Uriniferous Tubule: Structural and Functional Organization

Organization of transcription and pre-mRNA splicing within the mammalian cell nucleus

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s042482010014021x ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 53 ◽

pp. 768-769

Author(s):

D.L. Spector ◽

S. Huang ◽

S. Kaurin

Keyword(s):

Rna Polymerase Ii ◽

Cell Nucleus ◽

Functional Organization ◽

Mrna Splicing ◽

Splicing Factors ◽

Interchromatin Granule Clusters ◽

Interchromatin Granule ◽

Nuclear Regions ◽

Relationship Of ◽

Perichromatin Fibrils

We have been interested in the organization of RNA polymerase II transcription and pre-mRNA splicing within the cell nucleus. Several models have been proposed for the functional organization of RNA within the eukaryotic nucleus and for the relationship of this organization to the distribution of pre-mRNA splicing factors. One model suggests that RNAs which must be spliced are capable of recruiting splicing factors to the sites of transcription from storage and/or reassembly sites. When one examines the organization of splicing factors in the nucleus in comparison to the sites of chromatin it is clear that splicing factors are not localized in coincidence with heterochromatin (Fig. 1). Instead, they are distributed in a speckled pattern which is composed of both perichromatin fibrils and interchromatin granule clusters. The perichromatin fibrils are distributed on the periphery of heterochromatin and on the periphery of interchromatin granule clusters as well as being diffusely distributed throughout the nucleoplasm. These nuclear regions have been previously shown to represent initial sites of incorporation of 3H-uridine.

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Immunolocalization of nuclear antigens in cryofixed cells which have been prepared by molecular distillation drying or freeze-substitution

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100162053 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 48 (3) ◽

pp. 898-899

Author(s):

David L. Spector ◽

Robert J. Derby

Keyword(s):

Cell Nucleus ◽

Molecular Distillation ◽

Functional Organization ◽

Freeze Substitution ◽

3 Dimensional ◽

Small Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein ◽

Nuclear Antigens ◽

Dimensional Reconstruction ◽

Nuclear Regions ◽

Immunoperoxidase Labeling

Studies in our laboratory are involved in evaluating the structural and functional organization of the mammalian cell nucleus. Since several major classes (U1, U2, U4/U6, U5) of small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles (snRNPs) play a crucial role in the processing of pre-mRNA molecules, we have been interested in the localization of these particles within the cell nucleus. Using pre-embedding immunoperoxidase labeling combined with 3-dimensional reconstruction, we have recently shown that nuclear regions enriched in snRNPs form a reticular network within the nucleoplasm which extends between the nucleolar surface and the nuclear envelope. In the present study we were inte rested in extending these nuclear localizations using cell preparation techniques which avoid slow penetration of fixatives, chemical crosslinking of potential antigens and solvent extraction. CHOC 400 cells were cryofixed using a CF 100 ultra rapid cooling device (LifeCell Corp.). After cryofixation cells were molecular distillation dried, vapor osmicated, in filtra ted in 100% Spurr resin in vacuo and polymerized in molds a t 60°C. Using this procedure we were able to evaluate the distribution of snRNPs in resin embedded cells which had not been chemically fixed, incubated in cryoprotectants or extracted with solvents.

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