scholarly journals Effects of B chromosomes on the activity of nucleolar organizer regions in the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans: activation of a latent nucleolar organizer region on a B chromosome fused to an autosome

Genome ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 116-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Cabrero ◽  
J. D. Alché ◽  
J. P. M. Camacho

Four nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) are active in standard males of the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans. They are located near the centromeric regions of the S9, S10, S11, and X chromosomes. Changes in the pattern of NOR activity have been observed in the presence of a B2 type supernumerary chromosome. Males with one B show a higher mean number of active NORs per cell than do zero B males owing to significant increases in the activity of the NORs on the S11 and the X. Zero B and one B embryos, however, showed similar patterns of activity. In a male carrying a centric fusion between a B and one of the L1 chromosomes, the activation of a latent NOR, present at the telomere of the long arm of the B, parallelled a significant decrease of NOR activity on the S9 and S10 bivalents stemming from a competition between different NORs in the presence of the B. Thus, while in zero B males the activity of the S10 NOR influences that of the NORs on the X and S9 in a negative way, in one B males it does not do so, although such an influence is observed in the B–L1 fusion male where the activity of the S10 NOR again decreases significantly. On the other hand, the activities of the NORs on the S9 and S11 show a significant positive interdependence in both zero B and one B males where S11 NOR activity is increased but do not do so in the B–L1 fusion male, which shows a significant decrease in the S9 NOR activity. Key words: Eyprepocnemis plorans, B chromosome, nucleolus.

Genome ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. D. López-León ◽  
J. Cabrero ◽  
J. P. M. Camacho

Nucleolus organizer region (NOR) activity was analysed in four types of males of the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans, possessing two kinds of supernumerary heterochromatin: a B chromosome and a supernumerary chromosome segment proximally located on the smallest autosome (S11). In males lacking extra heterochromatin, the four active NORs located on the S9, S10, S11, and X chromosomes showed independent activity patterns, but several kinds of dependence appeared in the presence of supernumerary heterochromatin. Furthermore, temporal changes in NOR activity were observed during the first 2 weeks of adult life in standard males but not in males carrying supernumerary heterochromatin. It is suggested that all these effects are related to the DNA content of both types of extra heterochromatin.Key words: NOR, supernumerary heterochromatin, grasshopper, Eyprepocnemis plorans.


2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 621-629 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomás Nepomuceno-Mejía ◽  
Reyna Lara-Martínez ◽  
Roberto Hernández ◽  
María de Lourdes Segura-Valdez ◽  
Luis F. Jiménez-García

AbstractNucleolar assembly is a cellular event that requires the synthesis and processing of ribosomal RNA, in addition to the participation of pre-nucleolar bodies (PNBs) at the end of mitosis. In mammals and plants, nucleolar biogenesis has been described in detail, but in unicellular eukaryotes it is a poorly understood process. In this study, we used light and electron microscopy cytochemical techniques to investigate the distribution of nucleolar components in the pathway of nucleolus rebuilding during closed cell division in epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of American trypanosomiasis. Silver impregnation specific for nucleolar organizer regions and an ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid regressive procedure to preferentially stain ribonucleoprotein revealed the conservation and dispersion of nucleolar material throughout the nucleoplasm during cell division. Furthermore, at the end of mitosis, the argyrophilic proteins were concentrated in the nucleolar organizer region. Unexpectedly, accumulation of nucleolar material in the form of PNBs was not visualized. We suggest that formation of the nucleolus in epimastigotes of T. cruzi occurs by a process that does not require the concentration of nucleolar material within intermediate nuclear bodies such as mammalian and plant PNBs.


1996 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 527-532 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. BratuliĆ ◽  
Ž GrabareviĆ ◽  
B. ArtukoviĆ ◽  
D. Capak

Twenty-eight canine mammary tumors were evaluated for histopathologic classification as recommended by the World Health Organization and silver-binding nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) and nucleolus counts. Samples of surgically excised tumors and tumors taken at necropsy were fixed in neutral formalin, embedded in paraffin, and cut into 1-3-μm-thick sections. Two sections were taken from each tumor: one was stained with hematoxylin and eosin and the other was treated with the silver staining technique for the demonstration of AgNORs. After histopathologic classification, the number of nucleoli and the number of AgNORs/nucleus and AgNORs/nucleolus were determined. Statistical analysis (Student's t-test) showed a significant difference in the mean number of nucleoli ( P < 0.005), mean number of AgNORs/nucleolus ( P < 0.001), and mean number of AgNORs/nucleus ( P < 0.005) between benign and malignant canine mammary tumors. There was no significant differences between metastatic and nonmetastatic malignant tumors.


