Skip to main content
Log in

Stabilization of monoasters by taxol in the amoebae ofPhysarum polycephalum (Myxomycetes)

  • Published:
Protoplasma Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Although the plasmodial stage of the MyxomycetePhysarum polycephalum was unaffected with 200 μM taxol, the amoebal stage was sensitive to 10 μM taxol. The first effect of taxol resulted in an accumulation of cells blocked as a monopolar centrosphere surrounded by condensed chromosomes. In 79% of cases these monoasters contained two pairs of centrioles. The mitotic block in a monopolar stage in the presence of taxol delayed the occurrence of late mitotic events such as chromosome decondensation and formation of the nuclear envelope. Escape from the monopolar centrosphere stage and formation of multinucleated amoebae involved a transient monopolar reconstruction stage in which a long microtubular bundle interacted with a small chromosomal mass outside the monoaster.

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

  • Aldrich, H. C., 1968: The development of flagella in swarm cells of the MyxomycetePhysarum flavicomum. J. gen. Microbiol.50, 217–222.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • —, 1969: The ultrastructure of mitosis in myxamoebae and plasmodia ofPhysarum flavicomum. Amer. J. Bot.56, 290–299.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baum, S. G., Wittner, M., Nadler, J. P., Horwitz, S. B., Dennis, J. E., Schiff, P. B. andTanowitz, H. B., 1981: Taxol a microtubule stabilizing agent, blocks the replication ofTrypanosoma cruzi. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA78, 4571–4575.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cabral, F., Abraham, I., Gottesman, M. M., 1981: Isolation of a taxol-resistant Chinese hamster ovary cell mutant that has an alteration in α tubulin. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA78, 4388–4391.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chauvière, G., Guénard, D., Picot, F., Senilh, V., Potier, P., 1981: Analyse structurale et étude biochimique de produits isolés de l'If:Taxus baccata U. (Taxacées). C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris293, 501–503.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooke, D. J., Dee, J., 1974: Plasmodium formation without change in nuclear DNA content inPhysarum polycephalum. Genet. Res. Camb.23, 307–317.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Brabander, M., Geuens, G., Nuydens, R., Willebrords, R., De Mey, J., 1981: Taxol induces the assembly of free microtubules in living cells and blocks the organizing capacity of the centrosomes and kinetochores. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA78, 5608–5612.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dove, W. F., Rusch, H. P., 1980: Growth and differentiation inPhysarum polycephalum. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eon-Gerhardt, R., Tollon, Y., Chraibi, R., Wright, M., 1981: Regulation of thymidine kinase synthesis during the cell cycle ofPhysarum polycephalum: the effects of two microtubule inhibitors. Cytobios.32, 47–62.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fuchs, D. A., Johnson, R. K., 1978: Cytologic evidence that taxol, an antineoplastic agent fromTaxus brevifolia, acts as a mitotic spindle poison. Cancer Treatment Reports62, 1219–1222.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gull, K., Trinci, A. P. J., 1974: Ultrastructural effects of griseofulvin on the MyxomycetePhysarum polycephalum. Inhibition of mitosis and the production of microtubule crystals. Protoplasma81, 37–48.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hebert, C. D., Steffens, W. L., Wille, J. J., 1980: The role of spindle microtubule assembly in the control of mitotic timing inPhysarum. Induction of a novel type of tubular structure by griseofulvin treatment. Exp. Cell Res.126, 1–13.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hinchee, A. A., Haskins, E. F., 1980: Closed spindle nuclear division in the plasmodial phase of the acellular slime moldEchinostelium minutum. Protoplasma102, 235–252.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hüttermann, A., 1973:Physarum polycephalum: object of research in cell biology. Stuttgart: G. Fischer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jordan, E. G., Saunders, A. M., 1976: The presentation of three dimensional reconstructions from serial thin sections. J. Microscopy107, 205–206.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerr, S. J., 1967: A comparative study of mitosis in amoebae and plasmodia of the true slime moldDidymium nigripes. J. Protozool.14, 445–447.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mazia, D., Paweletz, N., Sluder, G., Finze, E. M., 1981: Cooperation of kinetochores and pole in the establishement of monopolar mitotic apparatus. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA78, 377–381.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McCullough, C., Dee, J., 1976: Defined and semi-defined media for the growth of amoebae ofPhysarum polycephalum. J. gen. Microbiol.95, 151–158.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • — —,Foxon, J. L., 1978: Genetic factors determining the growth ofPhysarum polycephalum amoebae in axenic medium. J. gen. Microbiol.106, 297–306.

