Abstract
In order to analyse the role of the nuclear envelope (NE) and chromosomes themselves in spindle dynamics, two events were selected: prophase clear-zone formation and anaphase. Data in vivo were precisely correlated with fine structure. Spore mother cells of the moss Mnium hornum and endosperm of Haemanthus albiflos and H. katherinae were used as material.
During Pachytene, in Mnium, which occurs between +5° to −5° C in natural environmental conditions, microtubules (Mts) are formed and regularly distributed on the surface of the nucleus, particularly in regions facing the poles. They are anchored to the NE. During NE breakage, followed by rapid Mt assembly, fragments of the envelope are entirely surrounded with evenly spaced Mts and often migrate to the poles. In prophase of Haemanthus, at 22° C, Mts are irregularly arranged around the nucleus and direct connections with NE are evident. The data presented suggest that NE is a Mt nucleating site during initial stages of spindle development. Mt distribution is correlated to temperature conditions of Mt assembly. — Effects of recovery at 22° C after cold shock (+3° C) were studied: Mt nucleation is experimentally speeded up and Mts grow with random orientation, never found in controls, at all stages of mitosis. — Start of anaphase and course of kinetochore splitting was followed in vivo (time lapse) during normal division and under inhibition of Mt assembly in cells treated with colchicine and vinblastine. Autonomous chromatid repulsion and kinetochore separation up to 3.5 to 4 μm take place without traces of kinetochore Mts. This process is general but is obscured in normal divisions by chromosome alignment at equatorial plane. It is concluded that spindle independent kinetochore splitting is a chromosomal trigger for poleward migration. It preceeds anaphase movements and occurs at a precise stage of the chromosome cycle.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ates, Y., Sentein, P.: A comparison between the actions of colchicine, chloral hydrate, glutaraldehyde and phenylurethane on the ultrastructure of segmentation mitoses in a newt. Biol. Cellulaire 33, 129–136 (1978)
Bajer, A.: Behavior and fine structure of spindle fibers during mitosis in endosperm. Chromosoma, (Berl.) 25, 249–281 (1968)
Bajer, A., Molè-Bajer, J.: Ciné-analysis of some aspects of mitosis in endosperm. In: Cinematography in cell biology (G.G. Rose, ed.), pp. 357–409. New-York: Academic Press 1963
Bajer, A., Molè-Bajer, J.: Formation of spindle fibers, kinetochore orientation and behavior of the nuclear envelope during mitosis in endosperm. Fine structural and in vitro studies. Chromosoma (Berl.) 27, 448–489 (1969)
Bajer, A., Molè-Bajer, J.: Spindle dynamics and chromosome movements. In: Int. Rev. Cyt., suppl. 3, pp. 1–271., New-York: Academic Press 1972
Bajer, A., Molè-Bajer, J., Lambert, A.M.: Lateral interaction of microtubules and chromosome movements. In: Microtubules and microtubule inhibitors, (M. Borgers, and M. de Brabander, eds.), pp. 393–423. Amsterdam: North Holland Publ. Comp. 1975
Borisy, G.G., Taylor, E.W.: The mechanism of action of colchicine. Colchicine binding to sea urchin eggs and the mitotic apparatus. J. Cell Biol. 34, 535–548 (1967)
Borisy, G.G., Johnson, K.A., Marcum, J.M.: Self assembly and site-initiated assembly of microtubules in cell motility. In: Cell motility, Cold Spr. Harb. Conferences, Book C (R. Goldman, T. Pollard, and J. Rosenbaum, eds.), pp. 1093–1108. 1976
Dietz, R.: Die Assembly-Hypothese der Chromosomenbewegung und die Veränderung der Spindellänge während der Anaphase in Spermatocyten von Pales ferruginea (Tipulidae, Diptera) Chromosoma (Berl.) 38, 11–67 (1972)
Forer, A.: Actin filaments and birefringent spindle fibers during chromosome movements. In: Cell motility. Cold Spr. Harb. Conferences, Book C, (R. Goldman, T. Pollard, and J. Rosenbaum, eds.), pp. 1273–1293. 1976