Genetics ◽  
1975 ◽  
Vol 80 (3) ◽  
pp. 505-518
Author(s):  
Samuel A Ramirez ◽  
John H Sinclair

ABSTRACT Cytogenetic and molecular hybridization techniques were used to examine the arrangement of rRNA genes at the nucleolar organizer region (NOR) of maize. TB-6a stocks involving a reciprocal translocation between a B chromosome and the NOR of chromosome 6 were used. The amount of rDNA in the different stocks used varied from 1.5 to 4 NOR equivalents depending on the number of B6 choromosomes present. Cytological measurements show that the medial break through the NOR results in an equal partitioning of the heterochromatic knob (the NOR) between chromosome 6 and the B chromosome to which it was translocated. DNA-rRNA hybridization experiments show a linear relationship between the amount of rRNA capable of hybridizing with DNA and the number of NOR equivalents present. The data confirm McClintock's conclusion that the heterochromatic knob, rather than the constricted portion, is the true NOR region. Further, they show that the number of ribosomal genes is correlated with the amount of cytologically visible NOR, suggesting a uniform distribution of genes throughout the locus.


1985 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 389-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
F J Moreno ◽  
D Hernandez-Verdun ◽  
C Masson ◽  
M Bouteille

Nucleolar organizer region (NOR) silver staining was applied to sections of fixed material. A positive reaction on cryo-ultrathin sections was found as well as on semithin and ultrathin Lowicryl sections. Repeatable staining that was easy to control was obtained by a one-step procedure after aldehyde-Carnoy fixation. Fixation of the material by formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde alone in cacodylate buffer also maintained reaction selectivity when ammonium chloride was used after fixation. Enzymatic digestion by pronase, RNase A, DNase I, or micrococcal nuclease was applied to ultrathin Lowicryl sections. Pronase digestion removed the silver-stained proteins, whereas digestion by the nucleases did not. A routine procedure is proposed for easy NOR silver staining of sections that preserves a good tissue ultrastructure and is also compatible with cytochemical and immunological investigations.


2016 ◽  
Vol 72 (6) ◽  
pp. 373-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Kuchta-Gładysz ◽  
Agnieszka Otwinowska-Mindur ◽  
Piotr Niedbała ◽  
Olga Szeleszczuk ◽  
Joanna Głowacka

The objective of this study was to determine the variation in the number and size of nucleolar organizer regions (NOR) in the chinchilla karyotype. The study was performed with 12 standard chinchillas of two different lines. NORs were visualized on chromosome preparations by Ag-NOR silver staining. Four NOR size classes (I-IV) were determined on the basis of the results obtained, ranging from 0.070 (class I) to 0.229 (class IV). The mean NOR size was 0.144 µm² (SD=0.031 µm²) and fell within class II (from 0.101 to 0.150 µm²). Differences in the relative silver deposit area between the NOR-bearing pair of chromosomes were significant for 3 animals (P < 0.01) and for 1 animal (P < 0.05). The mean number of NORs in the animals ranged from 1.4 to 2.0 (SD=0.00–0.55). It was lower for chinchillas from central Poland (1.53±0.50) compared to those from southern Poland (1.68±0.48), with no significant differences (P > 0.05). The variation observed in the NOR size and number in the chinchilla karyotype indicates the occurrence of NOR polymorphism in the population.


2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Karki ◽  
A Jha ◽  
G Sayami

