Abstract
The possibility of nuclear pore formation in the interphase nucleus was investigated in control and phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulated lymphocytes by the freeze-etching technique. 48 hr after the addition of PHA, the newly formed blasts which had not as yet divided had at least twice the number of pores per nucleus as controls. This clearly demonstrates that in lymphocytes nuclear pore formation can take place during interphase. It has generally been assumed that the distribution of nuclear pore complexes in somatic animal cells is random. However, we have utilized freeze etched rat kidney cells and a computer program to evaluate pore distribution. We find a minimum pore center-to-center spacing of approximately 1300 A and multiples thereof with high frequency. This is strong evidence for a nonrandom distribution of nuclear pores. The nonrandomness may be related to an underlying chromosomal organization in interphase. Using three criteria for identifying prospective pore sites (membrane specialization, nonrandomness, and alteration of heterochromatin distribution), we have found forming pores in sectioned material from cultured human melanoma cells. While nuclear pore formation may take place in conjunction with reformation of the nuclear membrane, a mechanism also exists for their formation during interphase.
Full Text
The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (1.6 MB).
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Brinkley B. R., Murphy P., Richardson L. C. Procedure for embedding in situ selected cells cultured in vitro. J Cell Biol. 1967 Oct;35(1):279–283. doi: 10.1083/jcb.35.1.279. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- COOPER H. L., RUBIN A. D. RNA METABOLISM IN LYMPHOCYTES STIMULATED BY PHYTOHEMAGGLUTININ: INITIAL RESPONSES TO PHYTOHEMAGGLUTININ. Blood. 1965 Jun;25:1014–1027. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- COULSON A. S., CHALMERS D. G. SEPARATION OF VIABLE LYMPHOCYTES FROM HUMAN BLOOD. Lancet. 1964 Feb 29;1(7331):468–469. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(64)90799-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Comings D. E., Okada T. A. Association of chromatin fibers with the annuli of the nuclear membrane. Exp Cell Res. 1970 Oct;62(2):293–302. doi: 10.1016/0014-4827(70)90557-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- FELDHERR C. M. BINDING WITHIN THE NUCLEAR ANNULI AND ITS POSSIBLE EFFECT ON NUCLEOCYTOPLASMIC EXCHANGES. J Cell Biol. 1964 Jan;20:188–192. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Feldherr C. M. A comparative study of nucleocytoplasmic interactions. J Cell Biol. 1969 Sep;42(3):841–845. doi: 10.1083/jcb.42.3.841. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- KELLENBERGER E., RYTER A., SECHAUD J. Electron microscope study of DNA-containing plasms. II. Vegetative and mature phage DNA as compared with normal bacterial nucleoids in different physiological states. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1958 Nov 25;4(6):671–678. doi: 10.1083/jcb.4.6.671. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- LUFT J. H. Improvements in epoxy resin embedding methods. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1961 Feb;9:409–414. doi: 10.1083/jcb.9.2.409. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lieberman M. W., Baney R. N., Lee R. E., Sell S., Farber E. Studies on DNA repair in human lymphocytes treated with proximate carcinogens and alkylating agents. Cancer Res. 1971 Sep;31(9):1297–1306. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- MERRIAM R. W. Some dynamic aspects of the nuclear envelope. J Cell Biol. 1962 Jan;12:79–90. doi: 10.1083/jcb.12.1.79. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Maul G. G. On the octagonality of the nuclear pore complex. J Cell Biol. 1971 Nov;51(21):558–563. doi: 10.1083/jcb.51.2.558. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- REYNOLDS E. S. The use of lead citrate at high pH as an electron-opaque stain in electron microscopy. J Cell Biol. 1963 Apr;17:208–212. doi: 10.1083/jcb.17.1.208. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- SABATINI D. D., BENSCH K., BARRNETT R. J. Cytochemistry and electron microscopy. The preservation of cellular ultrastructure and enzymatic activity by aldehyde fixation. J Cell Biol. 1963 Apr;17:19–58. doi: 10.1083/jcb.17.1.19. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]