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. 1974 Sep;71(9):3626–3630. doi: 10.1073/pnas.71.9.3626

Morphology of Nucleolar Cistrons in a Plant Cell, Acetabularia mediterranea

Michael F Trendelenburg 1,2, Herbert Spring 1,2, Ulrich Scheer 1,2, Werner W Franke 1,2
PMCID: PMC433828  PMID: 4610581

Abstract

The structural organization of transcriptionally active DNA that contains cistrons for precursor molecules of ribosomal RNA is described in positively stained spread preparations from nuclei and nucleoli isolated from the green alga, Acetabularia mediterranea Lmx. These nuclei contain large aggregates of nucleolar subunits in which fibril-covered regions, the putative active cistrons for precursors of ribosomal RNA, alternate with fibril-free intercepts, the “spacers.” The length distribution of the different intercepts of this DNA is given, and the pattern is compared with those shown in animal cell systems. The data are discussed in relation to problems of transcription and of amplification of ribosomal RNA genes.

Keywords: ribosomal RNA genes, electron microscopy, spread preparations

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Selected References

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