Background Serous effusion smears reported as “suspicious for malignancy” pose problems in clinical management. Silver staining for argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNOR) has proved useful in making a cytopathologic differential diagnosis between benign and malignant cells. Nucleolar organizer regions(NORs) are loops of DNA located in acrocentric chromosomes. These NORs are visualized by silver staining technique that recognizes these argyrophilia associated proteins which are increased in malignancy. Objective This study aimed to distinguish reactive mesothelial cells from malignant cells in serous effusions using these NORs. Methods A total of 174 serous effusions received at the Department of Pathology, TUTH, during a period of one year were included in the study. Smears were studied by conventional Papanicolaou and Giemsa stains. AgNOR counts, variation in size and dispersion of AgNOR dots in smears were graded and compared in malignant and non-malignant effusions. Results Mean AgNOR counts of 10.43±0.73 and 10.21±0.51 in malignant peritoneal and pleural effusions, respectively, were significantly (p<0.0001) greater as compared with counts of 2.12±0.54 and 2.11±0.54 in non-malignant effusions. The AgNORs were irregular in shape in malignant effusions whereas they were comparatively larger, single dots in benign effusions. AgNOR size and dispersion were of higher grade in significantly greater proportion of malignant as compared with non malignant effusions (p<0.0001). Of the cytologically suspicious samples, nine were in the malignant range and one was in the benign range. Conclusion AgNOR study appears to be clinically useful as an additional diagnostic tool for use in serous effusion when the cytologic diagnosis is difficult. KATHMANDU UNIVERSITY MEDICAL JOURNAL  VOL.10 | NO. 1 | ISSUE 37 | JAN - MAR 2012 | 44-47 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/kumj.v10i1.6913


1993 ◽  
Vol 41 (9) ◽  
pp. 1413-1417 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Méhes ◽  
E Kálmán ◽  
L Pajor

Nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) are nucleolus-forming rDNA loops associated with argyrophil proteins, the amount of which varies according to the proliferative state of the cell. It has been presumed that the nucleolar protein-related thiol groups may have a role in selective silver staining. We investigated the nuclear thiol distribution with a fluorescent thiol reagent, coumarinyl-phenyl-maleimide (CPM) in human K-562 myeloblast cultures and found that SH group-related fluorescence was brightest in the area of nucleoli, which became highly selective after RNAse digestion. A remarkable co-localization of AgNOR silver reaction and CPM fluorescence was observed, although occupation of the SH groups by CPM did not prevent the silver staining. We applied the stain to dual-parameter flow cytometry in combination with DNA content measurements, which provide further information on nucleolar function and changes in experimental and pathological specimens.


Genome ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 1119-1123 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Martínez ◽  
A. Viñas ◽  
C. Bouza ◽  
J. Castro ◽  
L. Sánchez

A quantitative analysis combined with Ag staining was carried out to study the size variation of the main nucleolar organizer region (NOR) bearing chromosome pair 11 of Salmo trutta. A standardized NOR size measurement was developed by comparing the length of the short arm (NOR-bearing region) to the total chromosome length. Statistical procedures support arguments for the existence of a large and structural polymorphism within this species for this chromosome region. A minimum of five different chromosome classes were identified, which account for the total variation found. Size variation among classes was due both to changes in the number of NOR clusters as well as to the amount of rDNA genes within each cluster. NOR size values were normally distributed in the sample analyzed.Key words: nucleolar organizer region, size polymorphism, brown trout.


1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (11) ◽  
pp. 2826-2830 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yucheng Li ◽  
John R. Gold

Chromosomal nucleolar organizer region (NOR) phenotypes are documented for all four extant species in the North American cyprinid fish genus Pimephales. All four species (P. notatus, P. promelas, P. tenellus, and P. vigilax) possess 2n = 50 chromosomes and a pair of NOR-bearing chromosomes with the NOR situated terminally on the short arm of a medium-sized to large submetacentric chromosome (NOR phenotype C). Trypsin G-banding demonstrated that the C NOR chromosome in all four species is homologous. Two of the species (P. tenellus and P. promelas) also possess a C′ NOR chromosome, which is defined as an NOR situated terminally on the short arm of a large submetacentric chromosome that is also the largest chromosome in the complement. The C′ NOR chromosome occurs infrequently in P. promelas, being found in only 8% or so of all metaphases examined. Trypsin G-banding demonstrated that the C′ NOR chromosomes in the two Pimephales species are homologous to one another and to the C′ NOR chromosomes found in the cyprinid genus Cyprinella. A presumed derivative of the C′ NOR chromosome occurs in the monotypic cyprinid genus Opsopoeodus. The NOR chromosomal data support monophyly of the four extant species of Pimephales, and further suggest that the genus Pimephales belongs in a monophyletic assemblage with, among others, the cyprinid genera Cyprinella and Opsopoeodus. The data do not support the previous hypothesis that Pimephales is a basal clade outside of a larger assemblage of "Notropis"-like, shiners.


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