Chemical and autoradiographic studies of intranucleolar DNA in Vicia faba

Plant Cytogenetics in the Micronuclei Investigation-The Past, Current Status, and Perspectives

Cytogenetic approaches play an essential role as a quick evaluation of the first genetic effects after mutagenic treatment. Although labor-intensive and time-consuming, they are essential for the analyses of cytotoxic and genotoxic effects in mutagenesis and environmental monitoring. Over the years, conventional cytogenetic analyses were a part of routine laboratory testing in plant genotoxicity. Among the methods that are used to study genotoxicity in plants, the micronucleus test particularly represents a significant force. Currently, cytogenetic techniques go beyond the simple detection of chromosome aberrations. The intensive development of molecular biology and the significantly improved microscopic visualization and evaluation methods constituted significant support to traditional cytogenetics. Over the past years, distinct approaches have allowed an understanding the mechanisms of formation, structure, and genetic activity of the micronuclei. Although there are many studies on this topic in humans and animals, knowledge in plants is significantly limited. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge on micronuclei characteristics in plants. We pay particular attention to how the recent contemporary achievements have influenced the understanding of micronuclei in plant cells. Together with the current progress, we present the latest applications of the micronucleus test in mutagenesis and assess the state of the environment.

The organization of the nucleolus in meristematic plant cells. A cytochemical study

The architecture of the nucleolus in Allium porum and Triticum vulgare meristematic cells has been investigated by means of digestions with various enzymes. After staining with azure B at pH4, plant nucleoli exhibit lighter regions which, under electron microscopy, correspond to the fibrillar zones characterizing these organelles. Evidence is presented indicating that these latter zones contain coarse convoluted filaments quite similar to the loops first demonstrated by La Cour (24) and which are assumed to originate from the nucleolar-organizing chromosomes. These coarse, 0.2micro wide filaments are remarkably resistant to the action of deoxyribonuclease, ribonuclease, pepsin, trypsin, or of various combinations of these enzymes and, moreover, they show insignificant incorporation of labeled thymidine even after long exposure to this DNA precursor. The clearing action of pepsin on different regions of the nucleolus lends support to the hypothesis that an amorphous material or matrix pervades the mass of this organelle. This effect is particularly striking within the particulate nucleolar zones themselves. Both ribonuclease and trypsin disorganize the RNP (ribonucleoprotein) nucleolar particles. The effect of the latter enzyme on the RNP particles is taken to indicate that they contain proteins particularly susceptible to trypsin which are essential for maintenance of their morphological integrity. Trypsin also interferes with azure B-staining of the nucleolar mass as a whole and, according to radioautographic data, extracts RNA throughout this organelle. Accordingly, the hypothesis is considered that RNA is complexed with proteins not only within the particulate nucleolar portions, as is already well known, but also in the fibrillar zones.