RNA SYNTHESIS IN THE DIFFERENT PHASES OF CELL CYCLE OF CHICK EMBRYO CELLS

A light and electron microscopic radioautographic study on RNA synthesis in the retina of chick embryo

The incorporation of 3H-uridine into RNA of chick embryo retina was studied by light and electron microscopic radioautography. The numbers of silver grains were counted over the nucleus, nucleolus and cytoplasm of the cells in three different regions of the same retina of 2, 3, 4, and 7 day chick embryos. The results showed an increase of 3H-uridine incorporation from embryonic day 2 to 7. In every stage of development of the chick embryo retina, the number of silver grains was higher in the anterior than in the other two regions of the retina. In the three cell compartments of every embryo group, the number of silver grains was higher in the nucleus than in the nucleolus and cytoplasm. The results show further that the grains were less in the cytoplasm of the retinal cells of the day 2 embryo group and higher in the other groups especially in the day 7 embryos. Ultrastructural changes were also observed during the studied period of retina development.

Transcriptional inhibition in early chick embryos as a result of polyamine depletion

In the early chick embryo, inhibition of polyamine synthesis by alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an enzyme-activated irreversible inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase, blocks development at gastrulation. This effect was paralleled by a marked suppression of RNA and protein synthesis. There was no major change in cell cycle distribution in DFMO-treated embryos. Nevertheless, analysis of DNA synthesis and mitotic index indicated a prolongation of the cell cycle, possibly affecting all the phases. The inhibition of RNA synthesis in polyamine-depleted embryos, as evaluated by [3H]uridine incorporation, was not a result of reduced uptake or expansion of the UTP pool, and there was no deficiency or major imbalance among the ATP, GTP, and CTP pools. On the basis of agarose gel electrophoretic analyses of the various RNA species, and experiments using RNA synthesis inhibitors with different modes of action (actinomycin D, alpha-amanitin, and 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole), it was concluded that the DFMO-induced gastrular arrest was due to general inhibition of transcription.