Skip to main content
Log in

Longitudinal axis thickenings in whole-mount spreads of synaptonemal complexes from Tradescantia

  • Published:
Chromosoma Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The whole-mount spreading technique was used to examine the chromosome complement in ten zygotene nuclei of Tradescantia ohiensis var. paludosa. Spread preparations have normal synaptonemal complex (SC) morphology. Neither kinetochores nor recombination nodules were regularly visible. Cloudlike structures (LFSs) 2–6 μm in diameter were sometimes associated with SC and with unsynapsed lateral components (LCs). They differed in number and location in different nuclei. Thickenings of the lateral elements and LCs were observed in mid through late zygotene nuclei. These longitudinal axis thickenings (LATS) were distributed fairly uniformly amongst the chromosomes and occurred in both synapsed and unsynapsed regions. There was a stage-dependent increase in the number and size of LATS. They were nonrandomly distributed along the length of a chromosome, being more frequent in synapsed areas, especially near junctions with unsynapsed regions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Carpenter ATC (1979a) Synaptonemal complex and recombination nodules in wild-type Drosophila melanogaster females. Genetics 92:511–541

    Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter ATC (1979b) Recombination nodules and synaptonemal complex in recombination-defective females of Drosophila melanogaster. Chromosoma 75:259–292

    Google Scholar 

  • Gillies CB (1973) Ultrastructural analysis of maize pachytene karyotypes by three-dimensional reconstruction of the synaptonemal complexes. Chromosoma 43:145–176

    Google Scholar 

  • Gillies CB (1975) Synaptonemal complex and chromosome structure. Ann Rev Genet 9:91–109

    Google Scholar 

  • Gillies CB (1981) Electron microscopy of spread maize pachytene synaptonemal complexes. Chromosoma 83:575–591

    Google Scholar 

  • Hasenkampf CA (1984a) An ultrastructural examination of chromosoma pairing during meiosis. Dissertation, Florida State University

  • Hasenkampf CA (1984b) Synaptonemal complex formation in pollen mother cells of Tradescantia. Chromosoma 90:275–284

    Google Scholar 

  • Hobolth P (1981) Chromosome pairing in allohexaploid wheat var. Chinese Spring. Transformation of multivalents into bivalents, a mechanism for exclusive bivalent formation. Carlsberg Res Commun 46:129–173

    Google Scholar 

  • Holm PB (1977) Three-dimensional reconstruction of chromosome pairing during the zygotene stage of meiosis in Lilium longi-florum (Thunb). Carlsberg Res Commun 42:103–151

    Google Scholar 

  • Hotta Y, Stern H (1981) Small nuclear RNA molecules that regulate nuclease accessibility in specific chromatin regions of meiotic cells. Cell 27:309–319

    Google Scholar 

  • Hotta Y, Bennett MD, Toledo LA, Stem H (1979) Regulation of R-protein and endonuclease activities in meiocytes by homologous pairing. Chromosoma 72:191–201

    Google Scholar 

  • Kehlhoffner JL, Dietrich J (1983) Synaptonemal complexes and a new type of nuclear polycomplex in three higher plants: Paeonia tenuifolia, P. delawayi and Tradescantia paludosa. Chromosoma 88:164–170

    Google Scholar 

  • Maguire M (1978) Evidence for separate genetic control of crossing-over and chiasma maintenance. Chromosoma 65:173–183

    Google Scholar 

  • Moens PB (1968) The structure and function of the synaptinemal complex in Lilium longiflorum sporocytes. Chromosoma 23:418–451

    Google Scholar 

  • Moses MJ (1968) Synaptonemal Complex. Ann Rev Genet 2:363–412

    Google Scholar 

  • Rattner JB, Goldsmith M, Hamkalo BA (1980) Chromatin organization during meiotic prophase of Bombyx mori. Chromosoma 79:215–224

    Google Scholar 

  • Stack S (1982) Two-dimensional spreads of synaptonemal complexes from solanaceous plants. I. The technique. Stain Technol 57:265–272

    Google Scholar 

  • Westergaard M, von Wettstein D (1972) The synaptonemal complex. Ann Rev Genet 6:71–110

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hasenkampf, C.A. Longitudinal axis thickenings in whole-mount spreads of synaptonemal complexes from Tradescantia . Chromosoma 90, 285–288 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00287036

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00287036

Keywords

Navigation