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Mitochondrial DNA arranged into chromatin-like structures after injection into amphibian oocyte nuclei

Please always quote using this URN: urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-33174
  • Purified mitochondrial DNA (mitDNA) from ovaries ofXenopus lae vis was injected into the nuclei (germinal vesicles) of large viteUogenic oocytes of the same organism and examined by electron microscopy ofthe spread nuclear contents. Normally located nuclei of untreated oocytes as weil as peripherally translocated nuclei of centrifuged oocytes were used. In addition, oocyte nuclei isolated and incubated under liquid paraffin oil were injected with DNA. The integrity oftranscriptional structures of endogenous chromosomal (Iampbrush chromosomes)Purified mitochondrial DNA (mitDNA) from ovaries ofXenopus lae vis was injected into the nuclei (germinal vesicles) of large viteUogenic oocytes of the same organism and examined by electron microscopy ofthe spread nuclear contents. Normally located nuclei of untreated oocytes as weil as peripherally translocated nuclei of centrifuged oocytes were used. In addition, oocyte nuclei isolated and incubated under liquid paraffin oil were injected with DNA. The integrity oftranscriptional structures of endogenous chromosomal (Iampbrush chromosomes) and extrachromosomal (nucleoli) genes of the injected nuclei was demonstrated. Microinjected mitDN A was identified as circles of chromatin exhibiting polynucleosome-like organization and a me an contour length of 2.6 J.Lm, corresponding to a compaction ratio of the mitDN A of about 2 : I. This DNA packing ratio is similar to that observed after preparation of various kinds of native chromatin in low salt buffers. The chromatin circles formed from injected mitDNA only very rarely exhibited lateral fibrils suggestive of transcriptional activity. These results suggest that purified mitDNA can be transformed to normally structured chromatin when exposed to oocyte nuclear contents but is rarely , if at all , transcribed in this form and in this environment.show moreshow less

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Metadaten
Author: Hanswalter Zentgraf, Michael F. Trendelenburg, Herbert Spring, Ulrich Scheer, Werner W. Franke, Ulrike Müller, Kenneth C. Drury, Duri Rungger
URN:urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-33174
Document Type:Journal article
Faculties:Fakultät für Biologie / Theodor-Boveri-Institut für Biowissenschaften
Language:English
Year of Completion:1979
Source:In: Experimental Cell Research (1979) 122, 363-375.
Dewey Decimal Classification:5 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik / 57 Biowissenschaften; Biologie / 570 Biowissenschaften; Biologie
Release Date:2009/08/26