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Metabolism and distribution of yolk DNA in embryos ofOphryotrocha labronica La Greca and Bacci

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Summary

Exposure of the polychaeteOphryotrocha labronica to3H-thymidine during vitellogenesis leads to substantial incorporation of label in the ooplasm, especially in yolk granule DNA. In embryos from oocytes labelled in this way it was possible to follow the amount and localization of the labelled material (DNA) throughout early development by means of light microscopical and electron microscopical autoradiography; liquid scintillation measurements also were carried out.

Within the embryonic cells the bulk of the labelled DNA was localized in the yolk granules and noticeable amounts were associated with minor structural elements, whereas mitochondria and lipid droplets were only slightly labelled. Nuclear labelling was weak. Early development was found to be characterized by rapid loss of labelled DNA, so that larvae, ready to leave the egg packs, retained only about 30% of the amount originally present.

It was concluded that yolk granule DNA cannot be a store of precursor material for nuclear DNA synthesis, as has been suggested sometimes, but most likely represents an informative DNA which upon release from the yolk granules is rapidly metabolized. Possible roles for yolk granule DNA is discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zoophysiological Institute, University of Lund, Sweden

    Hadar Emanuelsson

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  1. Hadar Emanuelsson
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The excellent technical assistance of Mrs. Siv Nilsson and Mrs. Annagreta Petersen is gratefully acknowledged. This work has been supported by the Swedish Natural Science Research Council and Kungliga Fysiografiska Sällskapet, Lund.

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Emanuelsson, H. Metabolism and distribution of yolk DNA in embryos ofOphryotrocha labronica La Greca and Bacci. Z.Zellforsch 113, 450–460 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00968550

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00968550

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