    Google Scholar 

  • McManus, S. M. A., Roth, L. E., 1968: Ultrastructure of the somatic nuclear division in the plasmodium of the MyxomyceteClastoderma debaryanum. Mycologia60, 426–346.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mir, L., Wright, M., 1977: Action of antimicrotubular drugs onPhysarum polycephalum. Microbios lett.5, 39–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Powell, R. G.,Miller, R. W.,Smith, C. R., 1979: Cephalomannine: a new antitumour alkaloid fromCephalotaxus mannii. J. Chem. Soc. Chem. commun. 102–104.

  • Ryser, U., 1970: Die Ultrastruktur der Mitosekerne in den Plasmodien vonPhysarum polycephalum. Z. Zellforsch.110, 108–130.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sakai, A., Shigenaga, M., 1972: Electron microscopy of dividing cells. IV. Behaviour of spindle microtubules during nuclear division in the plasmodium of the Myxomycete,Physarum polycephalum. Chromosoma37, 101–116.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schiff, P. B., Fant, J., Horwitz, S. B., 1979: Promotion of microtubule assemblyin vitro by taxol. Nature277, 665–667.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • —,Horwitz, S. B., 1980: Taxol stabilizes microtubules in mouse fibroblasts cells. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA77, 1561–1565.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schuster, F. L., 1965: Ultrastructure and morphogenesis of solitary stages of true slime molds. Protistologica1, 49–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wani, M. C., Taylor, H. L., Wall, M. E., Coggon, P., McPhail, A. T., 1971: Plant antitumor agents. VI. The isolation and structure of taxol, a novel antileukemic and antitumor agent fromTaxus brevifolia. J. Am. Chem. Soc.93, 2325–2327.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wheals, A. E., 1970: A homothallic strain of the MyxomycetePhysarum polycephalum. Genetics66, 623–633.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wille, J. J., Steffens, W. L., 1979: Fine structure of plasmodial nuclei in the slime moldPhysarum polycephalum. I. Comparison of diploid and haploid vegetative mitosis. Protoplasma101, 165–180.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright, M., Mir, L., Moisand, A., 1980: The structure of the proflagellar apparatus of the amoebae ofPhysarum polycephalum: relationship to the flagellar apparatus. Protoplasma103, 69–81.

    Google Scholar 

  • —,Moisand, A., Mir, L., 1979: The structure of the flagellar apparatus of the swarm cells ofPhysarum polycephalum. Protoplasma100, 231–250.

    Google Scholar 

  • — — —, 1980: Centriole maturation in the amoebae ofPhysarum polycephalum. Protoplasma105, 149–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • — —,Tollon, Y., Oustrin, M. L., 1976: Mise en évidence de Faction du méthyl benzimidazole 2yl carbamate (MBC) et du méthyl [5(2 thyényl carbonyl) 1 H benzimidazole 2yl carbamate] (R 17934) sur le noyau dePhysarum polycephalum (Myxomycetes). C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris283, 1361–1364.

    Google Scholar 

  • —,Tollon, Y., 1978: Heat sensitive factor necessary for mitosis onset inPhysarum polycephalum. Mol. gen. Genet.163, 91–99.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wright, M., Moisand, A. & Oustrin, M.L. Stabilization of monoasters by taxol in the amoebae ofPhysarum polycephalum (Myxomycetes) . Protoplasma 113, 44–56 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01283038

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01283038

Keywords

Navigation