Forer, A., Jackson, W.T., Engberg, A.: Actin in spindles of Haemanthus Katherinae endosperm. II. Distribution of actin in chromosomal spindle fibers determined by analysis of serial sections. J. Cell Sci. 37, 349–371 (1979)
Inoue, S., Sato, H.: Cell motility by labile association of molecules: The nature of mitotic spindle fibers and their role in chromosome movement. J. gen. Physiol. 50, 269–292 (1967)
Lambert, A.M.: Etude de structures cinétiques en rapport avec la rupture de la membrane nucléaire, en début de méiose chez Mnium hornum. C.R. Acad. Sc. (Paris) 270 D, 481–484 (1970)
Lambert, A.M.: Contribution a l'étude ultrastructurale du fuseau de caryocinèse: organisation et évolution. Thèse d'Etat, C.N.R.S.: A.O.6162, pp. 1–87 (1971)
Lambert, A.M., Bajer, A.: Dynamics of spindle fibers and microtubules during anaphase and phragmoplast formation. Chromosoma (Berl.) 39, 101–144 (1972)
Lambert, A.M., Bajer, A.: Microtubule distribution and reversible arrest of chromosome movement induced by low temperature. Cytobiologie 15, 1–23 (1977)
Levan, A.: The effect of colchicine on root mitoses in Allium. Hereditas (Lund) 24, 471–486 (1938)
Lima-de-Faria, A.: The role of the kinetochore in chromosome organization. Hereditas (Lund) 42, 85–160 (1956)
Loor, F.: Cell surface design. Nature (Lond.) 264, 272–273 (1976)
Mangenot, G.: Action de la colchicine sur les racines d'Allium cepa. Act. Scient. et Ind. (Paris), 915, pp. 1–85, 1952
Marcum, M.J., Dedman, J.R., Brinkley, B.R., Means, A.R.: Control of microtubule assembly-disassembly by calcium-dependent regulator protein. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash,) 75, 3771–3775 (1978)
Molè-Bajer, J.: Ciné-micrographic analysis of C-mitosis in endosperm. Chromosoma (Berl.) 9, 322–358 (1958)
Molè-Bajer, J.: Fine structural studies of apolar mitosis. Chromosoma (Berl.) 26, 427–448 (1969)
Molè-Bajer, J., Bajer, A.: Studies of selected endosperm cells with the light and electron microscope. The technique. La Cellule 67, 257–265 (1968)
Nicolson, G.L.: Transmembrane control of the receptors on normal and tumor cells. I. Cytoplasmic influence over cell surface components. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 457, 57–108 (1976)
Östergren, G.: Elastic chromosome repulsion. Hereditas (Lund) 29, 444–450 (1943)
Östergren, G., Molè-Bajer, J., Bajer, A.: An interpretation of transport phenomena at mitosis. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 90, 381–406 (1960)
Robyns, W.: Le fuseau de caryocinèse et le fuseau de cytocinèse dans les divisions somatiques des phanérogames. La Cellule 34, 367–454 (1924)
Sakai, H.: The isolated mitotic apparatus and chromosome motion. Int. Rev. Cyt. 55, 23–48 (1978)
Sanger, J.W., Sanger, J.M.: Actin localization during cell division. In: Cell motility. Cold Spr. Harb. Conferences, Book C (R. Goldmann, T. Pollard, and J. Rosenbaum, eds.), pp. 1295–1361 (1976)
Sato, H., Ellis, G.H., Inoué, S.: Microtubular origin of mitotic spindle birefringence. Demonstration of the applicability of Wiener's equation. J. Cell Biol 67, 501–517 (1975)
Sato, H., Ohnuki, Y., Fujiwara, K.: Immunofluorescent anti-tubulin staining of spindle microtubules and critique for the technique. In: Cell motility. Cold Spr. Harb. Conferences, Book A (R. Goldman, T. Pollard, and J. Rosenbaum, eds.), pp. 419–433 (1976)
Stadler, J., Franke, W.W.: Characterization of the colchicine binding of membrane fractions from rat and mouse liver. J. Cell. Biol. 60, 297–303 (1974)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This paper is dedicated to Professor H. Bauer for the celebration of his 75th birthday
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lambert, AM. The role of chromosomes in anaphase trigger and nuclear envelope activity in spindle formation. Chromosoma 76, 295–308 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00327268
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00327268