Summary
Structural alterations of the nucleoli of rat liver cells were noted when these nuclei were isolated with spermidine or spermine rather than magnesium. When 5–10 mM spermidine or spermine were used to isolate the nuclei, the nucleoli were a) larger, b) contained numerous and sometimes large lacunae, and c) were less aggregated and had prominent chromatin caps. These chromatin caps gave the nucleolus a ring-shaped appearance in the light microscope. These findings, coupled with physiological data that indicate that polyamines enhance nucleolar RNA polymerase activity (Russell et al., 1971), suggest that spermidine and spermine may be involved in the control of ribosomal RNA synthesis. To our knowledge, this is the first instance of the direct stimulation of ribosomal RNA synthesis during nuclear isolation.
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Supported by USPHS Grant NS-07934.
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Gfeller, E., Stern, D.N., Russell, D.H. et al. Ultrastructural changes in vitro of rat liver nucleoli in response to polyamines. Z.Zellforsch 129, 447–454 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00316742
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00316742