium 10A) RNS synthetisiert. Der Oozytenkern dieses Stadiums wurde elektronenmikroskopisch untersucht. Es zeigte sich, daß während dieses Stadiums elektronendichte Strukturen erscheinen. Keine dieser Strukturen sieht Nukleolen ähnlich in der Feinstruktur. Es wird deshalb angenommen, daß die synthetisierte RNS nicht ribosomale RNS ist. Auch andere feinstrukturelle Modifikationen wurden im Oozytenkern gefunden und werden hier beschrieben.

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The authors wish to acknowledge the support of the National Science Foundation, Grants GB-5155, GB-5780 and GB-7980.

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Mahowald, A.P., Tiefert, M. Fine structural changes in theDrosophila oocyte nucleus during a short period of RNA synthesis. W. Roux' Archiv f. Entwicklungsmechanik 165, 8–25 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00576994

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00576994

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